White Plains, NY (Sports Network) - The 2007 Davis Cup World Group final between the host United States and defending champion Russia will be staged at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon.
The best-of-five tie will be played from November 30-December 2, on a surface yet to be determined, and will mark the first Davis Cup final on American soil in 15 years. The Americans topped the Swiss in the 1992 finale in Fort Worth, Texas.
The U.S., captained by Patrick McEnroe, featured Andy Roddick, James Blake and the twin Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, in its 4-1 semifinal victory against host Sweden last week, while the Russian team, skippered by Shamil Tarpischev, boasted Nikolay Davydenko, Igor Andreev, Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny in its home win against Germany.
The Americans hold a record 31 Davis Cup titles, but haven't won the championship since 1995, when Pete Sampras led them to a 3-2 victory over Russia in a final in Moscow.
The Russians beat Argentina in last year's finale, in Moscow, and captured the first of their two titles in 2002.
The U.S. is 2-1 all-time versus Russia, which beat the Americans 3-2 in last year's semifinals, in Moscow. Team USA bested the Russians 3-2 in an opening- round affair on home turf in Atlanta back in 1998.
Portland's Memorial Coliseum has hosted Davis Cup matches, which it did in 1981 and 1984.
Gothenburg, Sweden (Sports Network) - Andy Roddick handled Joachim Johansson in straight sets in Friday's opening singles rubber in the Davis Cup semifinal between the United States and host Sweden.
The former world No. 1 Roddick recorded a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory in 1 hour, 53 minutes in a hard-serving affair on an indoor carpet at Scandinavium.
Roddick launched 30 aces at the 6-foot-6 Johansson, who countered with 23 bombs in a losing effort. The rusty Johansson, who hasn't played on the ATP since the Australian Open back in January due to ongoing shoulder problems, piled up seven double faults on his way to surrendering the first point to the formidable Americans.
The former U.S. Open champ and three-time Grand Slam runner-up Roddick is now 24-9 in his career Davis Cup singles matches.
Friday's second singles rubber will James Blake against the hosts' Thomas Johansson, who is not related to Joachim. Blake is 11-7 in his career Davis Cup singles action.
Saturday's doubles will pit the American twin Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, against a Swedish duo of Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman, while Sunday's reverse singles tentatively call for Roddick to meet Thomas Johansson and Blake to take on Joachim Johansson. Aspelin captured the U.S. Open men's doubles title, alongside Austrian Julian Knowle, earlier this month.
The winner of this best-of-five tie will face the Russia-Germany victor in the World Group final in late-November/early-December. Russia is the defending Davis Cup champ.
The United States owns a record 31 Davis Cup titles, but is currently in its longest-ever championship drought, having not hoisted the chalice since 1995. The Swedes have won the title seven times, with their last one coming back in 1998.
The Americans are 8-3 all-time against Sweden, dating back to 1946, including a quarterfinal victory in Florida in 2004. The Swedes are 3-1 versus the U.S. in their ties on home turf, including a 5-0 victory in a final right here in Gothenburg 10 years ago. Sweden also topped the Americans in the final back in 1984.
The U.S. is 2-1 versus the Swedes in the Davis Cup semifinals, but 0-1 in ones played here in Sweden.
Patrick McEnroe captains the American squad, while former tennis great Mats Wilander guides the Swedes.
London, England (Sports Network) - Roger Federer has decided to play Davis Cup for Switzerland this month.
The Swiss will face the Czech Republic in a playoff on an indoor carpet in Prague from September 21-23, with the winner joining next year's 16-team World Group.
Federer had said that he would not play Davis Cup this year so he could concentrate on his top-ranking status and the Grand Slams. He won three of the four majors this year and was the runner-up at the French Open.
The 26-year-old Federer will be joined on the Swiss team by Stanislas Wawrinka, Michael Lammer and Yves Allegro. The formidable Czechs will counter with Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Lukas Dlouhy and Martin Damm.
Federer captured his fourth straight U.S. Open title last week, giving him 12 major titles for his brilliant career.
White Plains, NY (Sports Network) - The 2007 Davis Cup World Group final between the host United States and defending champion Russia will be staged at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon.
