After years of frustration, the U.S. men’s tennis team is looking for its first Davis Cup title since 1995 when it hosts defending champion Russia this weekend at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. The U.S., which has won a record 31 Davis Cup championships, last appeared in the finals in 2004, when they lost Spain. Andy Roddick, ranked sixth in the world, and James Blake, No. 13, will play singles for the U.S. on Friday and Sunday, and Bob and Mike Bryan are handling doubles on Saturday. The Bryan brothers are ranked No. 1 in the world and have a 12-1 record in Davis Cup play.Though the Davis Cup lacks the cachet of tennis’ Grand Slam events, Roddick has long been vocal about how important the event is to him. "It’s always been a huge priority for me and it’s been on my list of goals to accomplish, the top couple of things since I started," he says. As home team, the U.S. chose the surface the matches will be played on, an indoor hard court. "I think for And...
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