USA vs Russia Cold War II

Pleepers

Pleepers

Professional
Got love it, the US vs Russia in the Davis Cup Final. I was looking over the old draws and Blake seems to be the only risk factor for the US. Roddick is strong and Bryan bros are a force to be reckoned with. This will be some good tennis and a close series. USA..USA..USA..:grin:
 
ElSuegro

ElSuegro

Rookie
I see this one breaking 3-2 for USA, with a possibility of 4-1, if Roddick beats Davydenko. Of course if one side wins three, then any further matches would not be played.
 
Bogie

Bogie

Hall of Fame
well since u.s.a. gets to pick the court, i'm guessing they will be playing on a very quick hard court. so this pretty much eliminates andreev from play because he is known to be an amazing dirt baller but not so much on the quicker stuff.

davydenko is 0-6 vs. blake and 0-4 vs. roddick so it is doubtful that russia will play him either.

that leaves russia with youzhny, tursunov, and safin. all comfortable on the quicker courts. given that tursunov and youzhny have both had more consistent results and are more focused that safin who at first is climbing mountains, then realizes "oh sh*t i might die. nevermind guys i was just messing around," i'm guessing its going to be youzhny and tursunov vs. blake roddick. imho, it can go either way. youzhny and dima, when they're on, they can beat anyone, and i mean anyone. same goes for blake. so it really depends on which guys show up to play and which guys just happen to be on the court at the moment. either way, should be fun.
 
Pleepers

Pleepers

Professional
Bogie said:
well since u.s.a. gets to pick the court, i'm guessing they will be playing on a very quick hard court. so this pretty much eliminates andreev from play because he is known to be an amazing dirt baller but not so much on the quicker stuff.

davydenko is 0-6 vs. blake and 0-4 vs. roddick so it is doubtful that russia will play him either.

that leaves russia with youzhny, tursunov, and safin. all comfortable on the quicker courts. given that tursunov and youzhny have both had more consistent results and are more focused that safin who at first is climbing mountains, then realizes "oh sh*t i might die. nevermind guys i was just messing around," i'm guessing its going to be youzhny and tursunov vs. blake roddick. imho, it can go either way. youzhny and dima, when they're on, they can beat anyone, and i mean anyone. same goes for blake. so it really depends on which guys show up to play and which guys just happen to be on the court at the moment. either way, should be fun.
Click to expand...

Good analysis, but I haven't seen Blake "on" in reccent time.
 
Bogie

Bogie

Hall of Fame
Pleepers said:
Good analysis, but I haven't seen Blake "on" in reccent time.
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well since he won indianapolis at the end of july, tursunov has lost 3 straight first round matches during the summer hard court swing on what is by far his favorite surface to kiefer, benneteau, and henman. so i wouldn't exactly call that "on" either. but remember its not how u played your last match, but about how you will play your next. so you never know what will happened 2 and a half months from now in the davis cup final. there are too many factors to take into account right now so you can't really make any bold predictions even until we near the appropriate time.
 
Pleepers

Pleepers

Professional
Bogie said:
well since he won indianapolis at the end of july, tursunov has lost 3 straight first round matches during the summer hard court swing on what is by far his favorite surface to kiefer, benneteau, and henman. so i wouldn't exactly call that "on" either. but remember its not how u played your last match, but about how you will play your next. so you never know what will happened 2 and a half months from now in the davis cup final. there are too many factors to take into account right now so you can't really make any bold predictions even until we near the appropriate time.
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Absolutely. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed ;)
 
SoBad

SoBad

G.O.A.T.
Regarding the surface to be picked by patmac for the final, Safin's comment in reply to rod's crying about clay last year was something like "if this meeting were in the U.S. we'd be playing on a grass court that looks like a potato field". So maybe patmac will pick grass again like he did against Chile last year, just to **** off the opponents.
 
Rodditha

Rodditha

Banned
SoBad said:
Regarding the surface to be picked by patmac for the final, Safin's comment in reply to rod's crying about clay last year was something like "if this meeting were in the U.S. we'd be playing on a grass court that looks like a potato field". So maybe patmac will pick grass again like he did against Chile last year, just to **** off the opponents.
Click to expand...

I can remember Safin saying that grass is for cows.:D
 
SoBad

SoBad

G.O.A.T.
Rodditha said:
I can remember Safin saying that grass is for cows.:D
Click to expand...

I remember that comment too and it's not surprising, because solid ballstrikers need the ball to bounce in order to strike it well. It's no fun for a baller to see the ball pushed sliced and dying in the grass potato field mud. But perhaps that's just part of the Davis Cup. But I don't think it bothers Safin as much as it used to, because he has also become one of the best net players over the years.
 
psamp14

psamp14

Hall of Fame
USA will likely pick the fast hardcourt to suit blake since blake has been like, the weak point on the team

you know roddick is coming to win and the bryan brothers are a lock to win

davydenko isnt going to beat roddick or blake.....

if its played on the fast hardcourt surface, i would expect 2 out of the 3 (davydenko, youzhny, tursonov)

if it were grass, now this isnt really favorable for the russians....davydenko doesnt like grass, safin hates grass, and youzhny and tursonov are good solid players but not threats on grass

roddick is a force on grass, and the bryans are a lock as i said earlier...

so its up to USA...go for a surface which would suit their team, and partially russia, or go for grass to upset the russian's mood, but know that blake isnt exactly great on grass

i think USA will pull if off though, with roddick clinching the title in the 4th rubber....davis cup means so much to roddick and he just plays much more focused....his serve was incredible this past weekend...makes you wonder how he would fare against federer, nadal, and djokovic if they played on a fast surface, and it was in davis cup
 
SoBad

SoBad

G.O.A.T.
Bogie said:
:shock: are we thinking of the same safin :?:
Click to expand...

Always comes in behind a great serve or an effective approach shot. Uses his height well for the overhead, uses his reach to punch the volley away into the open court or going right behind a quick opponent. Exquisite touch to drop the volley short for a winner when opponent is pushed way back behind the baseline. Yes, I believe we are thinking about the same Safin.
 
Bogie

Bogie

Hall of Fame
SoBad said:
Always comes in behind a great serve or an effective approach shot. Uses his height well for the overhead, uses his reach to punch the volley away into the open court or going right behind a quick opponent. Exquisite touch to drop the volley short for a winner when opponent is pushed way back behind the baseline. Yes, I believe we are thinking about the same Safin.
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maybe the one from several years ago. that i would believe. but definitely not the one that i watched front row at the sap open this year. that was just one of the biggest wastes of time/money imaginable. couldn't make a single ball that match, volleys were about as bad as any pro's i have seen, and becker didn't even have to do all that much, just rally with marat until he dumped it in the net or shanked it.
 
Mike Bulgakov

Mike Bulgakov

G.O.A.T.
My guess is that the U.S. will choose a fast indoor court that plays very similar to Flushing Meadows, a court that was made-to-order for Roddick and Blake. Russia has the chess pieces to counter this move, so it should be interesting.

Safin decided to climb a 8,201 metre mountain on a whim, turned back early, and now a top secret SVR team of nubile young women are using body warmth to thaw him at a special dacha outside of Moscow.

Safin will (probably) take tennis seriously for the rest of the year and might be in very good form for the Davis Cup finals. I think Safin and Youzhny (or Tursunov) will play singles for Russia.
 
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superman1

superman1

Legend
Safin loves indoors, so the US will just go for hardcourts. I see Russia playing Safin and Youzhny. Davydenko can't handle the American brute force.
 
Mike Bulgakov

Mike Bulgakov

G.O.A.T.
superman1 said:
Safin loves indoors, so the US will just go for hardcourts. I see Russia playing Safin and Youzhny. Davydenko can't handle the American brute force.
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Safin hates the wind and often loses it mentally when conditions aren't comfortable. Logistical concerns regarding avoiding bad weather and cold are why I think the U.S. will choose indoor courts.
 
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A

andyroddick1

Rookie
If it is possible, they should choose a grass court. Bryans and Roddick easily win seeing as they rock on grass compared to the Russians even if Blake stinks.
 
Topaz

Topaz

Legend
AAAA said:
With home court advantage USA should win comfortably.
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Nope...even home court advantage won't help us...they've got Safin, Davy, Andreev, Youzhny, Tursunov...very deep squad. Roddick won't dominate any of those guys necessarily, and we all know what Blake does in Davis Cup (*choke*). *sigh* It won't be easy...I think the only rubber we can count on is the doubles...I think all the singles could go either way. But, at least that will make it exciting!
 
Rodditha

Rodditha

Banned
I'm pretty confident for Roddick because he beat Safin and Tursunov with ease this year. For Blake i don't know.
 
Andres

Andres

G.O.A.T.
Indoor hardcourts are NOT the best choice. If they pick an indoor carpet, Russia wins.

USA's best chances are on GRASS.
 
Jack the Hack

Jack the Hack

Hall of Fame
Just to add to the surface conversation, the two finalist sites to host the Davis Cup final are Portland and Winston-Salem. From what I hear, Portland is the front runner because Winston-Salem hosted the quarterfinal match. Either way, the matches will be played in an indoor arena. They could theoretically haul in a grass court, but it would be highly unlikely. Therefore, my best guess would be a fast carpet court, similar or the same as what they has in North Carolina and Sweden.

Here are the links to the site selection information:

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2007-09-04/200709041188946640187.html

http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/

(The info is buried near the middle of both locations.)
 
Rodditha

Rodditha

Banned
USA will win either way (grass or indoor carpet), Roddick and the rest of the team so badly want this trophee that they will come with their A game.
 
smittysan89

smittysan89

Professional
You all realize that this won't be happening for a while, and that ALOT of things can happen in between now and then. Although the russians might not have the benefit of andreev on clay they will now have Safin on a faster surface. The only way Blake is going to win is if he plays Davydenko.
 
AAAA

AAAA

Hall of Fame
Topaz said:
Nope...even home court advantage won't help us...they've got Safin, Davy, Andreev, Youzhny, Tursunov...very deep squad. Roddick won't dominate any of those guys necessarily, and we all know what Blake does in Davis Cup (*choke*). *sigh* It won't be easy...I think the only rubber we can count on is the doubles...I think all the singles could go either way. But, at least that will make it exciting!
Click to expand...

I reckon Roddick playing like he did against Fed in the USO could easily win his two rubbers and the Bryans should take the doubles. Russia has more depth but if Roddick is inspired like he usually is in Davis Cup it should be enough.
 
K

Ken B.

Rookie
I see it being a fast hardcourt in Winston-Salem. Oregon only if Nike just throws a buttload of money to the USTA or something

I would like to see Querry play on the team, actually. And I think it might happen if Blake loses his first match. Roddick should win against any of the Russia lineup on Day 1, but if Blake loses on Day 1 put Querry in there on Day 3 after the US has a 2-1 lead. Of course, due to this being the final they may make Roddick play game 4.

Querry has pulled more upsets than Blake has this year, it seems ;)
 
J

johnkidd

Semi-Pro
As we speak the USTA has contacted Field Turf to design a synthetic grass court for indoor use. They want the speed to be consistant with that of the Augusta National greens.
 
J

johnkidd

Semi-Pro
Ken B. said:
I see it being a fast hardcourt in Winston-Salem. Oregon only if Nike just throws a buttload of money to the USTA or something

I would like to see Querry play on the team, actually. And I think it might happen if Blake loses his first match. Roddick should win against any of the Russia lineup on Day 1, but if Blake loses on Day 1 put Querry in there on Day 3 after the US has a 2-1 lead. Of course, due to this being the final they may make Roddick play game 4.

Querry has pulled more upsets than Blake has this year, it seems ;)
Click to expand...

If it's a really fast court why not try Isner. Only thing wrong is after returning his serve Roddick's would seem slow.
 
Andres

Andres

G.O.A.T.
Pleepers said:
Viejo, I think you might be right -as Russia beat Argentina indoors :(
Click to expand...
Americans are just as good as russians on outdoor or indoor hardcourts. Using it wouldn't be

On indoor carpet, like Taraflex, Davydenko, Safin, Youzhny and Tursunov, they're all better than any American player, except (PERHAPS) John Isner.

On grass, there's no contest, with Roddick winning both singles rubbers and the doubles rubber

IMO, this is the breakdown:

Clay (outdoor or indoor): Russia wins
Carpet: Russia wins
Grass: USA wins

Indoor Hardcourts: A toss up, but I'll give the edge to Russia
Outdoor Hardcourts: USA

USA's best chance is on grass.
 
Fee

Fee

Legend
Ken B. said:
I see it being a fast hardcourt in Winston-Salem. Oregon only if Nike just throws a buttload of money to the USTA or something

I would like to see Querry play on the team, actually. And I think it might happen if Blake loses his first match. Roddick should win against any of the Russia lineup on Day 1, but if Blake loses on Day 1 put Querry in there on Day 3 after the US has a 2-1 lead. Of course, due to this being the final they may make Roddick play game 4.

Querry has pulled more upsets than Blake has this year, it seems ;)
Click to expand...

That can't happen. DC rules allow four people on the team, including the two doubles players.
 
Andres

Andres

G.O.A.T.
Fee said:
That can't happen. DC rules allow four people on the team, including the two doubles players.
Click to expand...
5 people may travel as part of the roster, but only 4 can make the team.
If Blake injures himself before his 1st match, Querrey could play instead,

But not once it starts :)
 
Fee

Fee

Legend
Right. But the original post referred to putting Querrey in after Blake loses his first match.
 
CrocodileRock

CrocodileRock

Rookie
I hope I can talk my wife into going. I went to the last final in America fifteen years ago. It may be another fifteen years before it comes back.
 
L

laurie

Guest
Bogie said:
well since u.s.a. gets to pick the court, i'm guessing they will be playing on a very quick hard court. so this pretty much eliminates andreev from play because he is known to be an amazing dirt baller but not so much on the quicker stuff.

davydenko is 0-6 vs. blake and 0-4 vs. roddick so it is doubtful that russia will play him either.

that leaves russia with youzhny, tursunov, and safin. all comfortable on the quicker courts. given that tursunov and youzhny have both had more consistent results and are more focused that safin who at first is climbing mountains, then realizes "oh sh*t i might die. nevermind guys i was just messing around," i'm guessing its going to be youzhny and tursunov vs. blake roddick. imho, it can go either way. youzhny and dima, when they're on, they can beat anyone, and i mean anyone. same goes for blake. so it really depends on which guys show up to play and which guys just happen to be on the court at the moment. either way, should be fun.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the Yanks might use a really fast indoor carpet court. I think the Americans are lucky the tie will be played in the States otherwise it would have been on the slowest clay imaginable. I give the Americans a 60/40 advantage.
 
L

laurie

Guest
I would be surprised if Safin plays anyway considering he's stated he will recover for next season. He won't be playing again this season.

But you know, the Americans have to choose something so this over emotional response about not choosing carpet won't do.
 
rightytopspin79

rightytopspin79

Rookie
I just hope that Roddick and the bryan's do win their matches. I don't really know which Blake will show up to the final? Hopefully a network other than the tennis channel will show the finals!?
 
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