Tennis Betting - USA vs Russia, Davis Cup Final
14th Nov 2007, 22:03
Should the Russians beat the US in the Davis Cup in Oregon, it would complete an historic clean-sweep of ITF sanctioned team events in 2007, following victory for the women in the Fed Cup, and the mixed team in the Hopman Cup. In contrast the US has struggled to live up to its historical legacy in the Davis Cup. This will be America’s 61st final, having won the event 31 times, but they have lost on their last two appearances, in 2004 and 1997, and last lifted the trophy in 1995.
USA Favourites for Davis Cup Crown
Russia will have to perform a similar feat, as the three-day event is being held on American soil in Portland, Oregon. For three days from November 30th the Memorial Coliseum will be packed to capacity with 15,000 partisan fans firmly behind the Stars and Stripes. Home advantage is certainly a key factor behind online tennis betting specialists, PinnacleSports.com, posting the USA as favourites for victory 1.379, against Russia 3.440 – a market priced to under 102%.
The Russians capitalised on playing at home when beating Argentina 3-2 in the 2006 final in Moscow. They did show however, that they are capable of upsetting the odds at PinnacleSports.com when beating France in Paris, to win their first David Cup title in 2002, on clay.
Russia Aim For Clean Sweep of Team Events
Given their recent success in the David Cup, the Russian team has valuable experience. Marat Safin was a key member of the successful teams of 2002 & 2006, but he is steadily slipping down the rankings, and has had a turbulent year.
After Wimbledon he parted company with coach, Alexander Volkov, while following his second round exit at the US Open, a recurring wrist injury seemed to have prematurely ended his season. He watched from the sideline as the Russian team overcame Germany in September to make this final, but returned to action at the beginning of October in the Kremlin Cup, partnering Davis Cup team-mate, Dmitry Tursunov, to the doubles title.
Tursunov, who was part of the 2006 winning team, is in contrast to Safin a rising star, winning two titles this season, and reaching quarter-finals in Paris, on his favourite clay surface. Along with Safin, Mikhail Youzhny is the only other survivor of the wins of both 2002 and 2006. Having lived in the US since he was 12, should feel at home in Oregon. He has had a positive season breaking into the top ten for first time, and winning in Rotterdam.
Davydenko Still Fighting Betting Allegations
The most highly ranked member of either team is the Ukrainian born, Nikolay Davydenko. He has consolidated his top-five position by reaching the semis in Paris and Flushing Meadows, and the last eight of Wimbledon. There are however nagging doubts over his ability to close out big games, shown again at Roland Garros when losing 3-0 to Roger Federer, despite leading each set. His form is seemingly unaffected by the distraction of a drawn out investigation into irregular betting patterns during of his match against Martin Arguello in July, when he withdrew with a foot injury despite leading. As a result, Davydenko has been unable to distance himself from unsubstantiated match-fixing rumours.
The Russians have had to work hard in 2007 to defend their crown, with all three best-of-five matches en-route to the final ending 3-2. In the semi-final against Germany the Russians had to come from 2-1 down after three rubbers, to secure victory in the reverse singles fixtures on the final day. In contrast to the continuity of the US team, captain, Tarpischev, has used different doubles pairings in each round, which suggests America’s Bryan twins - Grand Slam winning doubles’ specialists - will be strong favourites with PinnacleSports.com for victory on the middle day, leaving success for Russia dependent on dominating the singles clashes.
US Team Has Right Mentality for Davis Cup
This season has seen Roddick resurgent under coach, Jimmy Connors, consolidating his top-five ITP ranking, and he seems to relish the pivotal role he plays in representing his country in the Davis Cup.“I’m so proud to be part of this team..I wouldn’t trade this team for any in the world…” Roddick said.
The only low points for Roddick this season were the hamstring problem suffered earlier in the year and the knee injury which forced him to pull out of the Madrid Masters in October. The US team would certainly be dramatically weakened by his absence, having followed the same formula throughout the World Group knock-out, with Roddick and James Blake playing the singles matches, and the Bryan brothers taking care of the doubles match.
The US lifted the Davis Cup when they last hosted the final in 1992, with an all-star team of Agassi, Sampras, Courier and McEnroe (John), and though this side may not have the same individual quality, it is stronger than the sum of its parts.
The Stars and Stripes cruised through the early rounds of the Davis Cup with consecutive 4-1 victories, during which Andy Roddick has won all his five matches, dropping just one set. The American’s specialist doubles pairing of twins, Bob and Mike Bryan, boast identical statistics. The Bryan’s may not be house-hold names as individuals, but together they make a formidable partnership. They have the unique telepathic understanding of twins and the perfect left/right combination for doubles. The right-handed Mike is 6”3, while the left-handed Bob is 6”4 giving them awesome serving power; together they have won four Grand Slams doubles titles, including the Australian Open in 2007.
The final component of the team is top-ten ranked, James Blake, who’s disappointing year turned around when reaching finals on the North American hard-court circuit, in Los Angeles and Cincinnati. He is however, yet to have a career defining moment and his weakness in big five-set matches (the format here) is a real concern, with (at the time of writing) a 1-10 record that is the worst ever for a top ten male tennis player. Finally getting the monkey off his back in the second round of this year’s US Open may have helped, but doubts must remain as to whether he can be relied upon when it really matters.
The last meeting of these nations - in the 2006 semi-finals – was settled by the longest final set in World Group history. Dmitry Tursunov scored an epic five set win over Roddick ending 17-15 in the last set. That was however achieved in Moscow, on clay - as opposed to Portland’s fast hard court surface - and was Russia’s first win over the US.