Russia gain consolation point with Andreev victory
Igor Andreev earned Russia a consolation point in the Davis Cup final by crushing United States doubles specialist Bob Bryan 6-3 7-6 in the first reverse singles match on Sunday.
The U.S. had already clinched the team title by establishing an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five tie when the Bryan brothers won Saturday`s doubles at Memorial Coliseum.
World number 33 Andreev, using his powerful forehand with devastating effect, broke Bryan in the third and ninth games of the match to claim the first set in 28 minutes.
The second set went with serve until the 24-year-old Russian sealed victory by taking the tiebreak 7-4, gaining matchpoint off a backhand error by Bryan before ending a protracted rally with a whipping forehand winner.
Andreev and Bryan were brought in as late changes for world number 19 Mikhail Youzhny and sixth-ranked Andy Roddick in the line-up for the fourth match.
American number two James Blake was scheduled to take on Russian Dmitry Tursunov in the final rubber.
The U.S. sealed a record 32nd Davis Cup title, and their first in 12 years, when Bob and Mike Bryan swept aside Russians Nikolay Davydenko and Andreev 7-6 6-4 6-2 on Saturday.
Roddick had outclassed Tursunov 6-4 6-4 6-2 in Friday`s opening rubber before Blake put the hosts 2-0 up with a gutsy 6-3 7-6 6-7 7-6 victory over Youzhny in the second singles.
The U.S. had not won the Davis Cup since 1995 when Pete Sampras led the team to victory over Russia on clay in Moscow.
With the 2007 title decided, Sunday`s singles matches were shortened to the best-of-three sets.
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