Roddick-Safin Open Davis Cup Semifinal In Moscow

Marat Safin may strike some observers as more sensualist than masochist, but the 72nd-ranked Russian suggested the United States squad can expect a debilitating dose of Moscow misery in this weekend’s Davis Cup semifinal tied on the red clay of Olympic Stadium.
“Someone has to suffer and it will not be us,” Safin said. “That’s for sure.”

Tomorrow, Andy Roddick will try to provide a panacea for the pain prescribed by Safin when the former U.S. Open champions clash in the opening match of the tie. Roddick has won three of five meetings with Safin though all five matches have been contested on hard court. The pair have not faced each other in nearly two years. In their last meeting, Roddick edged Safin in a 7-6(7), 7-6(4), slugfest at the 2004 Tennis Masters Cup in Houston.

Tomorrow’s second singles match pits ninth-ranked James Blake against Mikhail Youzhny for their first meeting. It’s a stylistic contrast as Blake’s forehand is one of the biggest in the game and Youzhny’s one-handed backhand is his best shot.

The draw for the tie was conducted today in Moscow and Russian Davis Cup captain Shamil Tarpischev offered a surprising selection for the opening day of singles play in opting to start Safin and 24th-ranked Youzhny rather than fifth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko, who has posted better clay-court results than both of his teammates in recent years. U.S. Open semifinalist Davydenko outlasted Tommy Robredo in five sets to reach the 2005 Roland Garros semifinals where he lost to Mariano Puerta, who was subsequently suspended from tennis for testing positive for the prohibited stimulant etilefrine after the 2005 French Open final. Davydenko, who owns four career clay-court titles to his credit, defeated former French Open champions Carlos Moya and Gaston Gaudio in succession, to advance to the Roland Garros quarterfinals this season. In fact, he’s reached the quarterfinals or better in three of the four majors — the Australian Open, Roland Garros and U.S. Open — this year.

Click here to read the full article at Tennis Week.