IHT.com: Tickets for Davis Cup matches in Portland sell within 30 minutes

Although the Davis Cup hasn’t been played in the United States for 15 years, American enthusiasm for the international tennis event apparently hasn’t diminished.Tickets for the 61st Davis Cup Final between the U.S. and defending champion Russia, to be held Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 at Portland’s 12,000-seat Memorial Coliseum, sold out in less than 30 minutes.

“There’s a real buzz around the country — to tennis fans in particular — that this is a big deal,” said U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe, who oversees the U.S. team that includes Andy Roddick, James Blake and the top-ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan.

The captain spoke on a conference call on Tuesday to discuss the U.S. team’s Cup preparations.

Host countries choose the surface, which McEnroe said will be a quick indoor hardcourt. He’ll test the surface himself in Baltimore, where it is being made.

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