Usa Reaches First Final Since 1997

Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov 61 63 75 to fire USA into the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final for the first time since 1997.

Belarus replaced Alexander Skrypko, originally nomianted to play alongside Max Mirnyi, with Vladimir Voltchkov, but it was to no avail.

The USA’s unassailable 3-0 lead means the squad, which also included singles players World No.2 Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish, will either travel to Spain or take on France at home in November, with the chance to earn the nation’s first Davis Cup title since 1995.

Patrick McEnroe’s team have been preaching the benefits of team work and the spirit of friendship that unites the American players and the Bryan’s win could scarcely have epitomised it more. The twins, who have never been beaten in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas play, play regularly on the ATP Tour and their natural affinity was apparent from the opening rallies onward, just as it had been when they beat Mirnyi and Voltchkov in the Olympics last month.

They raced to a 4-1 lead before breaking the Mirnyi serve to give themselves a cushion in the first set, which they wrapped up when the Fossil Watches-sponsored courtside clock showed that only 24 minutes had passed.

The pattern continued in the second set, much to the delight of the noisy Saturday afternoon crowd in the Family Circle Tennis Centre. Armed with noise sticks and in good voice, Charleston’s tennis fans provided a near-constant chorus of support for the Bryans, ably assisted by a brass band and the rest of the US team. Roddick in particular could hardly stay in his seat when the Bryans broke the Voltchkov serve to go 2-1 up and give themselves a lead in the second set, which they held on to with some smoothly delivered serve and volley which made light of the gusting winds – the first salvos of Hurricane Jeanne, which is reportedly heading Charleston’s way.

With Mirnyi and Voltchkov fought hard to keep their tremendous Davis Cup by BNP Paribas run going but ultimately, just as it had been in the singles, Belarus lost to the superior team. The squad leaves South Carolina buoyed by the fact they defeated both Russia and Argentina en route to a historic semi-final on the nation’s first year in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group.

The third set was closer than the first two but the Belarussians eventually gave in to the tremendous pressure from Bryan and Bryan. At 5-6 down Voltchkov’s serve buckled, and while he and Mirnyi saved the first match-point, they were powerless to save the second and prevent the flood of American team members on to the court.

The enduring image of the tie will be the US team engulfing the Bryans before doing a lap of honour with the American flag to rapturous cheers. “It doesn’t get any better than that,” said Mike Bryan. “I had goosebumps holding that flag up, Davis Cup is the best thing that you can do in tennis.”