Davis Cup Finals Start Friday

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- The United States has won the most Davis Cup titles, but Russia claimed the most recent one. The two countries will square off in the best-of-five Davis Cup final beginning Friday on the indoor hard courts at Memorial Coliseum.

The Americans have won this event a record 31 times, but haven't hoisted the trophy since 1995. The Russians on the other hand, come in as the defending champions after claiming the country's second Davis Cup championship in 2006 with a victory over Argentina. "I'm biased first of all," said former American tennis great John McEnroe when asked who he thought may win. "I am American and my brother (Patrick McEnroe) is the captain so I'm thinking America. But given the fact we're playing in Oregon on a surface that's more suitable to us, a fast court, there's some desperation ... It's been 12 years since we won a Davis Cup."

World No. 6 Andy Roddick headlines an American team that will be rounded out by James Blake and the top-ranked doubles tandem of Bob and Mike Bryan. "(A Davis Cup title has) always been a huge priority for me. It's been on my list of goals to accomplish," said Roddick, who played for the 2004 team which lost to Spain in the final.

Russia will counter with fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko, Igor Andreev, Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny. The Americans likely have not forgotten about last year's lost to Russia in the semifinals of this tournament. In the deciding match, Tursunov battled past Roddick, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 17-15, to give his county its first win against the Americans in three all-time meetings.