USA Finishes Off Austria in Davis Cup

VIENNA, Austria (Ticker) -- Twins Mike and Bob Bryan split a pair of singles matches on Sunday to wrap up a 4-1 first-round Davis Cup victory for the United States over Austria. The Bryans helped the Americans book their place in the quarterfinals when the top-seeded doubles tandem nailed down a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Jurgen Melzer and Julian Knowle on Saturday.

The Americans, who opened play Friday with singles victories by Andy Roddick and James Blake, will face France in April's quarterfinal round. It will be the 15th meeting between the countries, with both nations splitting the first 14 ties. The French beat the Americans, 3-2, in their last meeting, a semifinal tilt in Paris back in 2002.

USA In Control of Davis Cup

VIENNA, Austria (Ticker) -- The United States Davis Cup title defense is off to a good start. Both Andy Roddick and James Blake won their opening match on Friday to give the Americans a commanding 2-0 lead over Austria in the first round of World Group play.

The U.S. tandem of Bob and Mike Bryan can clinch the best-of-five tie on Saturday with a win over Jurgen Melzer and Julian Knowle in doubles play. Friday's victories on the clay courts in Vienna were anything but easy for the Americans. Roddick was challenged by Melzer for four hours and six minutes before finally claiming a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 victory. "I said all week that it was going to be my toughest match against Jurgen so I was not surprised," said Roddick, who improved to 7-0 all-time against the world No. 57. "Fortunately, I was physically fit enough to go into a fifth set." Facing Stefan Koubek, Blake dropped the opening set and was trailing 5-4 in the second before rallying for a 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 triumph.

USA Prepares for Davis Cup

VIENNA, Austria (Ticker) - The United States Davis Cup team may not be as dominant as it was in the past, but the Americans are defending champions nonetheless. Led by Andy Roddick and James Blake, the U.S. squad begins the quest for back-to-back titles on Friday when it faces Austria in the first round of the ITF event.

While the Americans own a record 32 Davis Cup trophies, four ahead of Australia and 23 more than Great Britain and France, they have won just four titles since claiming back-to-back championships in 1981-82. The U.S. won its most recent hardware in December when the talented doubles tandem of Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Russians Igor Andreev and Nikolay Davydenko to clinch the best-of-five World Group series final, 3-0.