THE SCOOP: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

US to meet Spain in dream Davis Cup final
Serena stops Kuznetsova in Beijing final

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Fred Mullane/Camerawork USA

Rafael Nadal may be a No. 1 player as Spain takes on the US in the Davis Cup final in December.

After shutting out Belarus 4-0, the US Davis Cup team's confidence was as high as a kite after being soaked in a six-pack of Alhambra. Even though none of them had even an average clay court season, US captain Pat McEnroe's boys are secure enough in their abilities to predict that they could seriously challenge Spain anyway.

"On paper if you look at clay court results, we're probably the underdog, but I'm definitely going to work hard and try to get in really good shape and be ready for the tie," said Andy Roddick, who won both his matches defeating Vladimir Voltchkov 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday and then cruised past Alexander Skrypko 6-4, 6-2 victory in Sunday's dead rubber. "I definitely think that we can give ourselves a chance to win. We're all looking forward to it. It's going to be a great opportunity."

Spain wrapped up its tie against France when Rafael Nadal scored one of the biggest wins of his young career, wasting Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

Mardy Fish, who scored a huge win over top Belarussian Max Mirnyi Friday, feels the same way as Roddick does. The US will travel to Spain for the final (likely in either Madrid or Seville), Dec. 3-5. "We can definitely play, and I think we can beat Spain. You know it would take a hell of an effort, that's for sure," Fish said.

The US leads Spain 4-2 in their career meetings, with the US winning their last meeting in the '02 quarterfinals in Houston on grass. But the US team has done nothing on clay in recent years. The last time they traveled to Spain to play a tie was in 2000, when under then captain John McEnroe, they were shut out.

Now US captain Pat McEnroe knows his team will be underdogs against the deep Spaniards, which has a ton of options in singles, including former Roland Garros champs Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Moya and Albert Costa, and young guns Nadal and Tommy Robredo. Those two kids came up huge in doubles on Saturday, upsetting Clement/Michael Llodra in five. "We're going to have to go there and be ready to go to war," McEnroe said. "To go play five sets on clay, that's very physically demanding. [Beating Spain] would be an amazing experience for us. It wouldn't be amazing as far as a huge upset, but it would be an amazing thrill for the team."

Nadal thrilled the fans in a bizarre weekend in Alicante, where France's Fabrice Santoro got injured in his match against Juan Carlos Ferrero and was unable to play the doubles. Then Moya got hurt in his loss to Paul-Henri Mathieu, which led to Spanish captain Jordi Arrese making the call for Nadal. The baby-faced lefty responded brilliantly, crushing Clement. Given how physically put upon Ferrero has been this year and how creaky Moya in becoming, Nadal could very well be tabbed to play singles.

Now the speculation will begin as to whether Andre Agassi will reconsider his decision not to play Davis Cup. Agassi hasn't played since 2000, but he is still the US best clay courter. "It would be great – Roddick, Agassi and the [Bryan] twins, it would be one of the best finals possible. But I don't know if he's going to change his mind right now," Moya said.

McEnroe likes the makeup of his current squad of good buddies, but if Agassi says he's interested, McEnroe will be under serious pressure to choose the legend. "When you bring the [current team] together in the Davis Cup situation, it's ideal for them because they really thrive off of each other," said McEnroe. "That's helped our entire cause and it's helped Davis Cup and the country. I think there's a real buzz coming back."

The US hasn't won a title since 1995. Spain fell in last year's final to Australia.

WTA Tour

Serena Williams takes her first trophy in six months.

Serena stops Kuznetsova in Beijing final
Serena Williams scored her biggest victory since taking out Amelie Mauresmo in the Wimbledon semis when she won her first title in more than five months and ended Svetlana Kuznetsova 14-match winning 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the final of the China Open.

Williams was down 4-5 and two match points in the second set, but used her legendary fight to come back. Eventually, she outstroked the physically imposing Russian. "Even though she had a couple of match points, I never gave up," Serena said. "It was encouraging that I could win without playing my best. "

Serena nailed the victory on her 23rd birthday and said that because of her faith, the Jehovah's Witness wouldn't hold a party on Sunday. That's almost sure to come sometime next week. "I've never won a tournament on my birthday before," Williams said. "Even though I don't celebrate, it was a good present. I just didn't want to give up. I didn't want to lose."

Serena's last title came in Miami in early April. With the win in China, she broke her longest title drought since the beginning of 1999. Williams had a Fed Cup-type run through the fathomless nation of Russia, defeating Dinara Safina, Nadia Petrova, Vera Zvonareva and US Open champ Kuznetsova.

"I made her earn it, I didn't give it away," said Kuznetsova, who crushed Maria Sharapova in the semis. "I made her work and the crowd was on her side, but I didn't let that bother me. I am used to that. I'm sure the Chinese fans will learn to appreciate all the players once they get to know us. … I'm not used to losing so I'm pretty disappointed. Thought the most important thing was that I fought hard, never gave up. I was tired and I missed a couple of forehands and lost my two match points."