Blake 6-6 Youzhny
Handful of decent serves from JB are good enough to bring a third consecutive tie break. Here we go again....I'm tired mummy....

Blake 5-6 Youzhny
I tell you what, Youzhny is just ready and rockin' for the 5th set, he looks as fit as you like. I just caught Patrick McEnroe throwing his head back in anguish. He wants a fifth set about at much as you want be in a lift with someone whose twenty stone after a night on Guiness...

Blake 5-5 Youzhny
What's this all about?!?! Blake shows some real impatience and Youzhny breaks back immediately....that's gotta hurt brutha. Just when you thought Blake had it all taken care of, he lobs it away. This is a ripper of a match.

Blake 5-4 Youzhny
Was that the moment? Is this the moment? JB breaks the Russian and jumps higher than Michael Jordan in his prime. It's high fives all round with Mc! He's one game away from putting the USA 2-0 up!

Blake 4-4 Youzhny
It was inevitable and there we have it. That's the first real U-S-A U-S-A of this match anyway. The Oregan's find their lungs to lift their home boy who holds serve with not much drama.

Blake 3-4 Youzhny
They've been on court for three hours. Both these guys last tournament was four weeks ago, but does that mean they are fresh are short of match fitness? Time will tell, that is about the only thing I can be sure of right now. Oh no, I tell a lie, I am sure that MY is now 4-3 up. 

18.35
"Youzhny seems to have got the momentum at this stage."
Chris Bowers on Davis Cup Radio

Blake 3-3 Youzhny
I've just seen Andy Roddick picking his nose. Are milliionaires allowed to do that sort of thing? JB was just picking winners. We are at 3's.

Blake 2-3 Youzhny
Youzhny has come back from 0-2 down twice in his career. Will today be the first? Lets see how many rhetorical questions I can throw at you? Are you annoyed of them yet? One incredible rally sees Youzhny take the point and the lead and he is nothing short of delighted....

Blake 2-2 Youzhny
JB brings it back to level pegging. Whose going to break down first?

Blake 1-2 Youzhny
Every point gets a little fist shake a la Tim Henman and Youzhny takes the lead in the fourth. Blake has a history of losing five setters. Will that be playing on his mind yet?

Blake 1-1 Youzhny
That was easy street for the intelligent American, serving out to love. It looks like he's got his game face back on.

Blake 0-1 Youzhny
The Russian boys will be happy with that start as MY is hopping around like a kangaroo on speed.

18:15
"Blake's body language is just showing signs of frustration."
Chris Bowers on Davis Cup Radio

THIRD SET RUSSIA 6-7

Blake 6-7 Youzhny

That's the third set for the Russian and he's skipping around like a new-born lamb. Wow, that was gutsy....GAME ON, MATCH ON, FINAL ON!!!!

Blake 3-7 Youzhny  

Blake 3-6 Youzhny  

Blake 3-5 Youzhny 

Blake 2-5 Youzhny 

Blake 2-4 Youzhny 

Blake 2-3 Youzhny 

Blake 2-2 Youzhny 

Blake 1-2 Youzhny 

Blake 1-2 Youzhny 

Blake 1-1 Youzhny 

Blake 1-0 Youzhny 

Tie break

Blake 6-6 Youzhny

30-0 up, 30 all, Youzhny closes it out and that was a cracking game.  So, here we go again with another tie break. I will attempt to do this point by point, but I've got big fingers so anything could happen...!

Blake 6-5 Youzhny

Billie Jean King has been spotted, is up on her feet and can't get enough of it!! Thats three on the bounce for the athletic American and the jam packed stadium is red, white and blue manic.

17.55
"Is Youzhny choking...?!?"

Eli Weinstein on Davis Cup Radio

Blake 5-5 Youzhny

Danger time for Russia! Youzhny fluffs two forehands and the Americans are up in arms..it's 5 a piece!! Shocking from the Russian...genuinely poor.

Blake 4-5 Youzhny

JB holds with a much better service game and manages to break MY's strings in the process.

Blake 3-5 Youzhny
Blake rifles the ball straight at MY who has to get his racket in the way to protect himself. That was a statement shot from the American and there was no apology. It's business time, but it's not enough for JB as the Russian takes one step closer to the third set.

Blake 3-4 Youzhny

JB stays calm and pockets the game with a Pete Sampras like smash.

Blake 2-4 Youzhny 

Good power and solid accuracy from Youzhny, whose deep slices are piling the pressure on the head banded American. Ten aces from Youzie and there's a bit of daylight in the game scores.

Blake 2-3 Youzhny

Well, well, well, lookey here...Youzhny breaks JB's serve and runs at full sprint to the arms of his skipper, whose got a smile broader than a 7 year old on Xmas day. 

Blake 2-2 Youzhny
Ooomphhh, Blake whacks a forehand that literally knocks the Russian off his feet, but the Russian steadies himself to get back on level terms. There's still plenty of suspense in this one. 

Blake 2-1 Youzhny
Blake is just about sticking in there at the moment and hammers a forehand down the line to sneak in front again. The band fire it up  and its disco inferno time and I can't think of any more temperature based analogies!

Blake 1-1 Youzhny
Beautiful, beautiful backhands from Mikh who brings things back to even stevens.

Blake 1-0 Youzhny 
Awesome stuff from JB as he bosses that game pretty comfortably. Patrick Mc has gotta be loving this, but Tarpischev is slid right down in his Adecco bench.

17:21
"My feeling is this could be one way traffic because James Blake is such a good front runner."
Craig Gabriel on Davis Cup Radio

Blake 7-6 Youzhny
Couple of shocking forehands by Youzhny and that's a hammer blow for the Russians as JB snaffles the second set. The Portland crowd have lost the plot...I'm sure I just saw a little boy thrown about six foot in the air...

Blake 6-6 Youzhny
Ace number eight for Blake's and we have a tie-break you'arrll.

17.10
"Blake's been number 4 in the world and not without reason."
Eli Weinstein on Davis Cup Radio

Blake 5-6 Youzhny 
Youzhny keeps his nose in front with his best service game in a while. The crowd are getting excited because - tshirts are about to be fired into the stands- everyone loves a free t-shirt ! 

Blake 5-5 Youzhny 
Blake keeps up the pressure, in no small part due to three backhands into the net from the Russian. Blake takes the game with a magnificient inside-out forehand.

Blake 4-5 Youzhny 
That was hysterical, the ball boy fell over when picking  the ball up, all over the shop.  Youzhny then gives the little fella a high five... lovely touch.  No time for high jinx now though, its on a knife edge.

Blake 4-4 Youzhny 
JB's serve was sharper than a butcher's knife there with a love game - it's all sqaure.

Blake 3-4 Youzhny 
Youzhy is expressing himself heaps more and you get the feeling this set could set the tone for the rest of the whole tie. This is getting interesting...and Tracy Austin is here....!

Blake 3-3 Youzhny 
The longest game of the match with the longest rally of the match, that was a big big game for the USA to win with Youzhny blowing two break points.

16:40
"Youzhny is starting to look like a real threat now."
Chris Bowers on Davis Cup Radio

Blake 2-3 Youzhny 
Blake shows some mental anticipation in one sensational point, but Mikh is battening down the hatches to hold serve.

Blake 2-2 Youzhny 
Youzhny breaks back immediately there and the Russians get busy making some noise.

Blake 2-1 Youzhny
Well, I agree with the man Bowers as JB keeps the energy up at 100% and there's the first break of the set. Youzhny looks distinctly unhappy.

16:22
"Youzhny is looking like this is a little bit too much like hard work and a little bit fragile."
Chris Bowers on Davis Cup Radio

Blake 1- 1 Youzhny
A Rod is back in the stadium wearing a very fetching beany...its not that cold in here big man. Talking of temperature, JB keeps sizzling and levels things up.

Blake 0- 1 Youzhny
The baby faced Russian needed a decent start to that set and he's got it. Concrete service game.

FIRST SET USA 6-3

Blake 6-3 Youzhny
Lordy, that is a set and a half from JB who is more fired up than the flame grills in Portland's Burger King. The crowd have gone nuts, on their feet and jigging away as USA take the first set.

Blake 5-3 Youzhny 
Youzhny comes up with a much better service game than his last effort and wins it easily.

Blake 5-2 Youzhny
The best rally of the match by a country mile sees JB hit one mega fizzing cross court forehand to nail the game. He is so hot right now...and his tennis isn't bad either!

16:04
“Blake’s tactic is to impose his game on the Russian and force him to make mistakes”.
Eli Weinstein on Fed Cup Radio

Blake 4-2 Youzhny
A confidence booster for the Russian, whose backhand is warming up, real sweet. There seems to be a lot in the tank that isn't firing at the minute.

Blake 4-1 Youzhny
JB continues to step on the gas and it's all out attack. However, there were signs there that the Russian is getting into the match. Skipper Patrick Mc is off his bench for the first time and gets the old fist pumping going.

Blake 3-1 Youzhny
Well, finally the shaven headed Russian gets off the dreaded bagel with a solid service game, finishing it off with a slick backhand.

Blake 3-0 Youzhny
A change of racket doesn't help Youzhny as Blake holds his serve with his first ace of the match.

Blake 2-0 Youzhny
Youzhny is massively affected by the pressure here and looks like a new kid at school whose got no friends. Blake hits one of the most incredible lobs I have ever seen and takes the first break of the match. The Russians are already in trouble.

15:40
"Blake is a very athletic guy."
Eli Weinstein on Davis Cup Radio

Blake 1-0 Youzhny
A very confident start by JB, cleaning up the first game with a very elegant smash.

15:36
We have lift off here, its JB to get things cracking. GAME ON!!!!

15:34
Blake is wearing his trade mark head band and sleeveless white top, he looks a top athlete this lad. Youzhny is an peacock blue shirt with black shorts....not long now folks, it's nearly showtime and what a show the USTA are putting on....top drawer ladies and gentleman.

15:28
Well, that was one damn fine show from the A-Rod, he was seriously up for that. The Russians have got a real match on their hands and this one is not going to be easy for World No. 19 Mikhail Youzhny.