MOSCOW, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Marat Safin and Mikhail Youzhny posted singles victories Friday, giving Russia a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Davis Cup semifinal with the United States.
The United States needs a victory in Saturday's doubles and a sweep of Sunday's reverse singles to avoid elimination.
Safin opened the tie with a straight-set victory over No. 3 ranked Andy Roddick, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). And Youzhny pushed Russia to the verge of the finals with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5 win over No. 9 James Blake.
The U.S. hopes rest on the No. 1-ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan, who face the team of Youzhny and Dmitry Tursunov in Saturday's doubles match.
Sunday sees reverse singles from Friday with Roddick paired against Youzhny and Blake meeting Safin.
The winner of the Moscow Davis Cup tie, which is being played on a clay court, advances to the title match in December against the winner of an Australia-Argentina semifinal.
