Safin Helps Russia Win Davis Cup Doubles

Russia's Marat Safin, left, reacts after defeating Argentina's David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri at the Davis Cup Final tennis match in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006 as Dmitry Tursunov, right, looks on. Russian pair Marat Safin and Dmitry Tursunov won 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (Ivan Sekretarev - AP)

Russia is trying to the Davis Cup title at home for the first time _ it defeated France in 2002 in Paris. The Soviet Union also beat Argentina in 1985 in Buenos Aires.

Russia hasn't lost a Davis Cup series at home since 1995, when Pete Sampras won all three of his matches to lead the United States to victory in the final. Russia also lost the 1994 final to Sweden. Argentina lost its only previous Davis Cup final, to the United States in 1981.

Tarpishchev is becoming known for late substitutions. In the semifinal against the United States, he replaced Youzhny with Tursunov, who clinched Russia's finals berth by outlasting Andy Roddick in a nearly five-hour match.

Youzhny says he has fully recovered from the foot injury that prompted his withdrawal from the St. Petersburg Open in late October, but he has not played a competitive match since.

Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, an avid tennis fan, joined Safin and Tursunov on the court after the match, taking each by the hand and raising their arms in triumph.

Maradona spoke with Safin on the court in Spanish.

"He is a phenomenon," Maradona said. "He and Tursunov gave Argentina no chance to break serve today. Everything went well for them."

Safin had never met Maradona before, although the Russian was well aware of the infamous "hand of God" goal in Argentina's 2-1 quarterfinal victory over England in the 1986 World Cup.

"It was a great honor to shake the hand with which he scored a goal," Safin said.