Bob Bryan wraps up comfortable U.S. win

By Jon Bramley

VIENNA (Reuters) - Doubles specialist Bob Bryan put the seal on a crushing 4-1 victory over Austria on Sunday to set holders United States off to an assured start in their Davis Cup defence.

After watching his twin brother and doubles partner Mike limp off after one set against Austrian number one Stefan Koubek with a left hamstring injury, Bob Bryan completed victory with a 6-0 3-6 7-6 win over Werner Eschauer.

The left-hander seemed on course for a far easier day after cruising through the first set in 25 minutes but Eschauer found his confidence and took the second with a series of well angled ground strokes and the odd inspired drop shot.

The third set went with serve until the 33-year-old Austrian, playing only his second Davis Cup singles, tightened up badly in the 11th game on his serve and three unforced errors plus a double fault appeared to have let Bryan in for victory.

Eschauer battled back superbly to rescue two match points and a miscued top-spinner sent the encounter into a tiebreak but Bryan's extra nous and heavier weight of shot eventually told.

RULED OUT

Bob Bryan has now won three of his five Davis Cup singles but he ruled out any suggestions of launching a career in that form of tennis after beating a man ranked 58th in the world.