When the United States takes on France in the Davis Cup semifinals in Roland Garros stadium starting Friday, the teams continue a rivalry that began in 1905.

	U.S.A. vs. France
	Result	Round	Surface
	1995
	USA def. France 4-1 St. Petersburg, Fla.	1R	Indoor Carpet
	1991
	France def. USA 3-1 Lyon, France	F	Indoor Carpet
	1989
	USA def. France 5-0 San Diego, Calif.	Q	Indoor Carpet
	1982
	USA def. France 4-1 Grenoble, France	F	Indoor Clay
	1932
	France def. USA 3-2 Paris, France	F	Clay
	1930
	France def. USA 4-1 Paris, France	F	Clay
	1929
	France def. USA 3-2 Paris, France	F	Clay
	1928
	France def. USA 4-1 Paris, France	F	Clay
	1927
	France def. USA 3-2 Philadelphia, Pa.	F	Grass
	1926
	USA def. France 4-1 Philadelphia, Pa.	F	Grass
	1925
	USA def. France 5-0 Philadelphia, Pa.	F	Grass
	1920
	USA def. France 3-0 Eastbourne, England	1R	Grass
	1926
	USA def. France 4-1 Philadelphia, Pa.	F	Grass
	1905
	USA def. France 5-0 London, England	1R	Grass

There wouldn't even be a stade Roland Garros if not for Davis Cup and one U.S. player. Strangely enough, Roland Garros is the house that American Bill Tilden built. Or more accurately, built by the rivalry between France and the United States. Don't worry if this is the first you've heard of it. After all, it happened 74 years ago.

In 1927, after being the runner-up in '25-26, France broke the United States' seven-year deadlock on the Davis Cup.

In anticipation of a potential rematch in 1928, the French Tennis Federation -- counting on major revenue from a tie between Tilden and their "Four Musketeers" (Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet and Rene Lacoste) -- built Roland Garros.

But the French federation nearly fell into financial trouble when Tilden's troubles made international headlines. He was suspended by the United States Lawn Tennis Association for violating his amateur status by receiving money for filing newspaper reports during Wimbledon.

As fans began to ask for refunds for tickets bought months in advance, the French Tennis Federation asked the French Foreign Ministry to inquire about Tilden's reinstatement with the U.S. Ambassador to France, Myron Herrick. Eventually, President Calvin Coolidge endorsed Tilden's reinstatement. Herrick suggested that the USLTA devise some sort of punishment for Tilden -- to be delivered following the Davis Cup tie -- but for him to be reinstated "in the interest of international good feeling."

In the meantime, Joseph Wear, the Davis Cup committee chairman for the USLTA (and the great, great uncle of President George W. Bush) became captain of the team, replacing Tilden, who served as playing captain. Wear lead the U.S. team through a semifinals victory over Italy to reach the final round.

The USLTA bowed under the international pressure and Tilden was able to play, although he did not captain the team. The United States lost the '28 tie to France 4-1 in front of overflowing crowds, and France would win the next four Davis Cups.

In 2002, it will be the first time the United States has played France in Paris since 1932. And 70 years ago, the competition ended on such a controversial call that Davis Cup founder Dwight Davis ordered the U.S. team to boycott the official dinner afterward.

On the final day of that competition, the United States was trailing France 2-1. Texan Wilmer Allison was leading Borotra 5-4 in the fifth set. On match point, Borotra hit a second serve that reportedly landed almost four inches out. Allison began to approach the net to shake hands, but no out call came. A distraught Allison won only one more point in the match, losing to give France a 3-1 lead.

"I only ever heard him cuss once," said U.S. team member John Van Ryn said of Davis, who inaugurated the Davis Cup competition in 1900, "and it was then."

The rivalry waned but was rekindled 20 years ago when Peter Fleming and John McEnroe defeated Henri Leconte and Yannick Noah 6-3, 6-5, 9-7 to clinch the victory for the United States. It's also when Fleming answered that famous question as to who was the best doubles team in tennis. Answer: "John McEnroe and anybody."

Only Britain has a more historic Davis Cup rivalry with the United States, dating back to the first Davis Cup matches played in 1900. The United States and France first met July 13-15, 1905, at Queen's Club in London, with the United States taking a 5-0 victory. The United States leads the all-time series 7-6.

The last time the United States met France in Davis Cup play was in the opening round in 1995. That's also the last year that the United States, which has the most titles at 31, won the Davis Cup.