Andy Roddick swept the United States into the Davis Cup final here on Sunday by defeating Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman in straight sets. Their opponents in the championship match, which will be hosted by the United States, will be Russia who won the two reverse singles to defeat Germany 3-2 in Moscow.
Roddick's 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 win over the veteran home player in the first of the reverse singles gave Patrick McEnroe's team an unbeatable 3-1 lead. The world No 5 won the opening singles on Friday against Joachim Johansson 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, while Thomas Johansson levelled for the Swedes by beating James Blake 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
On Saturday Bob and Mike Bryan put the visitors ahead again by winning the doubles against Borkman and Simon Aspelin 7-6 (13/11), 6-2, 6-3.
"It's a big dream come true and I have so much respect for the Swedish team," said Roddick. "I think we have the right team to win and I am exited to have the opportunity."
Roddick, who lost to Roger Federer in the quarter-finals of the US Open before coming to Sweden, always looked to have to much power and pace for Bjorkman who got the nod from Swedish captain Mats Wilander ahead of Thomas Johansson.
The American comfortably won the first set after breaking serve in the fourth game and it was only in the second that Bjorkman put up much of the defence taking it to a tie-break in which Roddick jumped out into a decisive 3-0 lead, There was a sense of inevitability about the third set as Roddick wrapped up the match in two hours two minutes taking his country into the Davis Cup final for the first time since 2004.
They last won the silver salver in 1995 defeating Russia 3-2 in the final in Moscow. The Russians started the final day 1-2 down at home to Germany but levelled when Mikhail Youzhny, replacing Nikolay Davydenko, beat Philipp Petzschner 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the deciding rubber. US team captain Pat McEnroe said that the final in early December would likely be held indoors on a hard surface.
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