Roddick wins as US book Davis Cup semi-final berth

11 Apr, 2006

Andy Roddick's four-set victory over Fernando Gonzalez put the United States into the Davis Cup semi-finals on Sunday as the Americans downed Chile 3-2.
The United States booked a semi-final clash with Russia, who beat France in their quarter-final tie.
Roddick defeated Gonzalez 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 to give the hosts an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five match tie.
Chile's Paul Capdeville then beat James Blake 6-3, 6-4 in the meaningless fifth rubber.
The top-ranked American at No 4 in the world, Roddick finished the week with two singles victories, having beaten double Olympic champion Nicolas Massu 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) on Friday.
Roddick improved his Davis Cup record to 20-7, including 7-0 when in a position to clinch the tie. After hitting a forehand volley on match point - his 50th winner of the day - Roddick celebrated with a slide across the grass court of the Mission Hills Country Club.
Roddick seized the second set with a service break in the 12th game, when Gonzalez's backhand clipped the net and jumped wide. Tension mounted in the third, in which Roddick broke in the second game en route to a 4-1 lead. Gonzalez broke back in the seventh game with a blistering forehand crosscourt winner.
But Roddick seized another break in the next game - which included an umpire overrule in Roddick's favour as well as a forehand from Roddick that was judged good to set up break point - much to the disgust of Gonzalez who thought it was just outside the sideline.
On the next point, Gonzalez belted a forehand long, leaving Roddick to serve out the set. Walking back to his chair, Gonzalez slammed his racquet into the net post, earning a warning for racquet abuse as Gildemeister engaged in animated dialogue with officials. Despite the distractions, Roddick was in control in the mfourth, breaking Gonzalez three times to clinch the victory.
Roddick's win over Massu had put the US level at 1-1 after the first day, on which Gonzalez opened the tie with a gritty 6-7 (5/7), 0-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 10-8 triumph over James Blake.
Bob and Mike Bryan gave the hosts a 2-1 bulge on Saturday with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 doubles victory over Paul Capdeville and Adrian Garcia after Gildemeister elected to rest Gonzalez and Massu, who had beaten the Bryans en route to winning Olympic doubles gold in 2004.
At Melbourne, Australia
Australia 5 Belarus 0
Chris Guccione (AUS) bt Alexandr Zotov (BLR) 6-1, 6-3
Wayne Arthurs (AUS) bt Siarhei Tarasevich (BLR) 7-6 (8/6), 6-2
Played Saturday
Wayne Arthurs/Paul Hanley (AUS) bt Max Mirnyi/Vladimir Voltchkov (BLR) 3-6, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5
Played Friday
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) bt Vladimir Voltchkov (BLR) 6-2, 6-1, 6-2
Chris Guccione (AUS) bt Max Mirnyi (BLR) 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
At Pau, France
France 1 Russia 4
Dimitry Tursunov (RUS) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 7-5
Mikhail Youhzny (RUS) bt Mickael Llodra (FRA) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3)
Saturday Arnaud Clement/Mickael Llodra (FRA) bt Mikhail Youhzny/Dimitry Tursunov (RUS) 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 5-7, 6-2
Friday Marat Safin (RUS) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA) 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 6-1
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) bt Arnaud Clement (FRA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)
At Zagreb
Croatia 2 Argentina 3
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) bt David Nalbandian (ARG) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) bt Sasa Tuksar (CRO) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5)
Saturday Jose Acasuso/David Nalbandian (ARG) bt Marin Cilic/Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
Friday Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) bt Agustin Calleri (ARG) 6-7 (7/9), 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 6-2
David Nalbandian (ARG) bt Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
At Rancho Mirage, California
United States 3 Chile 2
Andy Roddick (USA) bt Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2
Paul Capdeville (CHI) bt James Blake (USA) 6-3, 6-4
Saturday Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) bt Paul Capdeville/Adrian Garcia (CHI) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
Friday Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) bt James Blake (USA) 6-7 (5/7), 0-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 10-8
Andy Roddick (USA) bt Nicolas Massu (CHI) 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5).

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