Andy Roddick did just enough to beat Joachim Johansson 7-6 7-6 6-3 to give the United States a 1-0 lead over Sweden in their Davis Cup semi-final on Friday. In a battle of giant servers, with neither player broken in the first two sets, Roddick made the most of the decisive moments.
Leading 4-3 in the third set, the American earned a break point thanks to a poor smash that Johansson sent wide, followed by a missed forehand by the Swede that handed Roddick the break. Roddick then served out to clinch the match. "I had a little advantage in the tie-breaks," said Roddick, who took his second win in three meetings with Johansson.
In the first set tie-break, Roddick got a 2-0 mini-break thanks to a netted backhand by Johansson, then held his serve before another mistake on the backhand by Johansson handed him the tie-break 7-4.