UPDATE 2-Tennis-Davis-Roddick win puts U.S. in quarter-finals

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By Jan Lopatka

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic, Former world number one Andy Roddick beat Tomas Berdych 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to give the U.S. an unbeatable 3-1 lead in their Davis Cup first round tie against the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Backed by a boisterous home crowd, Berdych jumped to an early, converting the only break point of the first set in the seventh game as the two hard serving players battled from the baseline.

But Roddick, riding high after reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open last month, used breaks early in both the second and third sets to take control of the match as Berdych suffered leg cramps that needed medical attention.

Both players held serve through the fourth set but Roddick opened the tiebreak with a breathtaking backhand service return and he rolled from there to take the match.

"I played flawlessly in the first set, I got one chance there and made use of it. But in a game with a player like this, there aren't many chances," Berdych, ranked 12th in the world, said.

The U.S. will face Spain in the quarter-finals after the Spaniards also took an unassailable 3-1 lead over Switzerland.

The United States, who have won the cup 31 times though not since 1995, have made it clear they are very serious this year.

World number four Roddick has teamed up with number six James Blake to give the Americans a strong singles contingent, while the formidable doubles pairing of Australian Open champions Bob and Mike Bryan -- who won in straight sets on Saturday -- have been nearly unbeatable in Davis Cup play.

(Additional reporting by Alan Crosby) ((Editing by Rex Gowar, London Sports Desk; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: TENNIS DAVIS/CZECH

[Reuters/Finance.cz]