UPDATE 4-Tennis-Davis-Roddick win clinches for U.S.

...

By Jan Lopatka

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic, Andy Roddick's four-set victory over Tomas Berdych put the U.S. into the Davis Cup quarter-finals as the Americans beat the Czech Republic 4-1 in their first round tie on Sunday.

The former world number one beat Berdych 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-6 to give the U.S. an unbeatable 3-1 lead before Bob Bryan downed Lukas Dlouhy 7-6 6-4 in the dead rubber to close out the tie.

The U.S. will face Spain in the quarter-finals after the Spaniards beat Switzerland.

The Americans, who have won the cup 31 times but not since 1995, have made it clear they are very serious this year after the long drought.

"That's a stat I do not like, especially considering I have been on the team for the seventh year now," said Roddick. "I'd love to be a part of a winning Davis Cup team."

Backed by a boisterous home crowd, Berdych was on the offensive 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.

MORE AGGRESSIVE

"I knew that I was probably going to have to be more aggressive than I was the other day," Roddick said referring to his opening singles win over Ivo Minar.

"I was going to have to... basically hit a firmer ball because he's so good in being aggressive and he serves so hard that if I gave him a chance to be aggressive, then it would be a very very long day for me."

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

Berdych said he took a rare chance in the first set but failed to capitalise on his plan to try to exploit Roddick's backhand.

"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," said world number 12 Berdych.

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 won in straight sets on Saturday.

Roddick said he was looking forward to getting back on a hard court in the next round after helping the Americans to their first win on clay in a decade.

"I remember the court that we played on (in the 2004 final against Spain) and it was similar to a sand box. So I'm sure we'll return the favour and I'm sure the court won't be too slow when we play at home," he said.

(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]