Blake Pushes U.S. Into Davis Cup Tie

James Blake did just what he was supposed to do as the lone veteran on the U.S. Davis Cup team.

Blake beat Mario Ancic, 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (5), Friday to lift the United States into a 1-1 tie with Croatia in the first round at Zagreb, Croatia.

Ivan Ljubicic had given Croatia the early lead in the best-of-five series by serving 30 aces to defeat Mardy Fish, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, on the quick indoor court.

With Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi skipping Davis Cup and Andy Roddick out because of a wrist injury, the 23-year-old Blake is the only experienced member of the U.S. squad.

And his first Davis Cup match came only 15 months ago, but he improved his record to 8-1.

The Americans have won the Davis Cup a record 31 times, but their last title came in 1995. They can take a 2-1 lead today by winning the doubles, in which Blake and Fish will take on 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, who had left shoulder surgery in May, and Ljubicic.

At Sydney, Australia’s doubles combination of Lleyton Hewitt and Todd Woodbridge beat Britain’s Arvind Parmar and Miles Maclagan, 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, today to complete a 3-0 sweep in a world group Davis Cup match.

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Serena Williams coasted into the Gaz de France Open semifinals at Paris by beating Janette Husarova of Slovakia, 6-3, 6-3. Second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova lost to Elena Dementieva, 7-5, 6-3, and fourth-seeded Jelena Dokic was upset by Eleni Daniilidou, 6-1, 6-3.... Fifth-seeded Iroda Tulyaganova beat Japan’s Akiko Morigami, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the final of the Indian Open at Hyderabad, India. Tulyaganova will face Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn, who beat Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, 7-5, 6-4.... Martina Hingis, winner of five Grand Slam tournament titles, gave her clearest indication to date that she is planning to retire. She told the French sports newspaper L’Equipe: “A return to competition is inconceivable, in the short term at least.”

Track and Field

Two-time Olympic champion Gail Devers, 36, set a U.S. indoor record in the 60-meter hurdles in the Millrose Games at New York, finishing in 7.78 seconds. Stacy Dragila also reset her U.S. record in the pole vault, clearing 15 feet 5 3/4 inches.

Both upstaged Maurice Greene, who had a disappointing finish in the 60-meter dash, finishing third in 6.57 behind winner and hurdle specialist Terrence Trammell (6.51) and 20-year-old Justin Gatlin (6.54).

Devers broke the record of 7.81, set by Jackie Joyner-Kersee on Feb. 5, 1989.

Baseball

Commissioner Bud Selig is urging Marge Schott to drop her lawsuit seeking better seats in Cincinnati’s new ballpark, but the former controlling owner of the Reds has no plans to drop her case.

Schott sued Monday, saying she’s entitled to a private box and premium-section seats in the Great American Ball Park, comparable to what she had in Cinergy Field.

Tampa Bay Devil Ray pitcher Jesus Colome was questioned by police at Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic, after he was involved in a wreck that killed three women in another car.... Mark McGwire rejected the St. Louis Cardinals’ offer to be an instructor at spring training.

Pro Football

Cornerback Jimmy Spencer will be a player-coach next season for the Denver Broncos. Spencer, 33, will assist defensive backs coach David Gibbs. Spencer spent the last three of his 11 NFL seasons with the Broncos.

Miscellany

Indonesian boxer Yohanes Franciscus, 19, died Thursday from head injuries sustained in a fight Tuesday night, the World Boxing Council said at Jakarta, Indonesia. The fighter died after being knocked out in the seventh round of a scheduled eight-round bout against countryman Slamet Nizar.

Olympic gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno was disqualified for impeding while making a pass on the final lap in the semifinal round of the 1,500 meters in the World Cup short track speed skating event at Kearns, Utah.