Roddick Gets U.S. Even in Belgium

Trying to stay alive in the elite group of Davis Cup, the U.S. rebounded with a straight-set victory by Andy Roddick on Friday to tie Belgium, 1-1, after James Blake lost the opener of the best-of-five series at Leuven, Belgium.

Roddick overpowered Christophe Rochus, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, on the indoor red clay at the Sportplaza. Earlier, Rochus’ brother Olivier opened with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Blake.

Roddick, trying to atone for his first-round loss at the U.S. Open, served 13 aces, fired passing shots at will and finished the match with a cross-court winner. Christophe Rochus made numerous unforced errors and was never in contention against the third-ranked American.

“I felt good from the start,” Roddick said. “I controlled the beginning of each set and that was pretty much it.”

In today’s doubles, twins Bob and Mike Bryan are big favorites against Olivier Rochus and Kristof Vliegen. Sunday’s singles pits Roddick against Olivier Rochus and Blake against Christophe.

“Our doubles are sharp, and I expect them to play well,” U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said.

The winner of the series remains in the 16-nation World Group; the loser drops to zonal play next year.

In the 105 years of Davis Cup competition, the U.S. team, winner of 31 titles, has lost three matches in a row only once. After losing the Davis Cup final to Spain last year, the Americans followed with a 3-2 first-round loss to Croatia this year.

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Argentina, trying to reach its first Davis Cup final since 1981, got a victory by David Nalbandian over Dominik Hrbaty to even its semifinal series with Slovakia at 1-1 on the first day of the best-of-five series.

The semifinal between Croatia and Russia also was tied, 1-1.

Argentina is playing in its third semifinal in four years. Slovakia reached the semifinals for the first time after beating last year’s champion, Spain, and the Netherlands. Russia is the only semifinalist to have won the Davis Cup.

At Bratislava, Slovakia, Karol Beck gave the home country an early lead in a hard-court match by defeating eighth-ranked Guillermo Coria, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4. Nalbandian tied it by downing Hrbaty, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3.

In Split, Croatia, Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko beat Mario Ancic, 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. Ivan Ljubicic tied it with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over Mikhail Youzhny.

“It was probably the best indoor match I have ever played,” Davydenko said.