Roddick leads US past Chile, into quarters
Posted March 6, 2011 3:45 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SANTIAGO, Chile — Andy Roddick defeated Paul Capdeville 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-3 Sunday, giving the United States an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the Davis Cup first-round series against Chile.
Roddick is 12-0 in matches that can clinch a Davis Cup series for the United States. He has played in 24 career ties since 2001 and has a 33-11 record.
“It’s always sweet, and every time you clinch one you think it’s the sweetest,” Roddick said. “I think it’s also pretty satisfactory when everything is stacked against you — you got the (clay) court, the crowd. It’s a mental grind and you have to try and ignore everything.”
The Americans will play Spain in the quarter-final round in July in the U.S. The Spanish team led by Rafael Nadal beat Belgium 4-1 this weekend. Roddick’s hometown of Austin, Texas, is being considered as the host, along with San Antonio and Albany, New York.
The U.S. team last played a home series in March 2009, beating Switzerland 4-1 at Birmingham, Alabama.
“I think it’s been no secret that I’ve wanted that (to play in Austin), so I certainly appreciate the effort put forward and hopefully we can get it,” Roddick said. “It would be a dream come true to play at home a really cool experience.
“A guy named Rafa coming to town will provide a little bit of energy. It’s as good a second round as I’ve ever seen. Any place will be good as I’m just happy it will be on U.S. soil.”
In completed first-round World Group series, Argentina closed out a 4-1 victory over Romania, Russia salvaged two matches in a 3-2 defeat to Sweden, and Germany defeated Croatia 3-2 when Philipp Petzschner beat Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5).
Chile and the U.S. could have abandoned the dead-rubber fifth match under a new Davis Cup rule because Sunday’s first reverse singles match went four sets, but John Isner and Guillermo Rivera-Aranguiz elected to play.
The No. 165th-ranked Capdeville was behind a break in the first set when he broke serve in the sixth and eighth games to go ahead 5-3 and serve out the set in the ninth game.
The No. 8-ranked Roddick patiently waited for his opportunity to pull away from Capdeville in the second set tiebreaker, taking a 5-0 lead.
Capdeville had little to give in the third set, but put up a fight in the fourth.
“I thought the Chilean team showed a lot of character this weekend,” Roddick said. “They competed very hard. They never gave an inch and made us earn our victory.”
