USA stop Swiss, set up Davis Cup quarter-final clash with Croatia

Andy Roddick delivered the winning point in dominant style Sunday as the United States wrapped up a 4-1 Davis Cup victory over Switzerland in their World Group first-round tie.

The victory sends the 32-time champion Americans into a quarter-final against 2005 champions Croatia in July - the weekend after Wimbledon - with the Europeans holding a 2-0 record in the series.

With the US taking a 2-1 lead into the final day of action, Roddick hammered out a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Stanislas Wawrinka in Sunday's first reverse singles match to secure the victory.

James Blake then made some amends for his loss on Friday as he beat Marco Chiudinelli 6-4, 7-6 8/6 in the dead rubber.

Although the tie had been decided, Chiudinelli made Blake work, saving two match points before the American finished him off.

Roddick's win was strictly standard procedure for the world number six, who has now seized victory for the team on 11 straight occasions when the Americans led 2-1.

"I've had a lot of opportunities," he said. "It's your teammates who have to put you into 2-1 position. A lot of it is just circumstantial. I have a job to do each day and it's to win a point for the team."

Roddick never lost serve during the weekend and faced just one break point; he fired 14 aces in victory.

He becomes the American with the second-highest total of Davis Cup singles wins on 31, behind John McEnroe.

Roddick was never troubled by number 16 Wawrinka, who was treated on his left shoulder after losing serve in the third game of the second set.

Wawrinka, who earned the lone Swiss point on Friday when he beat Blake, said that Roddick was difficult to tackle.

"He kept me under pressure the entire time. He played a solid match, I tried to attack but he cut me off," Wawrinka said. "I'm disappointed with my match but I won't dwell on it."

Captain Patrick McEnroe said he has come full circle with the team he has chosen for 11 of the last 12 ties.

He made his debut as captain against Sweden in Basel in 2001, the weekend when Roddick made his Davis Cup start.

Switzerland were missing world number two Roger Federer, who did not play due to a back injury but is due to return to the courts this week at the Masters event at Indian Wells, California.

Croatia last beat the US on hardcourt in Los Angeles four years ago.

Roddick was far from sure that the Croatians would select a clay surface, given the country's supply of big hitters.

"I'm not convinced that it will be on clay at all, we'll have to see. It's not a foregone conclusion."







Kasahara