America, Russia in perfect Davis Cup show
Sunday, 10 February 2008
PARIS, Feb 9 (AFP): Heavyweights America, Russia, France and Argentina moved closer to the Davis cup quarter-finals on Friday as their outclassed rivals were cursed by illness and absent stars.
The United States, the defending champions and with a record 31 titles under their belts, opened up a 2-0 lead over Austria in Vienna while Russia, deposed by the Americans in 2007, also won both their rubbers against a weakened Serbia.
France, nine-time champions, were 2-0 in front against Romania while Argentina were word-perfect against a Great Britain side who were hopelessly out of their depth in Buenos Aires.
Andy Roddick survived four hours on "the worst" of all clay courts to put the USA into the lead over Austria.
"Is it the worst I've played on in the Davis Cup? Absolutely," raged the American after snatching victory over Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3.
James Blake then saw off Stefan Koubek 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to put the USA closer to a quarter-final clash with either Romania or France.
In Moscow, double champions Russia took advantage of a Serbian team forced to keep Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic under wraps because of flu.
Serbia were also without Janko Tipsarevic who was suffering from an ankle injury.
World number four Nikolay Davydenko still needed five sets, however, to see off Viktor Troicki, the world 114, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
Earlier, world number eight Mikhail Youzhny battled from a set down to clinch a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over Nenad Zimonjic, the world 689 and who was drafted in to replace fever-hit Djokovic, despite himself running a high fever.
In Sibiu, Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gave France a 2-0 lead over Romania.
Gasquet eased past Victor Hanescu 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-5 before Australian Open runner-up Tsonga defeated veteran Andrei Pavel 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in just over three hours to mark a successful Davis Cup debut.
Britain, playing without number one Andy Murray who controversially opted to skip a testing Buenos Aires clay court examination, were predictably crushed.
World number nine David Nalbandian saw off world number 235 Jamie Baker 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 before Agustin Calleri, ranked 41, defeated Alex Bogdanovic, the world 188, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.
The United States, the defending champions and with a record 31 titles under their belts, opened up a 2-0 lead over Austria in Vienna while Russia, deposed by the Americans in 2007, also won both their rubbers against a weakened Serbia.
France, nine-time champions, were 2-0 in front against Romania while Argentina were word-perfect against a Great Britain side who were hopelessly out of their depth in Buenos Aires.
Andy Roddick survived four hours on "the worst" of all clay courts to put the USA into the lead over Austria.
"Is it the worst I've played on in the Davis Cup? Absolutely," raged the American after snatching victory over Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3.
James Blake then saw off Stefan Koubek 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to put the USA closer to a quarter-final clash with either Romania or France.
In Moscow, double champions Russia took advantage of a Serbian team forced to keep Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic under wraps because of flu.
Serbia were also without Janko Tipsarevic who was suffering from an ankle injury.
World number four Nikolay Davydenko still needed five sets, however, to see off Viktor Troicki, the world 114, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
Earlier, world number eight Mikhail Youzhny battled from a set down to clinch a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over Nenad Zimonjic, the world 689 and who was drafted in to replace fever-hit Djokovic, despite himself running a high fever.
In Sibiu, Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gave France a 2-0 lead over Romania.
Gasquet eased past Victor Hanescu 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-5 before Australian Open runner-up Tsonga defeated veteran Andrei Pavel 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in just over three hours to mark a successful Davis Cup debut.
Britain, playing without number one Andy Murray who controversially opted to skip a testing Buenos Aires clay court examination, were predictably crushed.
World number nine David Nalbandian saw off world number 235 Jamie Baker 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 before Agustin Calleri, ranked 41, defeated Alex Bogdanovic, the world 188, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.