Roddick puts USA through to face Spain

SANTIAGO, CHILE: The United States is heading home to play the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal in July against Spain. Coming into the final day of action USA lead Chile 2-1 and Andy Roddick was able to seal the victory for his team by beating Paul Capdeville in the first reverse singles 36 76(2) 63 63 in three hours and six minutes.

"My plan was to make him work hard," said the American. "I knew I was fresher, I had better legs and that won me the match."

This was Roddick’s 44th singles match in Davis Cup. He is second only to John McEnroe on 49 for the most singles matches played by an American. It is also his 33rd singles win and again he is second only to McEnroe who is on 41.

Incredibly Roddick stands alone with the most wins to clinch a tie, he is on 12 now and that is double his closest rival who happens to be none other than McEnroe.

Roddick jumped to an early break when he claimed Capdeville’s serve in the fifth game as the Chilean made a forehand error but the advantage was very short lived. As they say a service break is not a break if you don’t consolidate and that was exactly the case. Roddick dropped his serve in the next game, also with a forehand error.

That was perfect for the crowd. Capdeville held serve to love and then put the American under pressure by going up 0-40, three break points. He closed it with a forehand volley winner. The Chilean then served the set out to 15, winning it on his second set point as Roddick pushed a backhand into the net.

The second set was hanging in the balance all the way to the breaker. Roddick did have break points in the eighth game but couldn’t convert. However the American’s performance in the tiebreak was tremendous. He reeled off the first five points before clinching it 7-2, playing some outstanding passing shots en route.

Once the match had been levelled you could start to see some of the wind going out of Capdeville’s sails. It was another warm day and the effects of Friday’s long match were starting to show on the Chilean. Roddick was not letting go. He broke in the first game which was very important and Capdeville was playing catch up after that. The American broke again in the ninth to move within striking range of the win.

Roddick create a 3-1 lead in the fourth when Capdeville sent a backhand long but the Chilean was not done, he tested Roddick in the seventh game when he had two break points. Roddick held.

The American had a match point in the eighth game but Capdeville held. A game later a sense of relief swept over Roddick as he sealed the victory on his second match point.