Roddick Puts USA in Pole - 網球

Andy Roddick gave himself and his USA team the perfect start to its semi-final
against Belarus by beating Vladimir Voltchkov 61 64 64 to put the US one point
ahead and a step closer to a place in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final
against either France or Spain.

Roddick will be hoping his emphatic victory will set the tone for the tie in
Charleston, South Carolina and give USA No.2 Mardy Fish the ideal platform
which to take on Max Mirnyi in the second match.

The American began aggressively breaking Voltchkov in the Belarusian's opening
game to put himself on the offensive immediately and buoy the spirits of the
9,500 or so US fans in the Family Circle Tennis Centre. Roddick served with
his customary explosiveness, despite cool overcast conditions and the presence
of a slow-paced hard-court beneath his feet. At 1-4 down Voltchkov's serve
buckled again and gave Roddick a second break and an even tighter grip on the
first set.

When the American made good on his lead he was rewarded with a chorus of wild
cheering from those draped in stars and stripes in the stands, and they had
good reason to celebrate again when, with the help of a double fault from the
Belarusian, Roddick broke the Voltchkov serve at 2-2 in the second set,calming
any nerves USA team captain Patrick McEnroe might have had about the opening
rubber.

Voltchkov has not played since the Olympics and the lack of match practice was
evident in the sluggish start he made to the match. His level of play improved
steadily throughout the three sets but, ultimately, he was powerless to stop
Roddick improving his career Davis Cup by BNP Paribas win-loss record to 10-3.

Roddick also registered a serve of 155mph (249.4 kph) to go 40-0 up at 5-4 in
the third set, giving himself three match points. If verified, as is likely
once the raw data from the radar gun has undergone detailed analysis, then
this will be a new world record, breaking his own record of 153 mph(246.2 kph)
set at Queen's Club this year. It is in fact the third time Roddick has broken
the world record in Davis Cup play this year, as he has managed it in each of
the USA's ties so far.

It means that, for the third time in 2004, the ITF Tennis Development Fund is
$1,000 better off. As part of their Speed Serve Competition, which will reward
the player with the fastest serve in Davis Cup World Group play this year,
Getronics (the official ICT Sponsor of Davis Cup, and the Official Sponsor of
Live Scoring and SMS) has agreed to donate $1,000 each time the world record
is broken in 2004 (and $1 for every ace served in the World Group in 2004).
Roddick is also on track to claim the state-of-the-art wireless mobility
computer system from Getronics which will be given to the player with the
fastest serve in Davis Cup play in 2004.

The USA has not been in a Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final since 1997, when they
lost to Sweden, and has not won since triumphing over Russia in 1995. this
year Roddick in particular seems intent on bringing his nation its 32nd Davis
Cup by BNP Paribas. After Friday's singles, the American doubles team of twins
Bob and Mike Bryan are scheduled to take on Mirnyi and Alexander Skrypko on
Saturday, with Roddick playing Mirnyi and Fish up against Voltchkov on Friday.

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不知道誰有耐心看完這一篇XD

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This is the last time
That I will say these words
I remember the first time
The first of many lies.....

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