Roddick, Blake win to give holders US 2-0 Davis Cup lead

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (AFP) — Andy Roddick and James Blake gave defending champions United States a 2-0 lead over France in their Davis Cup best-of-five quarter-final tie Friday.

Sixth-ranked Roddick dispatched Michael Llodra 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) for his eighth Cup win in a row and Blake, ranked eighth, defeated France's 12th-ranked Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Roddick fired 30 aces and won the only service break of the opening match in the first set to hold off Llorda.

"Davis Cup experience had a lot to do with the result," said Roddick. "My results over the last five to six weeks had something to do with it and it has been a long time coming. I believe it's because I am a better Davis Cup player. It's a different...