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| October 16, 2001 | Tuesday | Rajab 28, 1422 |
US qualify for world group
WINSTON-SALEM (North Carolina), Oct 15: Andy Roddick and James Blake both won the reverse singles on Sunday as the U.S. secured their place in next year’s World Group with a 4-1 Davis Cup qualifying round victory over India.
Teenager Roddick dropped the first set to Davis Cup veteran Leander Paes but came storming back to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5 to give the Americans an unassailable 3-1 lead at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Coliseum.
In the final dead rubber, debutant Blake, 21, claimed his second singles victory of the week by easily defeating Harsh Mankad 6-3 6-0.
U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe went into the tie pinning his hopes on an inexperienced team who were all keen to play in the competition, and the young players did not let him down.
Going into the final day against India, Roddick, 19, had played only two Davis Cup singles matches, a win over Mankad on Friday and a meaningless victory in the U.S. defeat by Switzerland in February.
Paes, 28, had played in 80 Davis Cup rubbers and the value of his experience was evident right away as he pounced on a nervous Roddick early in the first set to take a 3-1 lead.
Roddick fought back to 4-4 but Paes broke him in the ninth game and served out the set 6-4.
Roddick settled down after the first set and never dropped his serve again, repeatedly frustrating his experienced opponent.
After clinching his win, Roddick ran to the sidelines to celebrate with his team mates and grab an American flag for a victory lap around the court as the cheering crowd of 5,964 waved flags of their own.
Entering the qualifying round tie, captain McEnroe had made it clear that he was expecting the youngster to carry the team to victory.
Although inexperienced, he had performed spectacularly this year, winning three tour titles and reaching the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open to seize a No. 15 world ranking. It was a responsibility that Roddick was honoured to accept.
Singles results from U.S. v India Davis Cup tie:
Sunday’s results:
Andy Roddick (U.S.) beat Leander Paes (India) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5; James Blake (U.S.) beat Harsh Mankad (India) 6-3 6-0
U.S. win tie 4-1
Saturday’s doubles: Don Johnson/Jared Palmer lost to Paes/Mahesh Bhupathi 4-6 6-1 3-6 6-7 (6-8)
Friday’s singles: James Blake beat Paes 7-5 6-3 6-3; Roddick beat Harsh Mankad 6-3 6-4 6-1—Reuters
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