Playing in a crucial match, Andy Roddick defeated Olivier Rochus in five tough sets, 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-5(4), 4-6 and 6-3. The win gave Team USA an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the tie over Team Belgium.

Playing on his least favorite surface, clay, Andy showed the heart of a champion and kept pushing hard until the very end. Small in stature but big in heart, Rochus kept fighting and gave Andy a tough run. Andy lost the first set 7-6 in a tiebreak but kept his spirits up. He won the next set 7-6 and took a commanding 4-2 lead in the third set. Serving at 4-2, Rochus broke Andy to get back on serve. The set featured numerous breaks of serve, and eventually went to a tiebreak, which Andy won 7-6 to take a two sets to one lead. The fourth set was just as tough. Rochus was up 5-4 and Andy was serving to level the set but that’s when he got into trouble. Rochus broke Andy, and took the fourth set 6-4 to level the match at two sets all. In the fifth set, Andy kicked his play up another notch, and broke Rochus’s serve to take a 4-2 lead into the set. Both men maintained serve from there on out, but it was too late for the gutsy Rochus who finally succumbed as Andy won the deciding set 6-3.

The match lasted 4 hours and 32 minutes and featured several quality shots from both players. The momentum shifted time after time as both men refused to give up and battled hard. Playing on his opponent’s turf, Andy showed great power and focus, and managed to maintain his composure to pull out a crucial win for Team USA. Although Rochus won more points in the match, 185 to Andy’s 182, Andy served a whopping 34 aces to Rochus’s 2. This was only Andy’s second 5-set victory on clay.

On Saturday, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan beat Olivier Rochus and Kristof Vliegen to give Team USA a 2-1 lead in the tie. Today’s win gives Team USA an insurmountable 3-1 lead and assures them a spot in the World Group Playoffs.

Congratulations to Andy and Team USA on a job well done!