Andy Powers USA Into Quarterfinals

Straight out of the gate, Andy was ready to expunge Friday’s unfortunate events. In a somewhat untraditional match with numerous breaks, Andy clinched America’s spot in the Davis Cup Quarterfinals, overpowering Romania’s Razvan Sabau, 6-3. 6-3. 6-2.

Andy put pressure on Sabau immediately pushing him to three deuces in the first game, forcing the Romanian to save a break point. In Sabau’s second service game, Andy increased the attack and took his third break point of the match as Sabau double faulted. Andy consolidated the break with an ace, taking a 3-1 lead. In a quick turn of events, Andy had three chances for a double break at 40-0, but Sabau won the next five points, bringing the set to 3-2. After holding his own serve, Andy broke Sabau for a 5-2 lead. Sabau answered with a break of his own for 5-3. In an unusual trade of service games, Andy broke yet again to take the first set 6-3.

The second set saw the “big mo” heavily in Andy’s favor. He Broke Sabau in the second game blasting to a 3-0 lead. The Romanian held his second service game, but Andy answered with a quick hold to stretch his lead to 4-1. After narrowing the gap to 4-2, Sabau broke Andy a little over one hour into the match, lifting the spirits of the Romanian team. But Andy allowed only a brief celebration, stifling Sabau’s momentum by immediately breaking back. Andy quickly served out the second set, 6-3.

The third set pitted a determined Romanian attempting to save his country from Davis cup elimination against the resilient American battling to fulfill a dream. Andy broke Sabau in the first game of the set, and easily held his own serve, charging to a 2-0 lead. Sabau struggled to detain Andy’s determination, giving Andy two break point opportunities in the third game. Andy brilliantly converted the second for a 3-0 advantage. He followed with an easy hold, placing loads of pressure on the Romanian who was now down 0-4.

With La Jolla and his teammates rallying behind him, Andy fought through the discomfort and frustration of the past few days. Sabau was unwilling to concede the match, holding for 1-4, but the damage had been done. Andy had seen the light at the end of the tunnel and surged to a 5-1 lead. The cheers became deafening as Andy inched his way to victory….30 all…deuce….but despite giving up his fourth double fault of the set, Sabau held for 2-5.

Earlier in the match Andy struggled with his serve, a dismal 35% first serve forced him to rely on other weapons. By the third set Andy had picked up his first serve to a solid 72 %. Sabau was able to save one match point in the final game, but after one hour and forty minutes of play, Andy clinched a spot for the USA in April’s Davis cup quarterfinals; 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

A turbulent weekend of unexpected illness and injuries for both teams came to an exciting finish at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club Sunday Afternoon. The camaraderie and drive of Andy, James and the Bryan Brothers earned Team USA a meeting with Chili in early April. A well earned celebration may be taken to the road as the boys head to San Jose for the SAP Open this week.

Check back to Ar.com for a look at next week’s SAP Open and final thoughts from Andy in La Jolla.