Davis Cup: Andy Wins For USA, Next Stop Russia!

Andy Roddick has once again closed out a Davis Cup tie for the USA. Today he did it in fashionable style, coming from a set down to overcome the heart and fighting spirit of Fernando Gonzalez 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.

Gonzalez came out of the starting blocks fast in this fourth rubber. Andy went down an early break to trail 1-2. A whopping 220kph serve saved Andy from going down a double break as he struggled to cling on to the fiery Gonzalez in this first set.

An ace from Andy forced the Chilean to serve out the first set. Gonzalez was certainly not about to be intimidated though as he held to love to take the first set 6-4.

The second set was another hard battle, with neither player having a break point chance until the final game of the set. Gonzalez carried over from the first set his high first serve percentage, but it was Andy who made more of his returning game and put the pressure on the Chilean. A hold to love 5-4 for Andy and the American was heaping the heat onto Gonzalez. At 6-5 his hard work paid off, and with the American crowd fully behind him, Andy clinched his second set point to level the match at one set a piece.

Andy opened the third set, riding the wave of momentum that had won him the second, and immediately broke Gonzalez for a 2-0 lead. Crunching in some big first serves Andy raced to 4-1. As has been a recurring theme all weekend though, the Chileans don’t give up, and Gonzalez fought his way back to break the American’s serve. Andy was not ready to relinquish the upper hand and did not pause to allow the Chileans much celebration as he broke Gonzalez again to lead 5-3. Serving out the set, Andy gave the Americans a commanding two sets to one lead.

Truly on a roll, Andy moved the Americans one step closer to the semi finals as he broke Gonzalez in the first game of the fourth set. Moving up another gear, in a bid to really close out all hope for the Chileans, Andy stole a second break, propelling himself to 4-1. Andy’s first serve percentage soared throughout the match, and in the final set, it was at a high of 89%. At 5-2 with the adrenaline running, Andy sealed his country a trip to Russia for the Davis Cup semi finals!

Stay tuned to AR.com for all the reaction from Rancho Mirage.