Andy Roddick gave himself and his USA team the perfect start to its semi-final against Belarus by beating Vladimir Voltchkov 61 64 64 to put the US one point ahead and a step closer to a place in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final against either France or Spain. Roddick will be hoping his emphatic victory will set the tone for the tie in Charleston, South Carolina and give USA No.2 Mardy Fish the ideal platform which to take on Max Mirnyi in the second match. The American began aggressively breaking Voltchkov in the Belarusian's opening game to put himself on the offensive immediately and buoy the spirits of the 9,500 or so US fans in the Family Circle Tennis Centre. Roddick served with his customary explosiveness, despite cool overcast conditions and the presence of a slow-paced hard-court beneath his feet. At 1-4 down Voltchkov's serve buckled again and gave Roddick a second break and an even tighter grip on the first set. When the American made good on his lead he was rewarded with a chorus of wild cheering from those draped in stars and stripes in the stands, and they had good reason to celebrate again when, with the help of a double fault from the Belarusian, Roddick broke the Voltchkov serve at 2-2 in the second set,calming any nerves USA team captain Patrick McEnroe might have had about the opening rubber. Voltchkov has not played since the Olympics and the lack of match practice was evident in the sluggish start he made to the match. His level of play improved steadily throughout the three sets but, ultimately, he was powerless to stop Roddick improving his career Davis Cup by BNP Paribas win-loss record to 10-3. Roddick also registered a serve of 155mph (249.4 kph) to go 40-0 up at 5-4 in the third set, giving himself three match points. If verified, as is likely once the raw data from the radar gun has undergone detailed analysis, then this will be a new world record, breaking his own record of 153 mph(246.2 kph) set at Queen's Club this year. It is in fact the third time Roddick has broken the world record in Davis Cup play this year, as he has managed it in each of the USA's ties so far. It means that, for the third time in 2004, the ITF Tennis Development Fund is $1,000 better off. As part of their Speed Serve Competition, which will reward the player with the fastest serve in Davis Cup World Group play this year, Getronics (the official ICT Sponsor of Davis Cup, and the Official Sponsor of Live Scoring and SMS) has agreed to donate $1,000 each time the world record is broken in 2004 (and $1 for every ace served in the World Group in 2004). Roddick is also on track to claim the state-of-the-art wireless mobility computer system from Getronics which will be given to the player with the fastest serve in Davis Cup play in 2004. The USA has not been in a Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final since 1997, when they lost to Sweden, and has not won since triumphing over Russia in 1995. this year Roddick in particular seems intent on bringing his nation its 32nd Davis Cup by BNP Paribas. After Friday's singles, the American doubles team of twins Bob and Mike Bryan are scheduled to take on Mirnyi and Alexander Skrypko on Saturday, with Roddick playing Mirnyi and Fish up against Voltchkov on Friday. ============================================================================== 不知道誰有耐心看完這一篇XD -- This is the last time That I will say these words I remember the first time The first of many lies..... --

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