CARSON, Calif., March 4 (UPI) -- Andy Roddick rescued the United States in the opening round of the Davis Cup Friday as the Americans salvaged a 1-1 tie with Croatia.
Defending champion Spain, meanwhile, lost both its matches to Slovakia.
Andre Agassi, playing in his first Davis Cup match in five years, fell to Ivan Ljubicic in the first match of the day, 6-3, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3.
Roddick then rallied to defeat Mario Ancic, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, drawing the United States even in the best-of-five matchup.
Brothers Bob and Mike Bryan will try to put the United States in front Saturday when they take on Ljubicic and Ancic in the doubles match. The Bryans have not lost in five career Davis Cup matches.
Slovakia took a 2-0 lead over Spain thanks to victories by Karol Beck and Dominik Hrbaty.
Elsewhere in the first round, Australia took a 2-0 lead over Austria and Argentina was in front of the Czech Republic, 2-0.
Russia and Chile were tied at 1-1, as were France and Sweden along with Romania and Belarus.
