U.S., Sweden even at 1-1 in Davis Cup semi

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- American Andy Roddick won in straight sets and Sweden’s Thomas Johansson also won Friday, leaving the U.S. and Swedish teams tied 1-1 in a Davis Cup semifinal.

Roddick, firing 30 aces, opened the best-of-five series with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory over Joachim Johansson (not relation to Thomas). Joachim Johansson had 23 aces of his own but was a little rusty, not having played since January because of a shoulder problem.

Thomas Johansson evened the semifinal at 1-1 with a 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over James Blake. Blake had 23 unforced errors compared to 12 by Johansson. Johansson had 19 aces as the players took advantage of the fast indoor carpet surface in Gothenburg’s Scandinavium.

Saturday’s doubles match sends the world No. 1 team of twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan for the United States against Sweden’s Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman.

The semifinal will come down to Sunday’s reverse singles in which Roddick is to face Thomas Johansson and Blake is paired against Joachim Johansson.

The winner of the U.S.-Sweden semifinal earns a berth in the Nov. 30-Dec. 2 Davis Cup finals against the winner of a semifinal this weekend that has Germany playing at Russia. That best-of-five series is also tied 1-1.