WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., April 11 (UPI) -- Andy Roddick and James Blake won their matches Friday to give the United States a 2-0 lead in its Davis Cup quarterfinal against France.
Roddick banged out 30 aces in the first match at Winston-Salem, N.C. -- a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) victory against Michael Llodra.
"I've said repeatedly over the last year or so that I've become a good Davis Cup player," Roddick said. "At the beginning of my career, I don't think I played my best tennis in Davis Cup. It's a different kind of pressure and it's a different kind of match. I think it's taken a while for me to be comfortable."
In a tougher and much longer match (3 hours, 48 minutes), Blake rallied to top Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
Blake won 13 of the match's last 16 points.