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WINSTON-SALEM (North Carolina) - ANDY Roddick helped the United States to a 4-1 win over France in their Davis Cup quarter-final with an exceptional 6-2 6-3 6-2 victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu on Sunday.
After Roddick had earned the winning point, James Blake completed proceedings by defeating Richard Gasquet 6-7 6-4 6-4.
Leading 2-1 overnight, Roddick was eager to wrap up the tie with a match to spare and easily fulfilled his mission.
He has now clinched a Davis Cup tie for the U.S. on all 10 occasions he has been called to do so, making him the most successful American put in that position.
'The thing is that you have to be up to clinch and my team mates always put me in a good position,' Roddick said courtside about being able to close out the tie for the champions.
The US will next travel to Spain for the semi-final in September.
While the US beat Spain in last year's quarter-final at Winston-Salem, they were beaten the last time they played in Spain in the 2004 final.
'We're going to have to get a little dirty over there,' Roddick said of playing on clay in Spain.
World number six Roddick, who never offered Mathieu a break point opportunity, is now on a nine match winning streak in Davis Cup action.
Roddick fired two aces to close out the match and lost only 13 points on serve in the entire contest.
'I wasn't giving him anything,' Roddick said. 'The points he was winning he was having to step up and crank two or three balls to the corners and really execute his shots.
'I don't think my serving was any better than it normally is, but I backed it up a little better.' Roddick pummelled a tired Mathieu's forehand from the outset, securing two service breaks in the opening set.
'Andy was too good today for me,' Mathieu said. 'He played a great match.
'I told him (French Davis Cup captain Guy Forget) I was feeling a little tired after the match on Friday. He said I think you're ready to play tomorrow. I didn't have a broken hand or arms so I went on the court and I tried my best.' By the time Roddick was leading 6-2 3-0, he had won 20 of the previous 22 points played.
In the third set, Mathieu surrendered the opening game with a double fault and the fifth game by sailing a backhand long before Roddick finally ended his misery. -- REUTERS
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