Leuven, Belgium – Andy Roddick will be perfectly fine if no one mentions his mojo again. His serve is another matter, and he rode it for 35 screaming aces Sunday to keep the United States in the elite group of Davis Cup.
Roddick also benefited from a disputed call in the fifth set to beat relentless Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3 in 4 1/2 hours, the longest U.S. match in 16 years.
“Luckily, I had some great serves when I needed to,” Roddick said. In the third-set tiebreaker, he slammed five. “That was key,” he said.
The United States remains in the event’s World Group while Belgium is relegated to the zonal competition next year. In the last match, James Blake beat Steve Darcis 7-5, 6-1 for a final score of 4-1.
This was the second victory in the series for the third-ranked Roddick, who struggled with cramps in the last hour. But his power on the red clay of the Sportplaza negated his opponent’s shotmaking. The 31st-ranked Rochus was playing his third match in three days.
The Americans, behind twins Bob and Mike Bryan, won doubles Saturday for a 2-1 lead and were trying to avoid relegation from the World Group for the first time in 17 years.
The U.S., which has won 31 Davis Cup titles, is out of contention this year. Slovakia and Croatia won their semifinals Sunday to advance to the Dec. 2-4 final. Both nations will be going for a first Davis Cup title.
Slovakia, playing at home, beat Argentina 4-1 behind a clinching victory by Dominik Hrbaty. Croatia was at home and downed Russia 3-2, with the decisive win by Ivan Ljubicic.
The big turn for the Americans came in the fifth set when Rochus missed the easiest of volleys to give Roddick a 4-2 lead. Officials could not find the impact mark and went with the lineswoman’s call.
The Belgians disputed but finally relented.
“I have never been so disappointed,” Rochus said. “It could have gone either way. It was that close.”
Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic won her second title of the year, defeating Katarina Srebotnik 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the final of the Slovenia Open.
Anastasia Myskina of Russia won her first title of the year, defeating Karolina Sprem of Croatia 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the Sunfeast Open in Calcutta, India.
Russia’s Maria Kirilenko won the China Open in Beijing, for her first WTA singles title, defeating Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-3, 6-4.
BASKETBALL
Greece stumps Nowitzki, Germany
to win European Championship
Greece beat Germany 78-62 to win its second European Championship, frustrating Dirk Nowitzki with strong defense and getting 22 points from Theodoros Papaloukas in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.
Nowitzki, the tournament’s MVP, scored 23 points but was only 1-for-8 from 3-point range. The Dallas Mavericks star had nine rebounds but four turnovers.
Earlier, France won the bronze medal, with San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker scoring 25 points in a 98-68 victory over Spain.
It was France’s first medal at the European Championship since a silver in 1959.
Greece won the title for the first time in 1987 at home and this time it felt as if it were playing at home as well. Seven planeloads of Greek fans arrived Sunday to join those already in the Serbian capital, and Belgrade Arena was awash in blue-and-white Greek colors. After the buzzer, the winners broke into “Zorba the Greek” dance.
“It was a dream final for us, we showed a great team spirit and tonight I don’t think that any team in Europe could have beaten us,” said Papaloukas, whose team did not include any NBA players.
FOOTNOTES
Saragosa’s goal lifts Galaxy
to MLS victory over Wizards
Marcelo Saragosa scored the first goal of his Major League Soccer career to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards in Carson, Calif.
Landon Donovan assisted on both goals as the Galaxy (12-12-6) moved within one point of second-place Dallas in the Western Conference.
The Wizards (11-8-10) had their winless streak extended to six games.
Saragosa, who replaced Paulo Nagamura in the 42nd minute, broke a 1-1 tie in the 75th minute when his 13-yard header off Donovan’s 29-yard free kick bounced inside the left post.
Saragosa, who played with the Galaxy last year on loan from Sao Paolo FC, was reacquired from the Brazilian club Sept. 13.
Herculez Gomez put Los Angeles ahead in the 33rd minute with an 18-yard shot inside the left post. Josh Wolff’s 13-yard shot tied the score in the 72nd minute.
Belgium’s Tom Boonen won the cycling world championship men’s elite road race in Madrid, Spain.
The 24-year-old Boonen won the 169.6-mile race in 6 hours, 26 minutes, 10 seconds. Spain’s Alejandro Valverde and France’s Anthony Geslin recorded the same time but finished second and third, respectively.
Hozumi Hasegawa (19-2-0) of Japan kept his WBC bantamweight title with a technical knockout of Gerardo Martinez (27-6-2) of Mexico in Yokohama, Japan.
Also, Japanese champion Yutaka Niida (19-1-1) beat Heriberto Gijon (21-1-1) of the Philippines in a split decision to retain his WBA minimum-weight title.
New Mexico basketball coach Ritchie McKay dismissed transfer forward Aaron Johnson from the program, citing an undisclosed violation of team policy.
