Safin beats Roddick to put Russia 1-0 up

MOSCOW, Sep 22 (Reuters) Marat Safin beat Andy Roddick 6-4 6-3 7-6 in the opening singles to give Russia a 1-0 lead against the United States in their Davis Cup semi-final today.

Playing on a slow clay surface at Moscow's Olympic Sports Complex, the Russian broke Roddick's formidable serve four times while losing his only once.

Safin broke the US Open finalist in the seventh game to clinch the first set after 32 minutes.

Roddick saved three break points in the third game of the second set but Safin earned the vital break two games later with a beautifully-executed lob before breaking the American again in the ninth game to take a two-set lead.

Safin served for the match at 5-3 in the third set but Roddick broke back to force a tiebreaker.

After going down 5-2 in the tiebreaker, Safin won the next five points to seal a commanding victory after two hours and nine minutes.

Russia's Mikhail Youzhny takes on American James Blake in the second singles rubber later on Friday.

The winners will face either Argentina or Australia, who meet in the other semi-final in Buenos Aires, in the December final.

REUTERS PM VV1718