After Blake stumbles, Roddick steps up

LEUVEN, Belgium -- Andy Roddick flopped at the US Open. He just might be discovering his mojo at the Davis Cup.

With the US trying to stay alive in the event's elite group, Roddick delivered an overpowering 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Christophe Rochus yesterday to leave the Americans tied, 1-1, with Belgium after James Blake lost the opening match of the playoff.

''I felt good from the start," said Roddick, who is trying to rebound from his first-round ouster at the US Open. ''I controlled the beginning of each set and that was pretty much it."

Earlier, brother Olivier Rochus opened the best-of-five series with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Blake on the indoor red clay at the Sportplaza.

In today's doubles, twins Bob and Mike Bryan are big favorites against Olivier Rochus and Kristof Vliegen. Tomorrow's reverse singles pits Roddick against Olivier Rochus and Blake against Christophe. The winner of the series remains in the 16-nation World Group while the loser drops to zonal play next year.

The US is out of contention for this year's Davis Cup. The tournament has been narrowed to the semifinals: Argentina at Slovakia, Russia at Croatia. Both series were tied, 1-1, after yesterday's play.

Roddick rebounded from a dismal US Open, when he lost in a hurry to unheralded Gilles Muller. Roddick wants to prove it was a momentary lapse.

Yesterday he fired passing shots at will and finished the match with a crosscourt winner. Christophe Rochus made numerous unforced errors and was never in contention.