Americans-Swiss tied in Davis Cup

Andy Roddick recorded a straight-sets victory Friday that allowed the United States to escape with a 1-1 tie against Switzerland on first day of the Davis Cup.

Roddick defeated Marco Chiudinelli 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) after teammate James Blake suffered a surprising setback against Stanislas Wawrinka.

The United States will call upon its outstanding doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan Saturday in the third of the event’s five matches. The Bryans will take on Wawrinka and Yves Allegro. The reverse singles will be played Sunday.

This is one of eight first-round matchups being contested around the world this weekend. The U.S.-Switzerland winner will take on the Croatia-Chile survivor in July’s quarterfinals. Croatia took a 2-0 lead over Chile Friday.

Roddick fired 11 aces to easily get past Chiudinelli on the hard-court surface at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena. It was the 30th win of Roddick’s Davis Cup career.

Wawrinka put the pressure on the United States by downing Blake 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

Switzerland is trying to pull off an upset without the second-ranked player in the world — Roger Federer. He announced last month he was skipping the Davis Cup because of a sore back.