Blake's Heroics Put US in the Lead

James Blake is the hero yet again. His gutsy victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 put the United States ahead of France 2-0 going into tomorrow's crucial doubles rubber. And his teammates were thrilled.

Despite a terrible migraine that caused me to leave the live action after the first set of second rubber, I followed the match on the Internet at the hotel.

Imagine that. Local television didn't even carry the tie and Versus wasn't available on the slate of channels in my room.

Too bad for the local tennis fans who couldn't be in the coliseum because it was some match. Great tennis. High drama. Amazing atmosphere. A few late-match collapses/comebacks that tested the nerves of the players and spectators alike. Two match points saved.

And Blake wins another five-setter to boot.

In the first rubber, Andy Roddick beat Michael Llodra in three highly competitive sets 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(5).

Team USA's leader got the crowd off their feet when he broke Michael's serve to take a 5-4 lead in the first set. With fierce returns, scrambling court coverage, and excellent passing shots, Andy was so hyped, he practically demanded that the crowd get up and stay up.

Too bad I couldn't stay for all the day's excitement.