CHARLESTON, S.C. - Andy Roddick hit a record 155 mph serve in his 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Vladimir Voltchkov to help the United States to a 2-0 lead Friday over Belarus in the Davis Cup semifinals.
Olympic silver medalist Mardy Fish defeated Max Mirnyi in the second singles match 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Roddick's serve in the final game of the match eclipsed his own record of 153 mph set at the Queen's Club tournament in England in June. Even with the record speed, Voltchkov managed to get his racket on the ball but was unable to return it.
The crowd at the Family Circle Tennis Center stood and cheered when the record speed of the serve was shown.
"I hit a good one. That's about it," Roddick said. "I think it's fun for the fans. To me it's still a point. It's something I'll be able to tell people about one day. But I'm happier with the win - serving well overall."
Earlier in the match with Voltchkov, who is ranked 162nd in the world, Roddick had serves of 151 and 152 mph.
"I know I serve better than most guys on tour," Roddick said. "I'm not so much worried about intimidating someone as I am about beating someone."
Roddick had 17 aces in the match.
"I didn't get down 0-30. I think the closest was 30-30," he said. "I put myself in a position to serve well by not putting myself under pressure a lot."
And it was too much for Voltchkov.
"When you play against the top players, the first thing you want to try to do is get into a fight where it doesn't matter anymore who's No. 1 or who's No. 150," Voltchkov said. "Unfortunately, I had a slow start and, all credit to Andy, the way he started - huge serves - it was just tough to catch up."
The doubles match in the best-of-five semifinal is today, followed by the reverse singles Sunday.
The American team of Bob and Mike Bryan is scheduled to play Mirnyi and Alexander Skrypko.
FRANCE TAKES LEAD: France led Spain 1-0 in the other Davis Cup semifinal. Paul-Henri Mathieu upset sixth-ranked Carlos Moya 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in four hours.
"I think he played a great game. ... It was a match of ups and downs and in the end I was a little tired," Moya said.
Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero was leading Fabrice Santoro 6-3, 6-1, 1-6, with each player holding three games in the fourth set when the umpire stopped the match. Doubles partners Tommy Robredo and Rafael Nadal will face Santoro and Michael Llodra today after the completion of the suspended match.
The winning team will face the United States or Belarus for the title in December.
