SAN DIEGO — Andy Roddick beat Romania's Razvan Sabau in straight sets Sunday to send the United States into the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
The victory gave the Americans an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five opening round, then James Blake made the final 4-1 with his closing singles victory.
Blake and the doubles team of Mike and Bob Bryan provided the first two U.S. victories, then Blake capped the round with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Horia Tecau in what essentially was an exhibition match shortened to two sets.
The United States advanced to play Chile, which beat Slovakia in the first round.
Roddick, who lost a big early lead and the match after becoming nauseated in Friday's opening singles against Andrei Pavel, defeated Sabau 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.
"I feel OK," Roddick said. "I'm glad I wasn't extended too much. I wasn't going to beat the cover off the ball. I wanted to see what he could create."
Sabau, ranked No. 112 to Roddick's No. 3, filled in for injured teammate Victor Hanescu. Hanescu hurt his left side during doubles the previous day and had to quit after the first set, won 6-2 by the Bryans.
Blake had beaten Hanescu in straight sets Friday to even the matches 1-1 after Roddick lost to Pavel.
Sabau won some points against Roddick with his forehand and drop shots, but was ineffective with his serve and backhand. Roddick's first serves often were in the mid-130 mph range. Even his second serves, usually from 105-110 mph, were faster than many of Sabau's first serves.
Roddick, who wasn't particularly pleased with his serves, still had 17 aces to one by Sabau, and three double-faults to nine by the Romanian.
"I wish I could have done more than I did because I saw that Roddick was not 100 percent," Sabau said. "I saw him playing a different tactic than he usually is playing. He was defensive and he stayed very long distance behind the baseline.
"I was expecting him to attack me."
The United States assured itself a home date and choice of playing surface against Chile for the April 7-9 matches. The site and surface are to be determined.