GOTEBORG, Sweden — Andy Roddick used his big serve to put the United States in the Davis Cup finals, defeating Jonas Bjorkman 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-4 Sunday to give the Americans an insurmountable lead over Sweden.
The U.S. will play defending champion Russia for the title in November, with the Americans hosting the final for the first time since 1992. Russia defeated Germany 3-2 in the other semifinal in Moscow.
Bjorkman replaced Thomas Johansson, the 2002 Australian Open who was scratched from the first reverse singles in the best-of-five format because of illness. Johansson won the second singles Friday against James Blake.
"If you would have told me I could get through three sets with Jonas without getting broken I would have questioned your sanity a little bit," Roddick said. "But I was very happy with it."
After Roddick delivered the clinching victory, Blake beat Simon Aspelin 6-1, 6-3 in the concluding match to make the score 4-1.
The Americans have won the most Davis Cup titles (31), but the last came in 1995. Sweden has won seven times. The U.S. improved its record against Sweden to 8-3 and ended a three-match losing streak against the Swedes at the Scandinavium..
"I have so much respect for the Swedish team," Roddick said. "For us to get by in an away tie at a place where we haven't had a lot of success in the past means a lot to our team."
Roddick, who held serve throughout the match on the fast indoor carpet, broke to lead 3-2 in the third set when Bjorkman's backhand sailed long.
"I thought he played great (in the second set)," Roddick said. "If I would had just a little bit of a slip-up I would have been struggling. Even when I didn't I had to come up with a big serve on break points."
Bjorkman, at 35 the oldest player in the series, is still one of the world's top doubles players but has slipped to 55th in the ATP singles rankings. Roddick, who is ranked fifth, improved his record to 5-2 against the Swede.
"I think Jonas played a good match," Roddick said. "That's why he has been as successful as he has been."
Bjorkman had his chances in the second set, earning two break points at 2-2. But the Swede returned long at 15-40 and then Roddick aced him to get to deuce. Roddick held to 3-2 with another ace and a forehand winner.
After missing a set point in game 11th, Roddick dominated the tiebreaker. He aced Bjorkman to lead 1-0 and earned two mini-breaks en route to a 5-0 lead. He won when the Swede netted a forehand.
Roddick broke Bjorkman twice in the first set, winning it with a forehand near the baseline that the Swede returned into the net. The American was never challenged on his serve except for the first and fourth games in the opening set.
In Moscow, Russia won both reverse singles matches, with Igor Andreev earning the decisive point by beating Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. Earlier, Mikhail Youzhny defeated Philipp Petzschner 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
"Yesterday's match gave little grounds for optimism," Youzhny said, referring to Russia's doubles loss. "But when you have such support from the spectators, you get wound up and want to play and do everything you can to win."
The Russians remained unbeaten at home since 1995. Last year, Russia beat Argentina to win its second Davis Cup title.
In the playoffs, Roger Federer won his second singles match of the weekend to put Switzerland even with the Czech Republic at 2-2 in Prague. Federer, who is making his 2007 Davis Cup debut, beat Tomas Berdych 7-6 (5), 7-6 (10), 6-3.
"This match reminded me a lot of the U.S. Open final against (Novak) Djokovic when I was down and came back, too," Federer said. "I was not doing my best today, but winning in straight sets is a great result for Switzerland."
Djokovic helped Serbia reach the World Group for the first time by beating Chris Guccione 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) to give the hosts a 3-1 lead over Australia. Guccione replaced Lleyton Hewitt, who had a viral infection. Australia, 28-time champion, was relegated to the Asia-Oceania zone for the first time since 1996.
"This is the best crowd I have ever played for," Djokovic said. "Finally, after so many years we have managed to get into the World Group."
In the other playoffs, it was: Austria 4, Brazil 1; Britain 4, Croatia 1; Israel 2, Chile 1; Romania 3, Japan 2; South Korea 3, Slovakia 1; and Peru 2, Belarus 1.