SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) The United States has split its first-day Davis Cup matches against Chile, with Andy Roddick taking the opener and John Isner losing a five-set marathon to Paul Capdeville.
Capdeville gave Chile a big lift Friday by rallying against Isner and winning 6-7 (5), 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4. The Chilean had the only break in the next-to-last game of the 4-hour, 21-minute match when a tired Isner netted an overhead smash.
Roddick opened with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Nicolas Massu. Doubles in the best-of-five series is Saturday, with reverse singles Sunday.
Isner won the longest match in history at Wimbledon last year, beating Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set after 11 hours, 5 minutes.