Roddick, Blake face must-win situations

For the U.S. Davis Cup team, it’s one must-win match down, two to go.

Andy Roddick and James Blake must win their singles matches today in Moscow against Russia for the Americans to advance to the final against Argentina.

Bob and Mike Bryan kept U.S. hopes alive with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny in Saturday’s semifinal in Moscow. The win leaves the Americans trailing 2-1.

The winner will face Argentina, which beat Australia 3-0 Saturday, in the final in December.

Chasing the United States’ first Davis Cup title since 1995, the Bryan brothers broke for a 5-3 lead in the first set and went on to win in 90 minutes on the clay court at Olympic Stadium.

Russia, which has not lost at home in 10 years, needs to win one of the matches today to secure its first berth in the Davis Cup final since its only title against France in 2002.

“Top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo rallied for a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (3) win over Jelena Jankovic to advance to the final of the China Open in Beijing.

Mauresmo will play second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, who cruised to the final with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Peng Shuai of China.

“Top-seeded Martina Hingis routed Sania Mirza of India 6-1, 6-0 to reach the final of the Sunfeast Open in Calcutta, India.

Hingis will play Russian Olga Poutchkova, who is playing in her first WTA Tour event final.

Golf

Axley lassoes the lead

Eric Axley shot his second straight 7-under-par 63 in the Texas Open in San Antonio, birdieing the final three holes to take a four-shot lead into the final round. Only Corey Pavin’s 64-61 in Milwaukee are lower consecutive rounds on the PGA Tour this year.

Axley, a 32-year-old left-hander, was 16 under through 54 holes.

Axley, from Knoxville, Tenn., is pursuing his first PGA Tour victory. He won once on the Nationwide Tour, but his best finishes in two seasons on the PGA Tour are a pair of 24th-place ties.

He leads a group of three players, including 2005 Byron Nelson Championship winner Ted Purdy, who shot a 64. The others at 12 under are Frank Lickliter II (65) and 2004 Ryder Cup participant Chris Riley (64).

“Karrie Webb took full control in the Longs Drugs Challenge in Danville, Calif., taming the hilly Blackhawk Country Club course with a bogey-free, 6-under 66 that pushed her lead to five strokes, at 203, with a round to play.

Second-place Morgan Pressel, 18, continued to wow the Northern California crowd with her scoring prowess. She had seven birdies and two bogeys through 17 holes, only to give back two strokes on the closing hole.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot 74 and is at 218. Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum, Idaho, also shot 74 and is at 219.

Miscellany

Strong Contender wins

Strong Contender rallied in the stretch and charged past favorite Lawyer Ron for a one-length victory in the $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La.

Trained by John Ward, Strong Contender stalked a brisk pace set by 4-5 top choice Lawyer Ron and took the lead with about 100 yards to go. Louisborg finished third.

“Penny Taylor scored 28 points and Lauren Jackson added 16 to lead Australia past Russia 91-74 for its first gold medal at the world basketball championships.

Taylor, the tournament MVP, added nine rebounds.

Earlier, the U.S. team beat host Brazil 99-59 for the bronze medal. Diana Taurasi scored 28 points and Tina Thompson had 15.

“Germany’s Arthur Abraham overcame a broken jaw to retain his IBF middleweight title against Colombia’s Edison Miranda in Wetzlar, Germany.

Abraham, 22-0 with 17 knockouts, pounded Miranda through the first four rounds, and won with scores of 114-109, 115-109 and 116-109 from the three judges.