Roddick will open for U.S. in Davis Cup semifinal

GOTEBORG, Sweden -- Not even Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe could beat the Swedes.

Despite losing its last three Davis Cup matches to Sweden, the United States is favored to halt that streak with Andy Roddick and James Blake in the lineup for the semifinals this weekend.

Roddick will face Joachim Johansson, who has been sidelined eight months by a shoulder injury, in Friday's opening singles. The draw Thursday also pitted top Swede Thomas Johansson against Blake in the second singles match on Scandinavium Arena's fast indoor carpet.

In Saturday's doubles, Simon Aspelin will team with veteran Jonas Bjorkman against the top-ranked Bob and Mike Bryan.

Both captains -- Mats Wilander for Sweden and Patrick McEnroe for the United States -- can change their doubles teams up to one hour before the match starts.

In Sunday's reverse singles, Thomas Johansson plays Roddick and Joachim Johansson faces Blake.

Joachim Johansson, bothered by a should injury, used to possess one of the hardest serves in men's tennis. He's 1-1 against Roddick.

At the 2004 U.S. Open, he upset defending champion Roddick in the quarterfinals. Roddick won a quarterfinal earlier that year in San Jose, Calif. Both were played on hardcourt.

"He's going to come out and play high risk," Roddick said. "I don't think he wants to get into long rallies. I think he's going to go big on first and second serve. He has nothing to lose out there."

In the other Davis Cup semifinal, defending champion Russia plays Germany.

Russia, which beat Argentina to win the 2006 title, will have fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko in the lineup when it faces Germany on clay in Moscow.

Davydenko will be joined by Mikhail Youzhny, Dmitry Tursunov and Igor Andreev. Germany will use Tommy Haas, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Alexander Waske and Philipp Petzschner.

Roger Federer will face Radek Stepanek on Friday in the opening singles match of Switzerland's Davis Cup playoff at the Czech Republic. The playoff winner qualifies for next year's World Group.