GOTHENBURG, Sweden -- Andy Roddick handled Joachim Johansson in straight sets, while Thomas Johansson downed James Blake in four in Friday's opening singles action in the Davis Cup semifinal between the visiting United States and Sweden.

The former world No. 1 Roddick recorded a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory over Joachim Johansson in 1 hour, 53 minutes in a hard-serving affair on an indoor carpet at Scandinavium, but the 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson promptly pulled the hosts even at 1-1 by besting Blake in 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 fashion in 2 hours, 5 minutes.

Roddick launched 30 aces at the 6-foot-6 Joachim Johansson, who countered with 23 bombs in a losing effort. The rusty Johansson, who hasn't played on the ATP since the Australian Open back in January due to ongoing shoulder problems, piled up seven double faults on his way to surrendering the first point to the formidable Americans.

"Joachim played very, very aggressive," Roddick said. "I had a little bit of an advantage in the tiebreaks having played more matches."

Roddick overcame a 2-3 deficit in the second-set tiebreak by winning five straight points to claim the stanza, which he did with a set-ending ace, and notched the only break of the match, in the third set, in order to prevail. Roddick's key break gave him a 5-3 advantage in the third, and he then closed out the match with his massive service game, including a rubber-ending unreturnable first serve.

The former U.S. Open champ and three-time Grand Slam runner-up Roddick is now 24-9 in his career Davis Cup singles matches, and he's now 2-1 lifetime against Johansson, who stunned the American in the 2004 U.S. Open quarterfinals. Johansson dropped to 1-3 in his Davis Cup encounters.

In Friday's nightcap, an in-form Thomas Johansson fired 19 aces at Blake, who committed almost twice as many unforced errors (23-12) as his Swedish counterpart en route to defeat. Johansson broke Blake's serve on four occasions, while the American settled for only one service break over four sets of tennis.

The world No. 7 Blake is now 11-8 in his career Davis Cup singles action, while the 56th-ranked veteran Johansson improved to 14-10.

Saturday's doubles will pit the American twin Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, against a Swedish duo of Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman, while Sunday's reverse singles tentatively call for Roddick to meet Thomas Johansson and Blake to take on Joachim Johansson. Aspelin captured the U.S. Open men's doubles title, alongside Austrian Julian Knowle, earlier this month.

The winner of this best-of-five tie will face the Russia-Germany victor in the World Group final in late-November/early-December. Russia is the defending Davis Cup champ.

The United States owns a record 31 Davis Cup titles, but is currently in its longest-ever championship drought, having not hoisted the chalice since 1995. The Swedes have won the title seven times, with their last one coming back in 1998.

The Americans are 8-3 all-time against Sweden, dating back to 1946, including a quarterfinal victory in Florida in 2004. The Swedes are 3-1 versus the U.S. in their ties on home turf, including a 5-0 victory in a final right here in Gothenburg 10 years ago. Sweden also topped the Americans in the final back in 1984.

The U.S. is 2-1 versus the Swedes in the Davis Cup semifinals, but 0-1 in ones played here in Sweden.

Patrick McEnroe captains the American squad, while former tennis great Mats Wilander guides the Swedes.