Andy Roddick dominated early and moved the United States into a tie with Switzerland in the Davis Cup and pulled himself even with Andre Agassi.

Roddick beat Marco Chiudinelli, 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (5), yesterday, tying the Davis Cup first-round match at 1 apiece after James Blake's 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3) loss to Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka put the U.S. in an early hole on the indoor hard court in Birmingham, Ala.

"It's always good to have Andy in that situation," U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said. "He's been there many times before. He came out with a great start and set the tone right away."

Roddick moved into a tie with Agassi with his 30th U.S. Davis Cup victory, trailing only John McEnroe (41).

AUTO RACING

MARTIN SECOND OLDEST

Mark Martin claimed the top spot at Atlanta Motor Speedway last night, making him the second-oldest pole winner in NASCAR Cup history.

Martin, 50, turned a lap of 187.045 mph for tomorrow's Kobalt Tools 500 at Hampton, Ga., earning his 42nd career pole but first since May 5, 2001, at Richmond. Harry Gant was 54 when he claimed the pole in August 1994 at Bristol.

GOLF

TWO SHARE LPGA LEAD

Americans Paula Creamer and Jane Park shot 1-under 71s yesterday to share the second-round lead in the LPGA Tour's HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore.

The third-ranked Creamer and Park are at 6-under 138 on the Tanah Merah Country Club's Garden Course. Katherine Hull (69) and Mi Hyun Kim (68) are at 5 under 139.

AND WHAT'S MORE ...

Defending champion Bernhard Langer shot a 6-under 65 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Champions Tour Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach, Calif. ... Defending champion Lindsey Vonn is poised to become the first American woman to capture two overall titles when she finished eighth in a giant slalom yesterday at Ofterschwang, Germany. ... Cycling's world governing body banned German rider Stefan Schumacher for two years yesterday after he tested positive for a banned drug at the 2008 Tour de France. ... Aaron Peck of Alberta, Canada, will be the first musher out of the chute for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The ceremonial start of the 1,100-mile race is today in Anchorage, with the official restart tomorrow in Willow. ... Chinese players Zheng Jie and Li Na are on track to meet in the Monterrey Open final after each won quaterfinal matches in straight sets yesterday at Monterrey, Mexico.