Sports briefs for April 12, 2004

Monday, April 12, 2004 | 9:36 a.m.

Roddick's power puts U.S. in semifinals

Swatting a record 152 mph serve on the final point, Andy Roddick beat Jonas Bjorkman 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-0 to clinch a victory Sunday for the United States in its Davis Cup quarterfinal with Sweden at Delray Beach, Fla.

Roddick swept six sets against the Swedes and improved his record to 4-0 when he's in position to clinch a Davis Cup victory for the United States.

"He has the ability to raise his level," said U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe. "All the great players have had that."

Roddick went for the knockout on match point, when his serve broke the record of 150 mph he set in a Davis Cup match in February.

"I knew I had it in my arm," he said. "I thought I'd take a crack at it that last game."

One hitch: Bjorkman somehow managed to get his return in play.

When the rally ended with Bjorkman hitting a backhand into the net, the U.S. celebration began.

In search of their first Davis Cup championship since 1995, the Americans next will face Belarus, a first-time semifinalist, at a U.S. site Sept. 24-26. The other semifinal matchup has Spain meeting France.

Mardy Fish won Sunday's final match, beating Tomas Johansson 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to give the Americans a 4-1 triumph for the weekend.

Nelson wins Wooden

St. Joseph's guard Jameer Nelson was named the winner of the 2004 John R. Wooden Award. He previously had won the Naismith and Adolph Rupp awards and college basketball's top player and the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top college point guard.

Denver rules

Denver defeated Maine 1-0 on Gabe Gautheir's goal to win the NCAA Division I championship. Denver goalie Adam Berkhoel made 24 saves in the final and was named MVP for the Frozen Four at Boston.

Summerall transplant

NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall, 73, received a liver transplant and was recovering in an intensive care unit at a Jacksonville, Fla., hospital.