Andy Roddick closed out the U.S. Davis Cup win over France and we got the running commentary.

French player Paul-Henri Mathieu was serving at 1-2 in the first set of his Davis Cup match with U.S. player Andy Roddick when he lost his serve the first time. In that game, Roddick threw a number of slices at Mathieu’s backhand then followed those up with his new shot, a backhand flicker passing shot that landed at Mathieu’s feet. That was the point of all the junk Roddick was floating across the net – keep the ball low and mess up Mathieu’s rhythm while pounding away at his forehand which can be weak under the pressure of big points.

We know this because Roddick told us and he didn’t wait until the post-match media session, we got it in real time through a running commentary with Versus commentator Justin Gimelstob who was sitting courtside. Earlier in the game, Roddick had already told us (through Gimelstob) that he could break down Mathieu’s forehand and, after a questionable out call against Mathieu, Roddick turned to us with a look that said he’d just received a house call.

Forget all this commentating stuff, just put a mic on Roddick and turn on the camera. He’s as entertaining as most commentators anyway. Speaking of which, Gimelstob is growing on me. I was initially turned off by his blatant politicking for a broadcast job to the point where the last matches of his career became auditions for his future job. After he lost to Roddick at the U.S. Open last year, he hijacked the mic and interviewed Roddick himself as you can see above.

Okay then, let’s just give the mic to Robin Soderling the next time he loses to Rafael Nadal and let HIM interview Nadal. Can’t you hear it now? So Rafa, what’s with the incessant time delays? And what’s with holding new balls sarcastically just because I ran off the court to get a new racket in the middle of your service motion? You got a problem with that?…

Anyway, Gimelstob is funny, he knows the players strokes and understands their personalities, and he’s not afraid to throw down some smack. Why is Roddick such a good closer? Gimelstob: “Because he wants this moment. He’s the anti-Gasquet.” It’s harsh and I agree with him but I do wonder if he’ll have to rein it in if he wants to stay in the broadcast booth.

For example: Gimelstob also described a conversation in which he asked Mathieu why Gasquet wasn’t playing. Mathieu just shook his head and walked a way. Gimelstob is still in that netherworld between the players and the media because he just left the tour, but when Mathieu hears that Gimelstob reported him dissing his fellow countryman on air, he might think twice about being so chummy next time.

Back to Gasquet: Are today’s players less gutsy than players of the past? Is Roddick a throwback and Gasquet the modern player? Gasquet hit earlier on Sunday but it was still Mathieu who was thrown out there despite the fact that this was likely to be the deciding rubber and Gasquet surely could have done better than Mathieu – he went down in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. And if something had been seriously wrong with Gasquet, Mathieu would not have walked away shaking his head.

I don’t think the players are overall less gutsy. Nadal and Roger Federer play Davis Cup only when they want to but they go deep in Masters Series events and slams and they just finished consecutive two week Masters Series events. So did Roddick but he’s the exception today in Davis Cup and Gasquet is exceptional for the opposite reason.

As much as it annoyed me, Novak Djokovic did call five timeouts against Gael Monfils in the U.S. Open in 2005, more than a few of them to treat cramps, and Gasquet himself played an amazing set of tennis against Lleyton Hewitt at the same event one year later. Gasquet could barely walk – you could literally see his thigh muscles cramping – yet there he was, hobbling over to the corner and hitting a passing shot past Hewitt who was hugging the line. Gasquet lost the match but you had to appreciate him.

Roddick has now run his closer record to 10-0. Ten times he’s had the chance to close out a Davis Cup tie and every time he has delivered. Players may be just as gutsy today but he right up there at the top of the list.