Roddick came to Spain looking to set a triumphant seal on a season which had promised much and largely delivered in the shape of tournament wins at San Jose, Miami, Queens' and Indianapolis -- but notably left him empty-handed in Grand Slams.

But having already been sent packing by teenager Rafael Nadal in his opening singles match on Friday Roddick again found himself clutching at straws as 1998 French Open champion Moya, desperate to win the Cup after missing his country's 2000 win through injury, ground him into the red dust.

Moya swept to victory 6-2, 7-6, 7-6 to delight 27,000 home fans and Roddick admitted that Team USA have some way to go to compete on the slow surface at this level - though he did espy some improvement on previous setbacks.

"I think we put up a better fight here than in Paris two years ago. I felt like we were a little closer," said Roddick, referring to a 2002 semifinal humbling by France at Roland Garros.

"I got off to a slow start but then it was pretty much dead even," said Roddick.

"I had my chances -- I just didn't convert them," added the 22-year-old Nebraskan whose concentration was briefly interrupted in the tenth game of the third set when serial pitch invader 'Jimmy Jump' ran onto the court.

"At first I was scared," said the 2003 US Open champion of the incident.

"My heart jumped when I first saw it. He had a very nice hat," Roddick said of the intruder, unceremoniously hauled away by officials.

Roddick praised Spain's performance, marred only by Saturday's doubles loss when Bob and Mike Bryan got the better of Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo.

"They were just better than us this weekend.

"I have nothing to be ashamed of. I gave it my all. I am not going to walk out of here with my head down, that's for sure."

"There's no miracle answer. We have to improve."

Roddick, who has seen Swiss star Roger Federer walk away with most of the game's top Tour prizes this season, said he felt he had had a consistent year -- just one where he had not quite managed to reach Federer's level.