Roddick Loses at Indy, Pulls From L.A.

Posted on July 23, 2005

Ginepri Gets 1st Win Over Roddick at ATP Indianapolis

Robby Ginepri scored his first career win in seven meetings with Andy Roddick Friday at the ATP stop in Indianapolis, saving three match points to defeat the two-time defending champ 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 to advance to the semifinals.

"This is really fabulous, I played my best tennis," Ginepri said. "It feels good to get through. I think he got me three times in juniors and six times as a pro. I was working hard in Miami last week with my coach (Francisco Montana) and Kevin Kim. It was super hot and its paid off. It feels like I am starting my career over."

No. 4 seed Taylor Dent made it two Americans in the semis, defeating countryman Paul Goldstein, and joined by No. 7 seed Greg Rusedski (d. (2) Kiefer from a set down) and No. 10 Karol Beck (d. Bastl).

On tap for Saturday are (10) Beck vs. Ginepri (Beck leads meetings 2-0), and (4) Dent vs. (7) Rusedski (Brit leads 2-0).

Top 3 Seeds Into Semifinals at ATP Stuttgart

The top three seeds advanced into the semifinals Friday at the ATP claycourt stop in Stuttgart with winners (1) Rafael Nadal (d. Zib), (2) Nikolay Davydenko (d. (11) Berdych), and (3) Gaston Gaudio (d. Zabaleta in three).

"I think I played a very good match having a lot of confidence," Nadal said. "I was in control all the time, which is good for the confidence. Every match is difficult and different. I try to play my best in every match."

Also into the semis was unseeded Fin Jarkko Nieminen who defeated Italian Andreas Seppi in straight sets.

Nadal now has the most consecutive clay wins since Thomas Muster won 40 straight in 1995.

Saturday's semifinal match-ups are (1) Nadal vs. Nieminen (first meeting), (3) Gaudio vs. (2) Davydenko (Gaudio leads 4-0), and in doubles Nadal/Verdasco vs. Hood/Robredo, and (WC)Beck/Rieschick vs. Acasuso/Prieto.

Puerta, Massu Upset at ATP Amersfoort

Two favorites were shocked Friday at the ATP claycourt stop in Amersfoort when unheralded Czech Ivo Minar ousted top-seeded and French Open runner-up Mariano Puerta 7-6 in the third, and Spain's David Sanchez defeated No. 3 Nicolas Massu in three.

"I play unbelievable today, probably one of the best matches of my career," Minar said after edging Puerta.

Massu's fellow Chilean and No. 2 seed Fernando Gonzalez now assumed the favorite position after cruising past Daniele Bracciali to reach the semifinals, joined by unseeded Argentine Agustin Calleri who defeated Dutch wildcard Melle Van Gemerden in straights.

Lining up for the semis Saturday are D.Sanchez vs. (2) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez (Sanchez leads career meetings 2-1), and Minar vs. Calleri (first meeting).

Schnyder, Qualifier Mattek Win at WTA Cincinnati

Top-seeded Patty Schnyder moved into the semifinals at the WTA stop in Cincinnati with a 7-6(1), 6-2  win over Israel's Shahar Peer.

Also into the semis were No. 4 Daniela Hantuchova (d. Cho from a set down), Japan's unseeded Akiko Morigami (d. Mirza), and American qualifier Bethanie Mattek (d. (3) Jankovic in three).

"It's definitely a boost to my morale, to get wins under my belt," Mattek said. "It gets tough when you're playing Challengers all the time, and when you're losing in the first round of qualifiers."

Scheduled for Saturday on the hardcourts are (1) Schnyder vs. (Q) Mattek (first meeting), and (4) Hantuchova vs. Morigami (Slovak leads 2-0).

Three Seeds Into Semis at WTA Palermo

Three seeds advanced into the semifinals Friday at the WTA dirt stop in Palermo in (2) Flavia Pennetta (d. (7) Vinci 7-6 in the third), (3) Anabel Medina Garrigues (d. Diaz-Oliva), and (5) Klara Koukalova (d. (LL) Muller in three).

The only un-seed into the semis was Bularian teen Tszvetana Pironkova, who came from a set down to defeat Italian wildcard Nathalie Vierin.

Scheduled for the Saturday semis are (3) Anabel "Funky Cold" Medina Garrigues vs. Pironkova (first meeting), and (2) Pennetta vs. (5) Klara "Kouky" Koukalova (Pennetta leads 3-0).

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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Andy Roddick has pulled from L.A. next week citing a bad knee: "I am deeply disappointed I will be unable to compete in the Mercedes-Benz Cup due to soreness in my right knee. After consulting with my coach and trainer, we feel that it is critical that I have some recovery time. I have always been fortunate to have great support from southern California over the last few years and I look forward to playing there in the near future." Lots of injuries following Roger Federer's pull from the Masters Series-Canada, and Andre Agassi's pull from Indy this week (and potential pull from L.A. next week).