Roddick Suffers Opening-Round Exit at Madrid; Maleeva Retires

Posted on October 20, 2005

Nadal Wins, Roddick Another Early Loss at ATP Madrid

While he didn't appear completely at ease in his movement, world No. 2 Rafael Nadal overcame knee tendonitis Wednesday at the ATP stop in Madrid, advancing with a sketchy 7-6(5), 6-3 win over Romania's Victor Hanescu.

"My knee functioned well enough, and while other people were fearful, the injury did not hurt me at any time," Nadal said. "I think I played quite well. Despite the beginning, where I had a few nerves and a lack of rhythm after three weeks without playing a single set, I am very pleased."

No. 2 seed Andy Roddick served 14 aces and didn't lose serve during his match, but it wasn't enough as the American squandered a match point to lose his third consecutive ATP contest 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(3) to big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic.

"For two sets, I don't think I could have played better," said Roddick, who had a match point at 6-5 in the second-set breaker. "It was the highest quality match we've played. You're going to have two or three points per tiebreaker that's either going to go your way or it's not. It didn't go my way tonight. In the second tiebreaker, I don't think I played a bad point."

Other seeded winners Wednesday were (3) Nikolay Davydenko (d. Beck), (4) Guillermo Coria (d. C.Rochus), (6) Mariano Puerta (d. Mirnyi in two breakers), (8) Ivan Ljubicic (d. A.Martin), (9) Thomas Johansson (d. Chela), (10) Radek Stepanek (d. Henman in three), (13) Tommy Robredo (d. Moya 6-1 in the third), and (14) Dominik Hrbaty (d. Haas).

"In terms of the way that I'm moving, the way that I'm feeling on the court, there is certainly a lot to be positive about," said Henman, looking on the bright side of life after the loss to the seeded Stepanek. "In the context of this year, it's not the most important result of my career. I do feel a lot more enthusiastic and a lot more excited about my game because I'm out there playing pain-free. I've been able to play the way that I want to."

Un-seeds orchestrating upsets to advance into the third round were Argentina's Jose Acasuso (d. (7) Gaudio), and Belgian Olivier Rochus (d. (12) Ancic in a third-set breaker).

On tap for Thursday at the Masters Series-Madrid are (5) Nalbandian vs. (9) Thomas "Tojo" Johansson, (3) Davydenko vs. (16) Ginepri, (11) Ferrer vs. (6) Puerta, (1) Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal vs. (13) Robredo in an all-Spanish, (15) Gonzalez vs. (4) Coria, (10) Stepanek vs. Acasuso, (14) Hrbaty vs. (Q) "Dr." Ivo Karlovic, (8) Ljubicic vs. Olivier "The Roach" Rochus, and in doubles highlights, T.Johansson/Mirnyi vs. (WC)Blake/Roddick.

Russians Win, Maleeva Retires at WTA Zurich

No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva led the seeded winners Wednesday at the WTA stop in Zurich, coming from a set down to defeat France's Nathalie Dechy 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to advance into the quarterfinals.

Other seeded winners on the day were (5) Nadia Petrova (d. (WC) Martinez), homecountry favorite (6) Patty Schnyder (d. Maleeva), and (7) Anastasia Myskina (d. Farina Elia).

"I guess it's like running 400 or 800 metres," said Petrova, playing through a pectoral muscle injury in an attempt to qualify for one of the remaining spots at the year-end WTA Championships. "The last meters are the most difficult. You can't run any more but you still have to push through it. It's the same by the end of the season. I'm trying hard, and, hopefully, it'll be third time lucky for me to get into the championships."

It was the final career match for the last of the three Maleeva sisters after Maggie's loss to Schnyder, receiving a standing ovation in Zurich.

"They wanted me to come to the microphone and speak to the crowd but I just couldn't," Maleeva said.

Two unseeded Italians also advanced in lucky loser Flavia Pennetta (d. (Q) Peschke from a set down), and Francesca Schiavone (d. countrywoman (Q) Vinci from a set down).

Scheduled for Thursday in Zurich are Pennetta vs. Karatantcheva, Srebotnik vs. Mauresmo, Davenport vs. Hantuchova, Jankovic vs. Ivanovic, and Schiavone vs. Petrova.

X-CORRECT
Andy Roddick has a 26-20 tiebreak record in 2005.

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