Roddick Ponders Slam Troubles; Davenport v Henin Looms at Oz Open
Posted on January 22, 2006
Roddick Routed by Unseeded Baghdatis at Australian OpenAndy Roddick said his mantra for 2006 was to be more aggressive, but the American's tentative baseline performance combined with the loss of his formerly-dominant forehand resulted in a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss to unseeded 20-year-old Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the fourth round Sunday at the Australian Open.
The match was marked off the ground by Baghdatis' ability to step in and control the court during rallies while Roddick stubbornly attempted to out-rally the Cypriot with consistency rather than pulling the trigger -- finding himself pushed further and further back on the baseline.
Roddick looked ready to overpower the diminutive Cypriot after almost recording a bagel set in the second to even things at one-set all, but Baghdatis routinely returned Roddick's service delivery and duped the American into long baseline rallies where his superior court overage and positioning proved the difference.
"I'm just in my own world and playing great tennis," said the No. 54-ranked Baghdatis, rooted on by a rowdy contingent of singing, chanting Greeks in Melbourne. "I think it's one of the best matches of my life."
Roddick's exit before the quarterfinals in Melbourne follows on the heels of his first-round upset at his last slam at the 2005 US Open, firing speculation that big changes are on the horizon in the Roddick camp. "Firing" being the key word.
"I didn't play that badly -- plus eight in winners to errors -- I looked and I won more total points," said Roddick, whose point total included only two of nine breakpoint opportunities. "I think I would have beaten most people today but credit where it's due, he played a very good match. The shots he was able to come up with were very good. Maybe I was a bit spacey out there. I wasn't totally on top of things."
The American also insisted he stuck with his aggressive plan throughout the match.
"A lot of the times, a lot of winners he hit were from passing shots behind the baseline," Roddick said. "We were talking about that backhand. A lot of times I was in control of the point, and he came up with the goods. A couple times I was sloppy at the wrong moments. That's the way it is."
No. 4 seed David Nalbandian had a one-set hiccup against No. 16 Tommy Robredo, defeating the Spaniard 6-3, 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 on Sunday, while No. 7 Ivan Ljubicic also had a comfortable 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 win over No. 10 Thomas Johnasson, evening their career head-to-head at 3-3.
"I'm confident every time I play good, and I play good today so I feel much better than the beginning of the tournament. So I am very happy," Nalbandian said. "I know that all the players are tough right now. I mean, Roddick lost, but Baghdatis is a great player, so is gonna be tough with any one or both. But first I have to think of [Fabrice Santoro]."
The unseeded Frenchman Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro continued his torrid upset run Sunday, ousting No. 11 seed David Ferrer 6-4, 7-5, 7-5. It is the Frenchman's first Melbourne quarterfinal berth after his fourth-round effort in 1999.
"I said a few times in the past three, four years, that I keep playing tennis because I like the game," said Santoro, who wept with joy at the end of the match, reaching a personal landmark. "I achieved almost everything I was expected, except a grand slam quarterfinal. I was thinking about this, I was working hard for that."
Doubles winners on the day included (1) the Bryan brothers (d. (14) Kerr/Parrott), (4) Hanley/Ullyett (d. Czechs (16) Berdych/Suk), and (2) Bjorkman/Max "The Beast" Mirnyi (d. Argentines Acasuso/Prieto).
Scheduled for Monday fourth-round play are (5) Davydenko vs. (12) Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty, (1) Federer vs. Haas, (21) Kiefer vs. Chela, and (25) Grosjean vs. Mathieu in an all-French match-up.
"I've had some difficulties with him in the past," said Federer of Haas. "But I'm looking toward to the match because it's going to be different. It might look like a walk in the park, but it's definitely not going to be that."
Doubles highlights Monday are (5) Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro/Zimonjic vs. Poland's Fyrstenberg/Matkowski, (7) Damm/Paes vs. (11) Bhupathi/Moodie, and (8) Aspelin/Perry vs. Austrians (12) Knowle/Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer.
Davenport Advances to Henin Meeting at Australian Open
World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport blew out No. 14 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-4 in under an hour Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals, but a stumble that reinjured a sprained left ankle may have her gimpy in her next round which will be the American's tester for the tournament.
"She definitely gave me a reprieve at 3-4 where I really think I only hit one or two balls that game, and she was missing a lot and going for shots," said Davenport who lost four straight games after the ankle turn before regaining her composure to close out the second set. "That obviously helped open the door after I'd lost four games in a row and struggling. At 4-all, I was just trying to go for shots and keep the points a little shorter. It's a tough position to be in as the opponent, I understand that. All I know is I was trying to keep the points as short as possible towards the end. The finish line was obviously in sight. It's easier in that regard for me to play."
Kuznetsova, a reputable head case since failing to deal with the pressure of winning the 2004 US Open, has now lost three in a row to the American since first beating her in the 2004 semifinals en route to her lone slam title.
"I'm getting there," said Kuznetsova, on the verge of moving back into the Top 10 on the WTA Tour Rankings. "Today I understood what I have to work on, and I have to just get back to the training court and work about it. But hopefully in a couple matches with top players, I'll get my level and can compete against them in the top level."
Davenport will next face No. 8 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne, who blasted Spanish doubles specialist Virginia Ruano Pascual off the court 6-0, 6-3.
"I think I've played pretty serious matches, very professional, very aggressive way," said the oft-injured former No. 1 Henin-Hardenne who will undoubtable contend for the top spot in 2006 if she can stay off the medical trainer's table. "And Tuesday starts not another tournament, but it's going to be the next step, playing the No. 1 player in the world. So it's going to be a good test for myself. I will enjoy being here in the quarters again. I think that's pretty amazing after four months off. I'm very happy about that. And I try to enjoy that. It's going to be a tough match."
No. 4 seed Maria Sharapova won the battle of long-limbed runway looks against No. 17 Daniela Hantuchova with a 6-4, 6-4 win Sunday, while No. 6-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova moved into the quarters with a 6-3, 6-1 win over unseeded countrywoman Elena Vesnina, advancing to her first Aussie Open quarterfinal.
Hantuchova led 3-0 in the second set, eventually leaving the court to be treated for a leg injury and returning with a taped left thigh before being broken in the ninth game by Sharapova for the eventual loss.
On court Monday in Melbourne are (3) Mauresmo vs. (16) Vaidisova, (2) Clijsters vs. (15) Schiavone, Hingis vs. the serve-and-volleying Aussie Sam Stosur in the day's marquee match-up, and (7) Schnyder vs. (12) Myskina.
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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Andy Roddick has now lost to a former junior No. 1 in the last three Slams. He's also won three of his last six slam matches. With Roddick making no progress in his game, LLeyton Hewitt going backward, and Marat Safin and Rafael Nadal injured, who is going to finish No. 2 behind Federer in 2006? Ivan Ljubicic? David Nalbandian?? Your mom? The field is open...After hitting over 110F at Melbourne on Sunday (not inside either showcourt, however), temps are expected to cool off until Thursday when another inferno blast is expected...Martina Hingis has lost only 10 games en route to the final 16...Not to beat a dead horse, but Roger Federer has won 48 straight matches on hardcourt, pulling away from Pete Sampras' former record of 34...Tommy Haas has never lost to Roger Federer in his two prior tour meetings in Australia, one at the Olympics and the other in Melbourne in 2002, 8-6 in the fifth...Amelie Mauresmo ended Nicole Vaidisova's 18-match win streak in Philly last fall, with the two butting heads Monday...Will rushing the net work against Martina Hingis? We are about to find out as Sam Stosur is also the No. 4-ranked doubles player in the world...In his 54th try, Fabrice Santoro reached his first career Slam quarterfinal Sunday...Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova are so injured that they haven't dropped a set yet in Melbourne...From the freaky open-letter/job application from Nick Bollettieri to Serena Williams printed in The Independent: "Can you come back? A will to win and a determination to fight is no longer enough to get through a Grand Slam. I was asked to be Boris Becker's coach in 1996 -- his ranking had slipped to No. 16; he was out of shape. I asked him what he was willing to do. He said: "Whatever I have to do." I accepted and he did get back on top. If you would be willing to answer in the same way Becker did, I would once again work with you. I believe in you. In three months, you would be ready not only to challenge the world, but to kick its butt. What do you say?" -- We say fat chance (pardon the pun) Serena will sign up with Nick to bark at her for three months and tell her what not to eat, Serena's ego don't roll like that...Andy Roddick has failed to reach the quarterfinals in three of his last four slams. Dean Goldfine, not a lot of job security there...Andy Roddick, lecturing the media after his loss to Marcos Baghdatis, on how the American is now just another player after insinuations he was in the easy half of the draw: "I think you guys underestimate a lot of players. I mean, if you watched the match today, I mean, the guy can play tennis. Just 'cause his ranking is not there yet doesn't mean the guy doesn't deserve respect. [David] Nalbandian won Masters and he's playing great. I don't know how you can say "in your half." I told you guys five days ago that there's no such thing as an open draw. There's a lot of good players out there. There's one guy who has set himself apart, and the rest of men's tennis is very deep where anybody can beat anybody on a given day."...Ivan Ljubicic is through to his first slam quarterfinal...As the rip-fest on Andy Roddick begins, ponder exactly what coach Dean Goldfine has contributed besides being a low-key replacement for the overbearing Brad Gilbert. Speaking of Brad, has any commentator ever had such a mutant-like ability to make his audience uncomfortable with his irritating fake-smirk-and-hands-on-the-desk awkwardness after each blurting out of a statement? The smooth (at the desk more so than commentating) Chris Fowler needs to get Brad into some media training...Now that Andy Roddick has nothing to do in Melbourne, he can reciprocate for Maria Sharapova watching him play poker all the time by rooting on the Russian (though not in view of the TV cameras)...Jennifer Capriati has told Tennis Week she has no plans on making a comeback in March at Miami and is still not rehabilitated from her shoulder surgery...From Reuters: "Australian and Chinese tennis officials signed a bilateral agreement on Sunday to improve the standard of players in both countries in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Under the agreement, Australian and Chinese players will co-operate in joint training programs and will be given special wildcard entries in tournaments in each other's country, including the Australian Open."...The Telegraph's (UK) Martin Johnsson on Sharapova d. Kostanic: "The match was otherwise rather tedious, and while her opponent's surname is not the hardest to pronounce, the umpire was only once required to lean into his microphone and say: "Game Kostanic." Not Miss Kostanic, you notice, as here in Australia a sheila ranks some distance below a bartender or a meat pie salesman in the social pecking order."...Nikolay Davydenko, not a big fan of the Aussie crowds in Melbourne: "It was amazing. It is normal in Davis Cup, but...the Australian fans say to me everything like 's---' before every return and every serve. Then I lost my concentration. Every time I go from one side they say 's---' to me. It was tough. It was the first time in my career, I have played like that and can't do something. I think it was wrong. I think it is people who were drunk. They sat there and it was hot and they drank beer and it was stupid. It was stupid for an organization to (sell beers) here."...From The Telegraph: "World No. 1 Roger Federer is appearing in Melbourne without a racket sponsor. The Swiss's contract with Wilson expired in December and has yet to be renewed, though he continues to use the firm's nSix-One Tour 90 racket. "We expect him to sign a new deal shortly," said a spokesperson for the manufacturer...Wicked whispers. Which tennis-playing sisters did staff at a designer outlet on trendy Chapel Street tell that their figures were too muscular for the shop's skimpy outfits?...Barbara Schett, wash your mouth out with soap. While commentating for BBC radio the Austrian, who retired from professional tennis after losing in the second round here last year, uttered the word s***. A rather more vulgar expletive left the lips of Lleyton Hewitt during his first round match with Robin Vik. "Shut the **** up!" he yelled to a member of the crowd. But the Australian appeared to be suffering from amnesia when asked about it afterwards. "I don't know what you're talking about," he told a reporter."...Alex Corretja is commentating for Spanish TV in Melbourne.