Fed v Roddick in Kooyong Final; Clijsters, Chaky Win Titles

Posted on January 12, 2007

Federer v Roddick in Kooyong Final

On the eve of the first Grand Slam of 2007, the best players on tour aren't playing at ATP events in Sydney or Auckland, but rather at the Kooyong exhibition, where world No. 1 Roger Federer will face one of the few players to test him in 2006, American Andy Roddick.

Roddick gained the final on Friday by turning back tour riser Andy Murray, coached by his former mentor Brad Gilbert, 6-4, 6-4. Roddick has lost his last eight meetings with Federer, who he held three match points against at last year's Masters Cup before failing to close out the match.

"I'm going to go out there and try to win a tennis match," said Roddick of the exhibition where Federer lost a round robin match last year. "It's always nice to get a shot at Roger. At the same time, I'm going to reiterate the fact that we're here for preparation and we're here to kind of get a feel and play some good tennis in a nice environment before the Aussie Open. I mean, let's say I do come out here and beat Roger tomorrow, I wouldn't come in here acting like a world beater -- I'd probably have to do it on a bigger stage before you read too much into it."

FRIDAY TOUR ROUND-UP:

No. 3 seed Kim Clijsters won her first title in her first tournament of 2007 Friday at Sydney, coming from a set down to beat the hot-handed Serb Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4. Jankovic won a title during the first weej of tour player, and earlier this week handed Amelie Mauresmo a bagel set in a loss. In Hobart, top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze beat Russian countrywoman and qualifier Vasilisa Bardina 6-3, 7-6(3).

On the men's side, top-seeded Tommy Robredo (d. (7) Calleri, bagel in the second) and (3) David Ferrer (d. Fish 6-1 in the third) advanced to the final in Auckland, while (3) James Blake (d. Melzer, walkover) and Carlos Moya (d. (6) Gasquet in three) moved on to the championship match.