Roddick, Harrison Make Statements, Clijsters Retires at Indian Wells
In-country rivalries were the order of the day on Tuesday at Indian Wells, where No. 8 seed Andy Roddick shut down the giant-serving No. 30 seed John Isner 7-5, 6-2 in an all-American battle, and No. 19 Ana Ivanovic won the all-Serb encounter against No. 6 Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 6-2.
The big-serving encounter between Roddick and Isner advanced to 7-5, 4-2 in only an hour as the players exchanged few rallies. For Roddick it was revenge for a loss to Isner at the US Open.
Ivanovic looked like the confident former No. 1 in blitzing Jankovic, who looked to be struggling for motivation in the face of her fist-pumping countrywoman.
Ivanovic improved to 7-3 lifetime against Jankovic.
American Ryan Harrison defeated Canadian Milos Raonic in a battle of future stars 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-4.
Other winners Tuesday were Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, No. 18 Richard Gasquet over No. 10 Jurgen Melzer, Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych, and Viktor Troicki.
On the women’s side world No. 2 Kim Clijsters hit a road block when she was forced to retire against Marion Bartoli with a shoulder injury.
“When I’m not training it feels fine but as I got into hitting a little bit more again, it slowly just flared up a little bit,” Clijsters told the media. “On hardcourts I know that I am able to control it. I’m concerned for what’s coming up next, and that’s the claycourt season.”
Other women’s highlights Tuesday in fourth round action were world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki outlasting No. 22 Alisa Kleybanova 6-1 in the third, No. 10 Shahar Peer upsetting No. 5 Francesca Schiavone 7-6 in the third, and No. 8 Victoria Azarenka topping No. 9 Agnieszka Radwanska 7-6 in the third.
The late match on Tuesday night in Indian Wells was an all-Russian battle of former No. 1s, with shoulder-addled Maria Sharapova squaring off against mind-addled Dinara Safina.
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