Retiring Roddick Routs Tomic At US Open; Djokovic Breezes, Federer Faces Verdasco Saturday
- 189 Comments
Retirement has been good to Andy Roddick. So far. Tonight the 30-year-old who just announced the US Open would be his final event played like a man who knew time was almost up by routing teen Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in the second round on Arthur Ashe.
“It’s been emotional. I’ve been through a lot,” Roddick said. “But no matter how many matches you play this is a first time for me. It’s going to be tough out there, but I’m going to try and enjoy every minute.”
Enjoy he did. Roddick won the US Open back in 2003 and Friday looked every bit as lethal as he did back then. Though Tomic’s defensive game offered hardly anything against Roddick who just overwhelmed the Aussie in his Ashe debut.
“You always dream as a kid to play in this arena; it’s the biggest stage in the world,” said Tomic. “To play one of the biggest players in America, I was thinking about it too much leading into the match. He was serving well, so I just couldn’t find my way to get out of that little zone.”
In a great draw, Roddick next faces Fabio Fognini Sunday afternoon. The Italian also won in straight sets over Guillermo Garcia Lopez.
Roddick wasn’t the only former champ getting into a groove Friday. Novak Djokovic kept it tight surrendering just five games to Rogerio Dutra Silva. Juan Martin Del Potro needed four to get past pesky Ryan Harrison and in the heat of day Lleyton Hewitt went five sets to put away Gilles Muller.
“It was different conditions today obviously from the first match I played, the night session,” said Djokovic after his ninth straight win in New York. “I didn’t know much about my opponent. Never saw him play. So that could have been a difficulty at the start in order to figure out what his game plan is. But I played well from the start to the end.”
Other second round winners were 2-time NCAA champ Steve Johnson, David Ferrer, Janko Tipsarevic, Richard Gasquet and John Isner.
In women’s action, Laura Robson continues to surprise. A round after retiring Kim Clijsters the 18-year-old ousted an in-form Li Na in three sets to reach her first career Grand Slam Sweet 16.
“I had the opportunity to win it in two. It was a really close tie-break, and at 5-all she played two really good points,” Robson said. “I knew if I kept playing the way I was and kept playing how I started the first set, very aggressive and accelerating on my forehand when I could, I knew she would struggle.
“I wasn’t really looking past the first round, and when I heard I was playing Li Na after I played Kim, I didn’t really think anything. I just knew it was going to be an extremely tough match, which it was, and that she’s a great player.
Former champs Sam Stosur, who Robson plays next, and Maria Sharapova were easy winners as was Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova.
Tomorrow, the men’s tournament finally “begins” with seeds clashing and really every match on the docket is a good one! Roger Federer meets Fernando Verdasco in a match that hard to see the Spaniard actually pulling out.
Mardy Fish faces Gilles Simon at night. It’s a tough, pretty even contest but I’ll give an edge to Simon.
Andy Murray should snuff out Feliciano Lopez. I’ll take Milos Raonic to end the run of James Blake and Nicolas Almagro to edge Jack Sock.
In the two best matches, I think Sam Querrey gets the upset and Kei Nishikori knocks out Marin Cilic. Really those two could go either way. But Cilic just played two 5-setters while Querrey has been the hotter player this summer.
CBS has coverage during the day. Tennis Channel at night.
SATURDAY US OPEN SCHEDULE
Arthur Ashe Stadium 11:00 AM Start Time
1. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round
Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[30] v. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)[2]
Not Before:1:00 PM
2. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) v. Serena Williams (USA)[4]
3. Men’s Singles – 3rd Round
Roger Federer (SUI)[1] v. Fernando Verdasco (ESP)[25]
Arthur Ashe Stadium 7:00 PM Start Time
1. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round
Sloane Stephens (USA) v. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)[12]
2. Men’s Singles – 3rd Round
Mardy Fish (USA)[23] v. Gilles Simon (FRA)[16]
Louis Armstrong Stadium 11:00 AM Start Time
1. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)[13] v. Roberta Vinci (ITA)[20]
Not Before:1:00 PM
2. Men’s Singles – 3rd Round
Andy Murray (GBR)[3] v. Feliciano Lopez (ESP)[30]
3. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round
Angelique Kerber (GER)[6] v. Olga Govortsova (BLR)
4. Men’s Singles – 3rd Round
Sam Querrey (USA)[27] v. Tomas Berdych (CZE)[6]
You Might Like:
Bernard Tomic Says Roger Federer’s Level Is No Where Close To Where Novak Djokovic Is At
Federer Routs Roddick at Tennis Masters Cup, Nadal Awaits
Bernard Tomic: This Is The Perfect Time To Play Roger Federer! I Think I Can Do It, I’m Ready
Wozniacki Breezes to Rain-Delayed WTA Rogers Cup Title
Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Serena Today At Cincinnati Tennis Masters; Ferrer Upset