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Roddick avenges Blake's loss
22/02/2008 11:18 - (SA)
California - Top seed Andy Roddick blasted seven aces to beat Kei Nishikori 6-2 6-4 in the second round of the ATP SAP Open, avenging Nishikori's stunning win over American James Blake last weekend.
The 18-year-old Nishikori shocked Blake, who was ranked 12th in the world at the time, in Sunday's final at the Delray Beach tournament, becoming the first player from Japan to win an ATP Tour event since Shuzo Matsuoka at Queen's in June 1992.
But Thursday, American Roddick won four-of-eight break points, ousting Nishikori in an hour and three minutes.
Nishikori managed to win just 54% (19-of-35) of first-serve points against Roddick.
He climbed from 244th to 131st in the world rankings after beating Blake and was able to carry that momentum into this event by posting a 7-5, 6-3 first-round victory over Diego Hartfield of Argentina.
The world's No. 6 player, Roddick barely advanced to the second round, holding on for a 6-3 6-7 (3/7) 7-6 (7/5) victory over Australian Chris Guccione on Wednesday.
But he returned to his true form against Nishikori, who at 18 years, one month and 18 days became the youngest winner of an ATP tournament since Lleyton Hewitt (16 years, 10 months) in Adelaide in 1998.
The second-seeded Blake posted a steady 6-3 6-4 win over compatriot Jesse Levine during their second-round match.
Blake continues to fire on all cylinders at this hard-court event as he won 28-of-36 first-serve points while saving all five break points he faced, ousting Levine in just over an hour.
Third seed Tommy Haas of Germany did not have the same luck as Blake, as he was upset, 4-6 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 by American John Isner.
Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun and American Mardy Fish also advanced Thursday with victories over Amercan Wayne Odesnik and German Denis Gremelmayr, respectively.
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Rugby
