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Roddick outlasts fit Nadal
06/03/2008 22:08 - (SA)
Dubai - Andy Roddick, who flew 6 000 miles and endured jet-lag and sleep loss to travel from Memphis to the Dubai Open, overcame Rafael Nadal, the man regarded as one of the fittest on the tour, to become a surprise semi-finalist on Thursday.
The sixth-seeded former US Open champion from the United States, turned in a spirited and impressive display to win 76-(5) 6-2 against the second-seeded French Open champion from Spain.
Roddick was fortunate that the conditions were relatively warm and fast, and not unsuitable for his big-hitting style.
But although Roddick hit one delivery at 150 mph - only five miles an hour slower than his world record - and finished the contest with two thundering aces, he was sometimes surprisingly effective in the rallies.
The match turned dramatically after Roddick had come back from 0-3 down in the tie-break and sneaked it 7-5 after Nadal uncharacteristically over-hit a forehand service return.
"It was difficult," said Roddick. "All of a sudden I am down in the tie-break and it is discouraging. But I hit one of my best shots at 4-4, I really let it fly and that helped.
"I am not as skilled as some of the guys and definitely not s fast but one thing I can do is hot a ball pretty good and I simplified it by letting it go tonight."
He was aided by another uncharacteristic error by Nadal at 30-40 in the third game of the second set, when the ground stroke king struck a forehand topspin into the net from a half court position.
Nadal never recovered from that service game loss and Roddick accelerated to a semi-final meeting with another in-form player, Novak Djokovic.
The third-seeded Australian Open champion from Serbia overwhelmed Igor Andreev, the world number 34 from Russia, 6-2 6-1 and has now - following the demise of both Nadal and Roger Federer - become the favourite for the title.
- AFP
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