Roddick Among Five Americans Ousted At Madrid Tennis

MADRID (Ticker) - U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick was one of five Americans ousted Thursday in the third round of th $2.95 million Tennis Masters Madrid.

The second-seeded Roddick had won 20 straight matchs, but was dismantled in spectacular style by world No. 21 Nicolas Massu of Chile, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

It was Roddick’s first defeat on the ATP Tour since losing to Britain’s Tim Henman in the semifinals of a tournament IN Washington 2 1/2 month ago. It also ended Roddick’s hopes of becoming the first player in history to win three consecutive Tennis Masters titles.

“I was out thre competing, I just didn’t have my best stuff today, he stepped up and played well,” said Roddick. “There was not much I could have done.”

Massu, 24, came to Madrid with a reputation as a strong claycourt player after capturing two titles and reaching three other finals this season. But Massu sprang a surprise on the hardcourt as he never let Roddick mount an offensive.

“I haven’t played much indoor in my life,” said the pony-tailed Massu. “We don’t have indoor courts in Chile. I’m only indoors the last five of six weeks of th season. I don’t have a lot of experience, but I’m learning.”

Roddick was left to play catch-up, and a weak and error-prone backhand was no weapon against Massu.

“He played a great match, it was really good tennis,” Roddick said. “I thought I had him in the tie-breaker but he came up with shots that were too good. I was giving him looks at a lot of serves, I didn’t serve that well today.”

Massu, now 31-17 this season, needed only 1 hour, 20 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals as he blasted 17 winners. Roddick struck 25 unforced errors and finishd with a double fault.

Roddick jumped in front in typical fashion and led Massu, 5-2, in the first set. But th Chilean kept blasting every shot and rallied to win the tiebreaker. The punishment only got worse for Roddick in the second set.

While Roddick tries to regroup before anothr event next week, third seed Roger Federer of Switzerland did more damage to American hopes, subduing Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
More American misery came whn sixth seed Sebastien Grosjean of France defeated Vince Spadea, 6-3, 6-2.

Seventh seed Paradorn Srichaphan, the seventh seed, had no trouble with Jan-Michael Gambill, 7-5, 6-4, and Robby Ginepri became the fifth American to fall whn h lost to 15th seed Younnes El Aynaoui, 6-4 (7-6), 7-5.

Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero is schduled to play fellow Spaniard Felix Mantilla in a night match.

The tournament winner earns $540,000.