roddick Rolls In Indian Wells

It was a rematch of the epic Australian Open quarterfinal yesterday when Andy took on No. 30 seed and Aussie Open finalist Marat Safin in the third round of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Calif.

In the much-anticipated match-up, both players did not disappoint, showing the same crafty court antics that made their match Down Under so memorable.

Both players enjoyed a great service day, acing one another left and right and winning a fair percentage of their first serve points. With that said, it is not surprising that neither player surrendered his serve, sending the first set to a tiebreak, much reminiscent of their tight match in Australia.

It was Roddick who won the tiebreaker in the opening set, gaining confidence and momentum heading into the second set, where serve and volley and chip and charge were the names of the game for the No. 1-ranked American.

As the temperatures began to sizzle into the upper 90’s, even peaking at 102 degrees on court (Andy quipped that it only felt like 101 degrees), so did Roddick’s game. He went onto break the Russian twice to win the second set 6-2.

Safin’s patience and fuel seemed run out towards the end of the match, causing him to commit more unforced errors than he would have liked. Never-the-less, the former World No. 1 made his exit with pride, as the tennis fans in Indian Wells gave him a respectful ovation, letting him know that they are happy to see him back on the Tour.

Andy’s next match is set for tomorrow with the time and location to be announced. He is set for a practice session with coach Brad Gilbert and trainer Doug Spreen later today. Stay tuned to AR.com for my report and perhaps an exclusive chat with Andy!

Also to come, my journal from Indian Wells chronicling the good and the bad a reporter experiences throughout a 14 hour day at a tournament.