New York Times: Roddick Receives a Gift on His 25th Birthday

Roddick roared at Acasuso, having broken his serve. Acasuso, knowing he had aimed for Roddick in the volley exchange, avoided his glare on the changeover. Game on.

Then, suddenly, if not fittingly for the mild day of show-court tennis, it was off.

Roddick won his serve at love in the next game to take the third set. Acasuso called for the trainer, as he had twice before. He soon defaulted with an injured left knee to give Roddick a second-round victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.

Happy 25th birthday, Andy. Although Roddick seemed as thrilled with the gift as if he had been given a pair of socks, he was not about to return it.

“I don’t think you like winning matches like that,” said the No. 5 Roddick, who was ahead, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, when Acasuso retired. “Especially since I felt like I was starting to play O.K. and make returns and react. But at the end of the day, your goal is to get through and to give yourself a chance to play in the third round.”

Acasuso’s tame default was the second of the day that benefited an American player.

Richard Gasquet, seeded 13th, spent 10 minutes at a morning news conference explaining that he was unable to play his second-round match against the wild card Donald Young because he had a fever. Later, Gasquet, 21, explained that he had a throat infection.

For a player who gears his season toward his favorite Grand Slam event, on a hardcourt surface that is as grinding as his own style, Roddick could not imagine leaving without a fight.

“I can only answer for myself,” he said. “I mean, if you’re sick, I don’t feel like that’s going to get worse. I feel like that’s a short-term thing. I’d probably go out there and give it a go. Probably wouldn’t be comfortable.”

Acasuso, 24 and ranked No. 70, appeared very comfortable when he won the first set against Roddick. That was until, he said, a knee injury that bothered him in his first-round match started to flare up again.

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