Andy Advances in Rome

Andy got his 2008 clay-court campaign off to a flying start with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Mardy Fish on Tuesday at ATP Masters Series Rome.

In his first outing on clay this season, Andy played a solid and consistent match against his friend to move into the third round for the fourth time.

In much sunnier conditions in Rome, Andy enjoyed a fast start to the match, taking advantage of Fish’s many errors early on to race to a 5-0 lead. Fish was able to get his side of the scoreboard moving to 5-1 with a couple of aces to help secure his game. However, Andy was in command and a stunning backhand winner set up three set points for him at 40-0.

Fish saved the first with one of his best plays of the set – a backhand drop shot. But Andy responded with another pin point serve that Fish could only return into the net, and Andy secured the first set after just 22 minutes, having dropped only four points on serve.

The match began to take on an ominous feel for Fish, who has lost his past six of seven matches against Andy, as he immediately went break point down in the opening game of the second set. However, Andy’s backhand pass couldn’t find a way past the net-rushing Fish and he was able to save the break point and the game, earning him a 1-0 lead.

The early foothold in the set gave Fish some belief as he started to find his feet on the clay. As he started to reproduce some of the form that saw him reach the final at ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, especially off the forehand side, he came close to breaking Andy’s serve at 2-1. However, Andy held his nerve and wore Fish down from the back of the court, Fish eventually going for too much off the forehand side and missing the court.

As the set wore on, the pressure began to tell on Fish first. At 3-3, with the set finely balanced, the errors of the first set began to return to Fish’s racquet and Andy was quick to take advantage, converting his second break point to lead 4-3.

4-3 quickly progressed to 5-4, and Andy found himself serving for the match. Fish continued to fight, but Andy’s consistency and all round more solid performance proved to be the key. At 30-30 a forehand wide from Fish brought up Andy’s first match point and another forehand wide from Fish secured the 6-1, 6-4 victory for Andy after one hour and six minutes.

Andy will now await the winner to come from a section of two first round matches yet to be played: Bolelli vs. Patience; Simon vs. Tsonga.

Stay tuned to andyroddick.com for all the latest news and views from Rome.

Go, Andy!