Andy Battles Into Semi-finals

Andy Roddick is through to the semi finals fo the 2004 Wimbledon Championships with an straight sets victory over Sjeng Schalken 7-6(4), 7-6(9), 6-3. He will play Mario Ancic of Croatia in the semi-finals.

In his last few meetings with Schalken, Andy had in Sjeng’s words “kicked his butt”. Today’s quarter final though was a very gutsy performance by both players, and required grit determination from Andy to come through it.

The first set saw both players serving well and few points went against the serve. The biggest chance for Andy in the first set came at 6-5, with Schalken serving to stay in the set. After two deuces in the game, Schalken hit an error to give Andy set point. Unfortunately Andy could not convert as he hit his forehand pass wide. The set inevitably lead into a tie break.

Andy had a bad start to the tie break with a double fault to give Schalken a mini break. At 2-0, Andy took the mini break back as Schalken hit a backhand into the net. At 3-2 in the tie break, the momentum swung Andy’s way as he went up a mini break, when Schalken hit a backhand volley into the net. Andy took advantage of the lead and hit two unreturnable serves to take his lead to 6-3. Schalken hit a forehand down the line for 6-4. But a forehand volley in the net by the Dutchman, gave Roddick the first set 7-6(4).

The second set started off much the same as the first with both men dominant on their serve. Despite Andy taking Schalken to 15-30 at 3-3, two errors by Andy and a winner from Schalken saved the Dutchman. Andy also missed an opportunity to break at 4-4, when he took a 0-30 lead on the Schalken serve.

At 5-5, the clouds began to darken around court one. Andy again took Schalken to 0-30, but two errors from the American levelled them at 30-30. Schalken struggled to close out the game, as they went to several deuces. The threatening clouds, however, finally released the rain and the players went off for a 29 minute rain delay.

After the rain delay, Andy immediately applied the pressure to earn himself a break point. Unfrotunately Andy was unable to convert as he hit a forehand into the net. Schalken quickly put end to the doubts, as he hit an unreturnable serve and a winning volley to take the game.

The second set, followed suit with the first set, and lead to a tie break. At 2-2, Andy drew first blood as Schalken hit a backhand out to give Andy the mini break. Schalken immediatekly took it back as Andy hit a poor forehand into the net. At 5-5, with Andy serving, he hit a volley into the net to give Schalken set point on his own serve. Andy did not succomb to pressure though, and hit a huge forehand to level at 6-6. At 6-7, Andy faced yet another set point, this time on his own serve and, typical Roddick, hit an unreturnable serve. At 9-9, Andy hit a sensational inside out forehand cross court winner to give himself a set point at 10-9. The shot out by Schalken sealed a two set to love lead and caused a triumphant cry of “Come On!” from the American!

The drama continued immediately at the beginning of the third set, as Andy faced three break points. An ace saved the first one at 30-40. A forehand out by Andy gave Schalken his second break point, but a second serve ace of 127MPH again dashed the hopes of the Dutchman. On his third break point, Schalken hit a backhand into the net. Opportunity gone. Andy hit two winning backhand volleys in a row to take the game 1-0.

At 1-1, the rain intervened again and the players went off for another rain delay.

Andy came out all guns blazing after the rain delay holding to love, with two aces and an unreturnable. At 3-2, both men held serve comfortably, but Andy was beginng to place his return of serves deeper and trouble Schalken more.

With Schalken serving at 3-2, he hit two backhand errors to go down 0-30. A forehand long by Andy brought it back to 15-30. But after a long rally in the next point with some really deep shots by Andy, Schalken hit long to give Andy two break points. Andy did not falter and to gain the first break of the match, he placed a superb forehand pass down the line. A clenched fist and a shout of triumph, showed the American’s delight!

Andy dashed all hope of Schalken breaking back as he did not drop another point on his serve and served out the match to love, finishing with a slam dunk, to take the final set 6-3! Andy’s arms went up in the air in celebration and he did a fist pump towards his camp!

BBC commentator, Andrew Castle called it a “beautiful performance” by Andy Roddick, mainly because Schalken had brought his best performance to court one, and Andy had had to fight hard for victory!