Detailed Match Report-roddick Vs Benneteau

No one really gave Julien Benneteau much of chance against No. 2 seed Andy Roddick last night, but he obviously wasn’t listening to his detractors.

Benneteau came out firing, matching Roddick shot for shot, but the only thing the qualifier from France won last night was the opening toss, where he elected to receive, putting the opening service game of the match on his opponent’s racquet.

The Frenchman took Roddick to deuce in the opening game with some impressive passing shots. An uncharacteristic double fault from the American gave Benneteau his first break point opportunity of the match, but a 228 km/h serve set up a weak return and an easy put-away sending the game back to deuce. Although Roddick missed many first serves, he was able to overpower his opponent from the baseline and hold serve.

Flustered, Benneteau opened with a double fault but managed to control the points from then on to hold his own opening service game.

Both Babolat-sponsored players continued to hold their service games, albeit with different styles of play—Roddick opting for a baseline game while his counterpart used a variety of shots, serving and volleying on his serve.

At 4-4, 40-15, Benneteau seemed out of a point, but hit one last defensive lob to stay in, forcing Roddick to hit one more shot—which is all it took to force an error. Roddick’s return forehand sailed long, giving his opponent some confidence, but the seasoned former No. 1 went on to hold for a 5-4 lead.

Dejected Benneteau double faulted in his next service game at 30-30 to give Roddick a set point. When playing someone of Roddick’s caliber, one bad point can make all the difference in this unforgiving sport. Needless to say, the No. 2 seed easily converted to take the first set 6-4 when Benneteau dumped a forehand into the net.

That was the conclusion of the competitive portion of the match, as Roddick began to coast through the second set, breaking Benneteau twice, winning twelve straight points in the last three service games, breaking twice and holding once, all at love.

An injury may have accounted for the sudden downshift. At 3-2 in the second, Benneteau called for a trainer and a medical time out to treat his neck. After returning to court, he did not seem like the same player who was giving his opponent a run for his money.

Roddick acknowledged his opponent’s effort and gave him all due credit for a great match, stating that he was disappointed that the injury may have played a part in quick turn of events.

But he could not dwell on that for long, shifting his focus on today’s lineup, which has him playing two matches, should he win his first. Roddick is scheduled to play third on Stadium Court following an 11 AM start.