Roddick Roars Into Quarter-finals

Andy Roddick is through to the quarter-finals of the 2004 US Open with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over Spain’s Tommy Robredo.

After a superb quarter-final between Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati, Roddick and Robredo had a tough act to follow. Roddick had a 6-0 head-head over Robredo and was the favourite going into the match.

Prior to the match Andy had burned his own CD for the US Open to play as he and Robredo walked on court. In the chair, was Britain’s Gerry Armstrong.

Both men came out all guns blazing with Andy’s serve being very effective. Robredo’s serve was also giving him some cheap points early on.

At 3-2 up, Andy broke Robredo’s serve to 15 in style. A close forehand cross court winner just catching the line, along with a slam dunk gave Andy a 0-40 lead. An ace by Robredo saw 15-40, but the Spaniard couldn’t hold out and a forehand long gave Andy a 4-2 lead.

Andy comfortably served out the set at 5-3 as the Spaniard just had no answer to Andy’s serve. Andy hit three unreturnable serves and forehand winner to take the set 6-3.

Taking an early lead in the second set, Andy broke Robredo to go 2-1 up. Demonstrating the diversity in his game plan, Andy hit a beautiful approach shot and volley to put pressure on Robredo. Andy missed his first break point as he sent his lob long, but the Spaniard who”d had some impressively consistent serving throughout the match just let Andy have more of a look in, and the American did not make a mistake on his second break point as Robredo hit a backhand out.

At 3-1, Andy broke the Spaniard again. Robredo went 40-0 up, but two super forehand winners by Andy and a double fault saw the game level at deuce. Another fantastic point by Andy demonstrating powerful ground strokes and a winning volley gave Andy a break point. A double fault from Robredo gave Andy the double break and a 4-1 lead.

Andy’s own service games were unstoppable as the American charged to a 5-2 lead and Andy had few problems serving out the set as Robredo’s error count increased.

Struggling slightly in his first service game of the third set, Andy went down 15-40. Two huge serves though were his shovel for digging himself out of the hole. The American then did not let up the pressure and immediately broke Robredo as Robredo hit more errors to give Andy a 2-1 lead. This turned out to be the decisive break of the set.

Andy had a chance to break again at 4-2, but wasn’t able to convert. Some good shots from Robredo saw the Spaniard hang in there.

Coming close to having match points at 5-3, Andy threw everything at Robredo’s serve, but Robredo with held the pressure to force Andy to serve it out at 5-4. This Andy did with no doubt. One of the best shots of the match from Andy, a backhand pass down the line, gave Andy a 15-0 lead. A forehand in the net by Roddick levelled it at 15-15. But this was to be Robredo’s last point of the match as Andy hit an unreturnable serve followed by two aces to close out the match.

Celebrating Andy hit the ball into the crowd and had a warm handshake with Robredo at the net. Big smiles from Andy showed he was extremely pleased with his victory!

In the quarter-finals, Andy will face Sweden’s Joachim Johansson.

Photo by Ron Angle/TPL