The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Roddick and Somdev out

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 17, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Roddick and Somdev out

WASHINGTON: Defending champion Andy Roddick was defeated 0-6, 6-2, 6-4 by Serbian World No. 93 Viktor Troickiin in the quarterfinals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic here on Friday.

The top seed blitzed through the opening set but lost his way as Troickiin battled into his first semifinal this year, where he will play Russian Igor Kunitsyn, who ended the run of Indian qualifier Somdev Dev Varman with a 6-4, 6-1 victory.

Second seed Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro had no such trouble, felling American John Isner 6-4, 6-4 to extend his winning streak to 17 matches. He will now play German fourth seed Tommy Haas, a 7-5, 6-1 winner over unseeded Colombian Alejandro Falla.

Roddick raced through the first set against a clearly nervous Troickiin without dropping a game. However, after missing a chance to go 2-0 up in the second, three-time champion Roddick lost his concentration and allowed the Serbian, cleverly varying his pace, to level the match.

Roddick then saved a break point in the opening game of the deciding set before the match was interrupted for more than an hour because of rain.

When the players returned, games stayed on serve until the seventh, when Troickiin snatched the break as the American hit a forehand long.

The Serbian then held his nerve to serve out for victory three games later.

The 19-year-old, who beat Roddick to win the Los Angeles title last weekend after victories in Stuttgart and Kitzbuhel, was too consistent and mobile for last year’s runner-up.

However, Del Potro warned that fatigue was setting in after completing his seventh match in nine days.

The results (quarterfinals): At Washington DC (Legg Mason Classic): Igor Kunitsyn bt Somdev Dev Varman 6-4, 6-1; Viktor Troickiin bt Andy Roddick 0-6, 6-2, 6-4; Tommy Haas bt Alejandro Falla 7-5, 6-1; Juan Martin del Potro bt John Isner 6-4, 6-4.

At Cincinnati (Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open): Amelie Mauresmo bt Vania King 6-2, 6-4; Nadia Petrova bt Lilia Osterloh 6-2, 6-3; Nathalie Dechy bt Aleksandra Wozniak 7-6(4), 7-5; Maria Kirilenko bt Sabine Lisicki 6-2, 1-6, 6-1. — Agencies

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport