|
|
|
| October 17, 2003 | Friday | Sha'aban 20, 1424 |
Roddick rocked by outsider Massu
MADRID, Oct 16: Outsider Nicolas Massu turned the formbook on its head when brushing aside world number two Andy Roddick 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to race into the quarterfinals of the 2.45-million-euro Masters Series on Thursday.
The shell-shocked US Open champion found himself pondering his first defeat on the ATP since losing to Brit Tim Henman in the semi-finals at Washington more than two months ago.
Roddick’s summer run of form earned him titles in Indianapolis and the last two Masters Series on back-to-back weeks in Montreal and Cincinnati.
The 22-year-old then steamrolled the field to win the US Open over Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero.
But a first-time meeting with world number 21 Massu proved to be an eye-opener for Roddick, struggling along with Swiss Roger Federer to steal the world number one ranking from Ferrero, the top seed here.
Federer, the Wimbledon winner, did his part to keep pace, dispatching American Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).
Other seeded winners at the Rockodromo included French number six Sebastien Grosjean, who eliminated American Vince Spadea 6-3, 6-2. Thai seventh seed Paradorn Srichaphan whipped another American Jan-Michael Gambill, 7-5, 6-4
Paradorn, winner of two titles this season, awaits a winner from a night match between Ferrero and fellow Spaniard Felix Mantilla.
The Asian ace executed his traditional “wah” bow to the Spanish crowd after his 48th victory of the season, achieved through nine aces and 25 winners against the American.
Gambill, 20-24 this season, can’t seem to shake off injury. He suffered through seven months of leg problems only to hurt his back here. He took a brief rub from the trainer after the ninth game of the opening set, but didn’t require an injury timeout.
The Thai knows that his Friday opponent will surely have all the support of the home crowd. But that doesn’t bother the calm player frm Bangkok.
Results: Nicolas Massu (Chile) bt Andy Roddick (U.S.) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2; Roger Federer (Switzerland) bt Mardy Fish (U.S.) 6-3 7-6 (7-4); Sebastien Grosjean (France) bt Vincent Spadea (U.S.) 6-3 6-2; Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) bt Jan-Michael Gambill (U.S.) 7-5 6-4
ZURICH: World number one Kim Clijsters progressed to the quarterfinals of the Swisscom Challenge on Thursday with a comfortable 6-2 6-2 victory over Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik.
Clijsters took her tournament title tally this year to seven with victory in the Filderstadt Grand Prix in Germany last week and she is on course for second a consecutive final showdown with compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne.
Srebotnik did little to stand in her way and, despite her plucky effort, collapsed to the all-round strength of the Belgian in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the indoor Schluefweg stadium.
Clijsters will next meet another Slovenian, the unseeded Tina Pisnik, who beat Japan’s Ai Sugiyama 5-7 6-3 6-3 on Thursday.
Second round results: Tina Pisnik (SLO) bt Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3; Kim Clijsters (BEL) bt Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) 6-2, 6-2.—Agencies
|
|
|
|
