Roddick’s Open Run Not Quite Done
Andy Roddick isn’t done just yet. The 2003 U.S. Open champion, who last week announced he would retire at the conclusion of his run at this year’s U.S. Open, advanced to the fourth round Sunday with a three-hour, four-set victory over Fabio Fognini of Italy 7-5, 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-4. Roddick is making his first appearance in the Round of 16 in 2012 in a Grand Slam event. Roddick’s next opponent is the number seven seed and 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro.
"We’ve had really close matches," said Roddick of del Potro. "I was 0-3 against him. I beat him the last time we played. I think of the 0-3, two of them I had match points in. We played a bunch in 2009, in that summer. I think we played back to back weeks. You know, he’s a tough matchup for anybody because he hits such a big ball. I’m going to have to serve well, kind of try to rush him a little bit. When he gets into a groove and has time, he’ll put a hurt on the ball."
In an all-Argentine clash, del Potro defeated his fellow countryman Leonardo Mayer 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(9). del Potro benefited from 45 unforced errors from his opponent’s racquet and saved two set points in the third set tie-break before claiming victory in three hours and 20 minutes.
"It was a pretty physical match. We were moving it around a little bit," said Roddick of his Sunday opponent. "I don’t go in expecting anything. You just try to play your game, and sometimes it goes like the other night and sometimes, you know, you kind of got away from me a little bit and I had to get it back in the fourth set. That’s just the way it goes sometimes."
