Andy Roddick battles past Yen-Hsun Lu into 2nd round – Shanghai Rolex Masters 2011
Andy Roddick, American world No.15, erupted against his first round challenger of the Shanghai Rolex Masters 2011, Yen-Hsun Lu, Taiwanese world No.74, at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Shanghai, China on Monday, 10th October.
The two ignited in a surprising battle which took three sets ending in an hour and 52 minutes in favour of the American former world No.1, Roddick, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
With the stands full of spectators, Lu won the toss and opened up the first game of the match. The American world No.15 ignited the fixture from the first set surprising the Taiwanese with the first shocker, breakpoint win, and
led the set 0-1.
Serving out his opening serve, Roddick made his lead concrete adding a 2 games lead to his pocket. However, the show was still not over. The 29-year-old former world No.1 hampered the Taiwanese again in game 3 and 4, breaking his
defence in back-to-back games to lead the set 4-0.
Clearing up the first four games in first 20 minutes, Roddick commanded the set and served out 2 out of the next 4 games to finish off winning the first set 6-2.
Agonized by the American in the first set, Lu started off the second set going 1-0 in the first game. Levelling up next, Roddick won game 2 with double game point win and switched the serve. Improving his accuracy, Lu made a comeback
in the match as he next served-broke-served and led the set 4-1.
Even though the American is considered to be the most vicious server and the most powerful hitter today, he still could not jumble up his arsenal to break the lower ranked Taiwanese and level up any soon. Anyhow, Lu maintain his
lead and served out 2 out of the next 4 games winning the set 6-3, and equalled up the match scores.
Flaring up the match, Roddick served out the first game of the decider followed by Lu levelling up instantly, 1-1. With two battling out hard and mining their way to break each other, Roddick struck first. Serve-break-serving next,
the former world No.1 mounted up 4-1 and switched the serve.
Serving to a rock solid defence Lu failed to break the American. With scores at 5-2 and just one game away from his win, Roddick mesmerized the Taiwanese breaking him in the final game of the match, 6-2, and ending the fixture
in style.
Roddick, now in the second stage of the ATP World Tour Masters event, rivals Grigor Dimitrov to battle it out for the seat in the 3rd round of the Shanghai Rolex masters 2011.
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