Andy Roddick edges past Denis Kudla to reach the quarters – SAP Open 2012
Second seed, Andy Roddick, warded off early scare to overpower the qualifier, Denis Kudla, in an all-American duel at the SAP Open 2012 on Wednesday. He registered a 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over the 19-year-old to advance into the quarter-finals at this
ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event held in San Jose, United States.
A former world number one, Roddick, re-ignited his 2004 spark in the second set tie-breaker and ultimately outclassed his compatriot in a three set nail-biter at the HP Pavilion. Facing each other for the first time, Roddick not only took a lead in the FedEx
ATP Head2Head series by 1-0 against Kudla but also booked a spot in the final eight at this event.
Kudla, who is standing at number 203 in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, made an impressive start by keeping his serve in the opening game. The rising star then maintained consistency in his game and after brushing off all seven breakpoints
he came across, Kudla swiped in the remaining serves. However, he failed to capitalise on any of his four break chances and took the set to a tie-breaker. The teenager then dominated in it and clinched the opener with a 7-6(5) score line.
World number 17 on the other side of net held his composure in the following set. He kept his entire serves after dusting away all five breakpoints he encountered. Despite failing to seek any break opportunity, the veteran subjugated in the tie-breaker and
sealed the equaliser with a 7-6(5) win.
The match could go in either direction at this point but the 29-year-old was the one who maintained his form. He suffered the first blow in the second game but quickly recovered in the very next game. Roddick then took control of the match by converting
another break chance to his advantage in the seventh game. He held his remaining serves and pocketed the decider by winning six games to four.
Next in line for the second seed is the winner of the match between Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin and Michael Russell.
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