Andy Roddick knocks out Kevin Anderson in the third round – AEGON Championships 2011
World number 10 and third seed Andy Roddick of USA cruised past world number 39 Kevin Anderson of South Africa in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in the third round of AEGON Championships at the Queen’s Club in London on Thursday. The American
took just an hour and eighteen minutes to undo his opponent.
Roddick and Anderson held their serve in the first four games of the opening set, equalising the score at 2-2. The American got breakthrough as he broke his opponent in the fifth game and held his serve in the next game to take
a 4-2 lead. Roddick served out the set in the tenth game, claiming it 6-4.
The American fired five aces and hit two double faults in the first set. The six feet and two inches tall kept his first serve percentage at 75 percent, winning 79 percent of the points on them in the opening set. On the other
hand, big serving Anderson hit 72 percent of the first deliveries and won 79 percent of the first service points in the first set. The South African saved one of the two break points and failed to convert any of the two break points on Roddick’s serve in the
opening set.
In a similar fashion to the first set, the American claimed a break of serve in the fifth game and consolidated on it to go ahead 4-2. The 28-year-old convincingly held his serve in the tenth game to win the set 6-4.
Roddick did not serve to his potential as he hit just three aces and 70 percent of the first serves, capturing 76 percent of the points on them. On the other hand, Anderson continued to bombard his opponent with huge serves, hitting
seven aces and 72 percent of the first deliveries. The South African grabbed 78 percent of the first service points in the second set. The six feet and eight inches tall won 24 percent of the first return points compared to 22 percent by his opponent. Roddick
capitalised on the one break point opportunity he created on Anderson’s serve in the second set.
Reflecting on the match, the right-handed said, "It was kind of as you would expect. He had some chances to break. He didn't get them. I had a couple chances and I converted. That was pretty much the story of the match.”
Roddick added, “Obviously we all come over here with Wimbledon as the end goal, but I treat this tournament as separate. It is preparation, but at the same time it's still a very important tournament for me."
The American will face world number 23 Fernando Verdasco of Spain in the round of 8. The Spaniard defeated Argentinean David Nalbandian in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 in the third round.
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