Andy Roddick shocks Roger Federer at the BNP Paribas Showdown 2012 – Tennis Special
In a match between two former world number one stars, Andy Roddick upset the world number three, Roger Federer, in straight sets at this exhibition match taking place at the Madison Square Garden on Monday.
The 29-year-old flashed his old self on his debut at the World’s Most Famous Arena. He edged past the 16-time Grand Slam champion with a 7-5, 7-6(7) victory in front of 18,000 spectators.
The local star got the breakthrough in the end of the opening set and kept momentum rolling into the second set. He was levelled in the later set all the time and eventually dragged the set to a tie-breaker. Roddick, ranked 31st in the South African
Airways ATP World Tour rankings, prevailed in it and pulled out the set with a 7-6(7) win.
“It was pretty clear that I’m obviously in Roger’s head and he didn’t quite know how to deal with it,” the delighted Roddick commented after this epic encounter. “He’s not really good under pressure. He has no idea how to play me, so I just capitalized on
that.”
Battling each other for the 27th time, Roddick conquered the Swiss for the fourth time. He previously toppled Federer at the Miami Masters 1000 event in 2008 but lost the next six games against the Swiss veteran. They previously faced each other
at the Swiss Indoors last year where the third seeded Federer outclassed the American
"Tonight was not a loss for me - Roddick played great, tennis benefits,” the Swiss Maestro was quoted afterwards.
Federer last played at the Garden in 2008 against the tennis legend, Pete Sampras. He was playing in the first tennis match held at this place in eight years.
“We’ve had some great battles over the years in all the great stadiums and this is one of them, so I’m glad we did it,” Federer added. “I wish I could have pushed it to a third set.”
Earlier, in a clash between two gorgeous WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) divas, Maria Sharapova of Russia trounced the Danish number one, Caroline Wozniacki, in straight sets.
The Russian easily plucked in the opener with a 6-3 success. She carried her rhythm in the following set and pocketed the set with a 6-4 score line.
After trailing 4-5 in the second set, Wozniacki enlightened the crowd by dancing with a young tennis fan. Seeing her rival having fun, the stunning 24-year-old danced with an old man on the court. The announcer described the scenario by saying, ‘Dancing
with the stars.’
The fun was not halted after this as Wozniacki called her boyfriend, Rory McIlroy – who is number one in golf, and let him play against the Russian. The top golfer spectacularly won a point against Sharapova and cheered the crowd.
Sharapova squared off against the Dane for the sixth time and after this victory, she improved to a 4-2 win-loss record. Last year they battled each other in the semi-finals of this WTA Premier Mandatory event but the top seeded Wozniacki was the one to
steal the show. However, the Russian avenged her defeat at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia two months later.
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