Andy Roddick trounces Michael Russell to reach semis – BB&T Atlanta Open 2012
In a battle between two local tennis stars, former world number one Andy Roddick outmuscled his compatriot, Michael Russell, in straight sets at the BB&T Atlanta Open 2012 on Friday. He nudged up a 6-3, 6-4 victory against the 34-year-old to progress into
the semi-finals at this outdoor hard court tournament taking place from 14th to 22nd July in Georgia, United States.
The fourth seeded Roddick recreated his magic to trash his fellow citizen in their third encounter at the Atlantic Station. After recording the victory in one hour and 12 minutes, Roddick not only improved to a 3-0 lifetime in the FedEx ATP (Association
of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head series against the world number 96 but also inched closer towards his 32nd career title.
Roddick thundered into this ATP World Tour 250 series event and swiped his entire serves without facing any real challenge. He got the breakthrough in the eighth game and clicked the opener by winning six games to three.
Currently ranked 27th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Roddick kept momentum floating in the following set. He brushed off the lone breakpoint he faced to keep his entire serves and capitalised on one out of two break chances
in the ninth game to seal the set with a 6-4 win.
All in all, the 29-year-old dominated throughout the battle. He fired 12 aces and produced a better first serve share of 73 per cent as compared to his compatriot’s 59 per cent. Roddick also amazingly claimed 32 out of 37 points on it and finished the match
with 55 points.
Roddick will square off against his top seeded compatriot, John Isner, for his second year-to-date title this season. The American number one on the other hand triumphed over the wildcard recipient, Jack Sock, in straight sets to set up this battle.
The eighth seeded Japanese, Go Soeda, also recorded a victory earlier that day. He stunned his third seeded compatriot, Kei Nishikori, with a breadstick to charge into the semi-finals. Soeda brushed off all seven breakpoints he faced and cashed in all four
break opportunities, eventually sealing the deal with a 6-2, 6-1 score line.
“He didn’t miss and he was really aggressive,” Nishikori reflected after suffering this loss. “At the same time I didn’t play well. I couldn’t put in the ball somehow. I lose my confidence.”
Soeda will next face the Luxembourgian star, Gilles Muller.
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