Feliciano Lopez ousts Andy Roddick in third round – Wimbledon Championships 2011
Spaniard Feliciano Lopez destroyed eighth seeded American, Andy Roddick in three close sets to secure a third round spot at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships in London, England on Friday, 24th June.
The world number forty four took a little over two hours to secure a 7-6(2), 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over the former world number one.
In their second meeting in three weeks, Lopez finally broke the seven match losing streak against Roddick as he reduced to deficit in the head-to-head to 1-7. Their last meeting had come at round of 32 at the Queen’s Club where the American had struggled past the Spaniard in three sets.
Opening serve here, Roddick comfortably put himself on the scoreboard as he held his serve plausibly. He was soon followed by the Spaniard in what seemed to be a neck to neck run. Keeping the scoreboard ticking on even terms, the pros pushed the set into a tiebreaker.
An errant Roddick gave Lopez the mini break in the tiebreaker as he rushed to an early 4-2 lead before extending it to 6-2. Facing Roddick at set point, Lopez forced an into-the-net shot from Roddick as he clinched the tiebreaker 7-2.
Taking forty seven minutes, Lopez hit eleven aces and nineteen winners as he registered a 75 percent on his first serve to go one up in the set score.
The second set started on the same note as neither player let up. Progressing on an even footing, the pair kept the score tied throughout the set forcing the second tiebreaker of the game.
Following similar suit as the last tiebreaker, Lopez got off to an early lead and eventually closed out the tiebreaker with another 7-2 win.
Leading the set score 2-0, Lopez was clearly more dominant in the game. Maintaining his dominance in the third set, Lopez got off to a strong start as he clinched an early break to lead the set 3-1. Continuing to win on their serves, Lopez was poised to serve out the set at 5-4. Capitalising on the errant strokes from the American, Lopez was quick to clinch a 6-4 win and seal his straight sets victory.
Lopez moves on ahead to play either ninth seeded Frenchman, Gael Monfils or Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot in the third round.
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