Juan Martin Del Potro rallies past Andy Roddick into the quarters – US Open 2012
World number eight, Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina, brought down curtains on Andy Roddick’s career by beating the former top ranked player in the fourth round of the US Open in New York on Wednesday.
The seventh seed lost the first set in a tie-breaker but then fought back to capture the next three, winning the contest 6-7(1), 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-4 in three hours and 15 minutes.
This fourth round match was postponed on Tuesday due to rain, getting resumed in the tie-breaker of opener with Roddick being ahead 1-0. The American star snatched six of the seven points to seal it 7-6(1).
Roddick and Del Potro displayed superb serve performance in the second set, as they did not get broken throughout, levelling the score at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. Del Potro made fine start this time, as he attained a
4-1 lead. The Argentinean did not allow the biggest American star of last decade to bounce back and captured it 7-6(4).
Momentum shifted on Del Potro’s side after that, as he hit blows to Roddick in the first and third game of the third set, holding his own serves to gain a 4-0 advantage. The 6ft 6in tall player maintained his lead till the end
to close it 6-2.
Del Potro and Roddick held their serve in the first four games of the fourth sets to take the score to 2-2. The Argentinean contestant made decisive breakthrough in the fifth game and made the most of it to win 6-4.
This proved to be last match of Roddick’s career, as he had announced last week that he would retire when his US Open campaign ends.
During the post match press conference, Del Potro said, “It was a really tough moment for me and for him, also. Last point of his life. The crowd was amazing for both players. I really enjoyed it in that way, but it wasn’t easy
for me to play. I had to close the match with my serve. I was nervous, but he made some misses and it was easier for me. But anyway, it was an unbelievable match.”
Roddick thanked his family by saying, “I just want to say thank you to my family. To my mom, my dad, who are up here, who gave me every chance. Thank you. My support team who’s been there with me forever.”
Del Potro will lock horns with the defending champion, Novak Djokovic, in the quarters.
Tags: