Kevin Anderson outlasts Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals – Delray Beach Tennis Championships 2012
South African number one, Kevin Anderson, upset the fourth seed, Andy Roddick, in a three set thriller at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships 2012 on Friday. He hit back to register a 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-4 victory against the American to advance
into the final four at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event held in Florida, United States.
The seventh seed found his momentum in the second set tie-breaker and after warding off three match points, he pulled out the victory in almost two and a half hour marathon. Encountering each other for the fourth time, Anderson not only inched towards his
second tour-level title but also levelled the head-to-head series by 2-2 against the American.
The 29-year-old re-ignited his 2003 spark at the Delray Beach Tennis Center and drew the first blood in the opening game. He held his composure after this and swiped in entire serves. Roddick converted another break chance to his advantage in the seventh
game and bagged the opener with a 6-2 win.
Ranked 36th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Anderson got back in action in the following set. He comfortably slid entire serves without facing any breakpoint but failed to cash in any break opportunity, eventually enforcing
a tie-breaker. The South African dominated in it and clinched the equaliser with a 7-6(9) score line.
The 25-year-old kept his rhythm in the final set and earned the coveted break in the opening game. Regardless of losing his serve in the fourth game, Anderson broke the American’s serve again in the fifth game and held his remaining serves to pull out the
decider with a 6-4 success.
Anderson, who enjoyed his career best season last year and capped it by getting marrying to her college girlfriend, showed tremendous abilities in this match. The South African smacked 11 aces and apart from spilling more errors, he broke Roddick’s serve
twice in the third set to earn the spotlight.
Next challenge for Anderson is the top seeded local star, John Isner, who crushed the Australian number one, Bernard Tomic, in straight sets to set-up this date.
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