Rafael Nadal blows away Andy Roddick to clinch semi-final spot – US Open 2011
American hopes faded away at the last Grand Slam Tournament of the current year, as the 21st seed Andy Roddick suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the world number two, Rafael Nadal of Spain, in the quarter-final clash on Friday.
Being played at the Arthur Ashe Stadium of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park, of Queens, New York City, United States, the contest ended to the sheer dismay of the local crowd, as the home favourite failed to put up a decent fight against the second seed Spaniard.
Nadal took just one hour and fifty three minutes to wrap up a straight sets victory 6-2, 6-1, 6-3, to charge into the semi-final draws of the US Open with the utmost ease. Roddick was simply outplayed by the power hitting of the world number two, who showed no mercy in devastating the former US Open champion in style.
The 21st seed Roddick appeared sloppy on court and received leg rubdowns from his physio twice during the course of the match. The American had an enthralling four-set victory in the fourth round against the fifth seed, David Ferrer, on Thursday and it seemed as if the tiring contest took its toll out of Roddick in the quarter-final encounter against Nadal.
Andy had a really tough match yesterday and probably he was tired,” Nadal told the crowd, referring to Roddick’s four-set win against Ferrer. “I am sorry for him. I think I am playing well since the second round. I feel myself very competitive and have the feeling that I can win—that is probably even more important.”
Roddick coughed 25 unforced errors in the matchup to award some easy points to his belligerent opponent. Nadal fired 35 cracking winners in the game to drive the helpless Roddick out of the competition, with the American registering merely one backhand winner and not a single one coming from his forehand side.
Roddick missed most of the current ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) season because of his shoulder injury and then a severe abdominal tear. His bleak game play stood no match for the mighty Spaniard in the quarter-final and the American succumbed in straight sets to let Nadal fly away with victory.
“That’s the most aggressive I’ve seen him play this summer. He came out swinging,” Roddick said
The defending champion, Nadal, will take on world number four, Andy Murray of Great Britain, in the semis to battle for a berth in the final of the US Open.
Tags: