Andy Roddick, seeded sixth, overcame a first-set loss to beat France’s Michael Llodra in four sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6. Knowing that his match was taking place during England’s World Cup game against Slovenia, Roddick finished his win with a soccer kick. England also won their crucial match 1-0.
Played on Centre Court, Roddick lost only one serve, hit 25 aces, and committed only 11 unforced errors. In the first game of the second set, Roddick managed to erase two break points. That proved to be the turning-point of the match as he went on to win the next three sets.
The top-ranked American player complimented his French opponent for his top-notch play. “He played an almost perfect set. It took some of my best stuff today to get through that. I thought I really played well. I think I had to.” Roddick told ESPN. “That was as tough of a second round as there is,” he added.
In the second set, Roddick said he had to adjust off his serve by coming in to the net and volleying behind it. “I had to make an adjustment,” Roddick said. “Off of my serve, I had to start coming in and serving and volleying behind it.” He now tends to come much more to the net. During the match with Llodra, Roddick won 34 points there. Previously known only for his powerful serve and forehand, Roddick has now developed a wide variety of shots that he showed off during the rest of the match. He also converted all three of his break point chances.
Llodra also seemed to take every opportunity to come to the net, and for the most part, was returning Roddick’s serve quite well. He also took many free points off of Roddick’s serve, which the latter isn’t accustomed to, the U.K. Telegraph commented. However, Llodra also failed to take advantage of two break-point chances at that decisive first game of the second set.
Roddick has never won at Wimbledon, coming runner-up three times to one of his arch-rivals, Roger Federer, in 2004, 2005, and last year respectively. While he has won 29 career titles, Roddick has only managed to bring home one Grand Slam trophy – the U.S. Open in 2003.
His opponent, the 30 year-old Llodra, has gotten to the second round four times since he turned pro in 1999. Currently ranked 46th in men’s singles, his match record this year is 12-11 and he won the AEGON International meet. While Llodra has four career singles titles, he also has three Grand Slam doubles titles, including 2007 at Wimbledon as well as three runner-ups.
Roddick’s third-round opponent will be Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, currently ranked 35th and seeded 29th at Wimbledon. He has played five times at the Grand Slam tournament, going to the third round in 2006 and last year. The 26 year-old right-hander holds two career singles titles.
In the second round, Kohlschreiber struggled to beat Russia’s Teimuriz Gabashvili 7-6, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6, 9-7 in a well-fought battle. The German was 69 per cent on his first serve, won 23 aces, and committed 51 unforced errors. For break points, he only won two out of fifteen, but for net approaches he was 78 per cent.
How Roddick will do in the third round remains to be seen. He has the ability to win another match, and with the game he just played against Llodra, Roddick has proved that he also has the skills. Does he have the skills to top ranked tennis stars Federer and Nadal? We’ll just have to wait and see.
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