Massu ends Roddick's winning run

Chilean Nicolas Massu serves during the Madrid Tennis Masters match against American Andy Roddick on Thursday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Nicolas Massu ended Andy Roddick's 20-match winning streak, knocking out the US Open champion 7-6 (3), 6-2 Thursday at the Tennis Masters Madrid to reach the quarterfinals.

Massu came from 5-2 down to win the opening set, then broke Roddick twice more in their third-round match to end the American's challenge this week to take the world No. 1 ranking from Juan Carlos Ferrero.

"The tennis I played today was incredible," said Massu, who has little indoor experience because Chile lacks indoor facilities. "Sometimes I've played at this level, but not consistently like today. Clearly, this was one of the best matches in my life."

Ferrero edged fellow Spaniard Felix Mantilla 7-6 (2), 7-6 (0), and other winners Thursday included Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, Sebastien Grosjean, Paradorn Srichaphan and Younes El Aynaoui.

Roddick, who was extended to three sets in his opening match in Madrid, last lost to Tim Henman in the semifinals at Washington DC in early August.

During his winning streak, Roddick won the last two Tennis Masters Series titles in Montreal and Cincinnati before capturing his first major at the US Open.

For Massu, a 24-year-old Chilean clay-court specialist ranked 21st in the world, it was one of his finest career wins.

"In the first four, five games I was a little bit tight," Massu said. "After he broke me, I changed my game a little bit. I started feeling better. When I was down 5-2, I had no pressure because I thought I had lost the set. When I broke him I got a lot of confidence."

Roddick praised Massu.

"He played a great match," said Roddick, who has qualified for the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup. "I played a bad game at 5-3 to let him into it. From then on he just played really good tennis. On the first tiebreaker, I played pretty well up to 4-3."

Early in the second set, Roddick used his racket to applaud a sizzling backhand pass down the line by Massu.

Roddick, ranked No. 2 in the world, broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set, then held to 5-2 and appeared to be cruising in his first meeting with Massu.

But Massu broke back and cut the score to 5-4. It was the first time Roddick was broken in Madrid.

Both players then forced the tiebreaker. The American led 3-2 after an ace, but Massu took the next five points.

Massu broke Roddick to lead 2-0 in the second set, then held his next two service games at love. He broke Roddick again in game eight when the American double-faulted on match point. It was the fourth double-fault in the match by Roddick, who has one of the biggest serves in the game.