Andy Roddick, the sixth seed, toppled world No. 1 Roger Federer in three sets on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the ATP Masters Series.
Roddick downed the top-seeded Swiss 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-3, leaving Federer still in search of his first title of the year.
Roddick recorded 17 aces to post the victory in 1hr 55min, claiming just his second victory over Federer in 17 tries.
PHOTO: AFP
“I’m just glad I have a little hair left,” Roddick quipped about how long it had been since he had beaten Federer.
He earned his only break of Federer’s serve in the eighth game of the third set, allowing him to serve out the match in the next game.
Roddick quickly raced to a 40-0 lead, but needed all three of those match points to finally put Federer away. The American admitted he was relieved.
“Coming from 40-love to 40-30, it felt like I was still a long ways away, so I probably was relieved.”
At 40-30, Roddick said, he was thinking “Pease hit a big serve. Hit a big serve and let it be done.
“I was telling myself when I step up to the line, ‘You have an opportunity for this to be over in about two and a half seconds. Let’s try our best to make one,” he said. “I didn’t play bad points on the two that I lost, but I didn’t put big serves in like I had been doing all night. I didn’t want to give him a look at a second serve, because he’s able create off that.”
Federer’s defeat follows a shocking loss to to then-98th-ranked Mardy Fish in the semi-finals at the Indian Wells Masters Series two weeks ago.
Roddick will face Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the semi-finals.
Davydenko, the fourth seed, cruised past Serb Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-1.
The 26-year-old Davydenko is off to a career best 17-5 start this season.
Defending women’s champion Serena Williams will put her title on the line against Serbian fourth seed Jelena Jankovic in today’s final.
Williams, an eight-time Grand Slam champion who is seeded eighth in the tournament, rallied for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Russian third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.
The American will face Jankovic, who dispatched Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-4 in the second semi-final.
Williams, who needed two hours, 46 minutes to subdue Kuznetsova, improved to 13-1 this year.
She is seeking the 30th singles title of her career, and her fifth Miami title, having captured the crown here in 2002, 2003, 2004 and last year.
Williams was ousted in the Australian Open quarter-finals by Jankovic but bounced back to win her first title of the year at Bangalore.
Williams, who converted just five of 16 breakpoint chances, also had treatement after tweaking her back early in the match.
The 2006 champion of this event, Kuznetsova was attempting to reach her third final in as many events, having finished as runner-up at Dubai and Indian Wells.
Jankovic reached her first final of the year after falling in the semi-finals at the Australian Open, Dubai and Indian Wells. She will be seeking her sixth career title.
The 23-year-old had never made it past the third round in five prior appearances here. She had appeared headed for an early exit but saved five match points in the second round against Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson.
The Serbian, who has been battling a cold this week, caught a break Wednesday when Russian Elena Dementieva - trailing 6-1, 3-1 — retired from their quarter-final match with a shoulder injury.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely