ARTICLE Roddick edges Ferrero, Federer battles through
CINCINNATI (Reuters) - American Andy Roddick kept the crowd on their edge of their seats at the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday night after he fought back from a set down to overcome Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-7 7-6 6-2 to reach the third round.
Earlier, world number one Roger Federer, third seed Lleyton Hewitt and number four Marat Safin all advanced following three-set struggles, while Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian and Tim Henman all tumbled out.
However, the real drama was saved for the night session as fifth-seeded Roddick scrambled to a repeat of his win over Ferrero in the final of the 2003
U.S. Open.
Now ranked 24 in the world, former number one Ferrero played some of his best tennis since that final almost two years ago, serving superbly and hammering winners from both sides to take the opening set.
Roddick, runner-up at Wimbledon last month but a loser to Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round of last week's Montreal Masters, saved two break points -- one with a lucky net cord -- in the fourth game of the second set.
That proved to be the turning point of the match.
Once he had taken the set in a tiebreak thanks to some massive serving, he grew in confidence and finally broke Ferrero's serve in the second game of the decider before cruising to victory.
CINCINNATI (Reuters) - American Andy Roddick kept the crowd on their edge of their seats at the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday night after he fought back from a set down to overcome Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-7 7-6 6-2 to reach the third round.
Earlier, world number one Roger Federer, third seed Lleyton Hewitt and number four Marat Safin all advanced following three-set struggles, while Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian and Tim Henman all tumbled out.
However, the real drama was saved for the night session as fifth-seeded Roddick scrambled to a repeat of his win over Ferrero in the final of the 2003
U.S. Open.
Now ranked 24 in the world, former number one Ferrero played some of his best tennis since that final almost two years ago, serving superbly and hammering winners from both sides to take the opening set.
Roddick, runner-up at Wimbledon last month but a loser to Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round of last week's Montreal Masters, saved two break points -- one with a lucky net cord -- in the fourth game of the second set.
That proved to be the turning point of the match.
Once he had taken the set in a tiebreak thanks to some massive serving, he grew in confidence and finally broke Ferrero's serve in the second game of the decider before cruising to victory.
