The Garden City Telegram
NEW E-Edition!
Subscription
Required
Add Your Comment | Read (0) Comments
AP: Tipsarevic topples Roddick
Published 9/2/2010 in None
NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Roddick found it infuriating that a lineswoman who called him for a foot fault was wrong about which of his shoes touched the line.
The 2003 U.S. Open champion had much bigger problems Wednesday night at Flushing Meadows, though, and bowed out in the second round with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (4) loss to 44th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, whose go-for-broke style paid off with 66 winners.
"He played very high-risk and executed for four sets," said the ninth-seeded Roddick, whose exit leaves Roger Federer as the only past champion in the men's field. "I kept telling myself, 'You know, this has to have an expiration date on it.' Unfortunately, I needed another set for that."
Already trailing 5-2 in the third, Roddick wound up in an argument over a foot-fault call on a first serve. He turned to the official and asked, "What foot?"
1
Associated Press Andy Roddick talks to the chair umpire and points to the line judge after being called for a foot fault Wednesday during his U.S. Open second-round match against Janko Tipsarevic, of Serbia. Tipsarevic went on to upset the No. 9-seeded Roddick.
When she told him it was his right foot, he replied, "That's impossible." Roddick then turned to chair umpire Enric Molina and, pointing first to his right foot, then his left, asked, "Has THIS foot gone in front of THAT foot ever in my career?"
Molina replied: "Not in my matches."
A TV replay showed Roddick did commit a foot fault — but with his left toes. And what really bothered Roddick, he said afterward, was that the official would not acknowledge that she was mistaken when she blamed his right foot for the ruling.
"I was just stupefied," he said.
Indeed, asked later what might have happened if the lineswoman said the call was made because his left sneaker was on the baseline, he replied: "There would have been no discussion."
All in all, however, Roddick said the whole episode "had zero impact on the match."
No, it was Tipsarevic who determined the outcome with his terrific play. This is a guy who has a losing record in Grand Slam matches (23-26) and overall (130-133) yet is now 2-1 against Roddick, having beaten the American in the second round at Wimbledon in 2008, too.
Roddick carried out the game plan he wanted to Wednesday, limiting his own mistakes and keeping Tipsarevic on the move. But Tipsarevic served well, hitting 16 aces — only one fewer than the hard-hitting Roddick — and saved three of five break points he faced.
Found 0 comment(s)!