Related News
Hewitt advances, Roddick ready for return
Source: Agencies |
August 4, 2009, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
AUSTRALIA'S Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the second round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Donald Young yesterday.
Hewitt, who won this tournament in 2004, is playing in Washington for the first time in three years. He will next face 15th-seeded Dudi Sela of Israel, who recieved a first-round bye.
The former world No. 1 Hewitt won three of five break opportunities in each set to beat the 20-year-old American.
Young battled Hewitt through the first set that featured five service breaks before Hewitt held serve in the deciding game. Hewitt then took the final three games of the second set for the win.
"We both seemed to return serve pretty well out there," Hewitt said. "We both didn't serve great, either, so that made life for the returner easier."
Hewitt had not played since losing to Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
"It's always hard after a few weeks off," Hewitt said. "It's nice to get through in straight sets."
Mikhail Youzhny of Russia beat American Robert Kendrick 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 and will play fifth-seeded Robin Soderling in the second round.
Qualifier Somdev Devvarman of India advanced to the second round with a 6-0, 7-6 (6) win against Japan's Yuichi Sugita. Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun defeated Michael Russell of the United States 4-6, 6-1, 7-5; Germany's Philipp Petzschner won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Teimuraz Gabashvili of Georgia, and Canada's Frank Dancevic advanced by beating Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 6-3.
Marc Gicquel of France won 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 against Poland's Jerzy Janowicz, whileColombia's Alejandro Falla advanced with a 6-1, 6-4 win over American Jesse Witten.
Top-seeded Roddick, who hasn't played since his loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, said Monday he's recovered from the right hip flexor he sustained in the July 5.
Roddick, who has won the Washington event three times, was originally scheduled to open play Tuesday after an opening-round bye, but his start was pushed back to Wednesday. Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro is the No. 2 seed.
"Physically I feel great," Roddick said. "I didn't want to make the error of coming back until I felt physically prepared to play in an event."
Roddick injured his hip when he fell in the fourth set against Federer. He went on to play for another 1 1/2 hours before losing 16-14 in the longest fifth set in Grand Slam final history, a match that is still on Roddick's mind.
"Heartbreaking," Roddick said. "But at the same time, not a lot of people get a chance to play for that title and be a part of something like that, so that part of it is never lost on me. Ten seconds after the final, I still realized it's a pretty special thing."
Roddick said the hip didn't bother him in the final - "Adrenaline does a lot for you" - but he compared the feeling in the days after to falling on a rock. He said he doesn't expect any lingering problems.
Last year, Roddick was upset in the quarterfinals of this tournament. He's hoping this year the Legg Mason puts him in position to replicate his Wimbledon performance at the US Open, which will be played Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 in New York. However, the extended layoff may mean it will take a few times out before he is fully back up to speed.
"This is the start of the process toward the US Open," Roddick said. "I'd love to get off to a great start, but I think it would be presumptuous of me to expect that in my first match in over a month. That being said, if I can get through one or two matches then maybe we can get it going."
Hewitt, who won this tournament in 2004, is playing in Washington for the first time in three years. He will next face 15th-seeded Dudi Sela of Israel, who recieved a first-round bye.
The former world No. 1 Hewitt won three of five break opportunities in each set to beat the 20-year-old American.
Young battled Hewitt through the first set that featured five service breaks before Hewitt held serve in the deciding game. Hewitt then took the final three games of the second set for the win.
"We both seemed to return serve pretty well out there," Hewitt said. "We both didn't serve great, either, so that made life for the returner easier."
Hewitt had not played since losing to Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
"It's always hard after a few weeks off," Hewitt said. "It's nice to get through in straight sets."
Mikhail Youzhny of Russia beat American Robert Kendrick 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 and will play fifth-seeded Robin Soderling in the second round.
Qualifier Somdev Devvarman of India advanced to the second round with a 6-0, 7-6 (6) win against Japan's Yuichi Sugita. Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun defeated Michael Russell of the United States 4-6, 6-1, 7-5; Germany's Philipp Petzschner won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Teimuraz Gabashvili of Georgia, and Canada's Frank Dancevic advanced by beating Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 6-3.
Marc Gicquel of France won 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 against Poland's Jerzy Janowicz, whileColombia's Alejandro Falla advanced with a 6-1, 6-4 win over American Jesse Witten.
Top-seeded Roddick, who hasn't played since his loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, said Monday he's recovered from the right hip flexor he sustained in the July 5.
Roddick, who has won the Washington event three times, was originally scheduled to open play Tuesday after an opening-round bye, but his start was pushed back to Wednesday. Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro is the No. 2 seed.
"Physically I feel great," Roddick said. "I didn't want to make the error of coming back until I felt physically prepared to play in an event."
Roddick injured his hip when he fell in the fourth set against Federer. He went on to play for another 1 1/2 hours before losing 16-14 in the longest fifth set in Grand Slam final history, a match that is still on Roddick's mind.
"Heartbreaking," Roddick said. "But at the same time, not a lot of people get a chance to play for that title and be a part of something like that, so that part of it is never lost on me. Ten seconds after the final, I still realized it's a pretty special thing."
Roddick said the hip didn't bother him in the final - "Adrenaline does a lot for you" - but he compared the feeling in the days after to falling on a rock. He said he doesn't expect any lingering problems.
Last year, Roddick was upset in the quarterfinals of this tournament. He's hoping this year the Legg Mason puts him in position to replicate his Wimbledon performance at the US Open, which will be played Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 in New York. However, the extended layoff may mean it will take a few times out before he is fully back up to speed.
"This is the start of the process toward the US Open," Roddick said. "I'd love to get off to a great start, but I think it would be presumptuous of me to expect that in my first match in over a month. That being said, if I can get through one or two matches then maybe we can get it going."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
