Tennis News: Andy Murray appears to have Andy Roddick well figured out and it could be a long time before the big-serving American gets on top of the feisty young Scot.
In his third victory in four attempts over the United States number one, Murray downed the top seed Roddick 7-6 , 6-4 to progress to the final of the SAP Open in San Jose.
In another sterling display of inventive tennis, the Scottish defending champion played a great mix of shots off the ground and stood tall during the key moments of the match. Roddick's fire-breathing serve was effective at times but never burned Murray, who was to meet the giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic in the final overnight.
"The best part of my game is my return," Murray said. "I get a lot of returns back and I've done that the three times that I've beaten him. I served well on big points when I've needed to."
The 19-year-old prevailed despite Roddick's attempts to cut him down with a super-aggressive style of play. But, as Murray noted, the American could not convert enough approaches to the net, as Murray passed him time and again from way off the court.
"There are a lot of guys who are fast, but once they are on the run they can't hit the ball. He moves well even when he's on the run. He's able to create something to put it in an uncomfortable position for you," Roddick said
Even though the match took place on a very quick court that should have favoured Roddick, the man from Nebraska was often caught off balance when he did not boom in a first serve, winning only 24 per cent of points on his second serve.
After breaking Roddick to 5-3 in the first set with a gorgeous forehand pass down the line, Murray failed to serve it out when Roddick broke back to 5-4 with a nifty backhand drop shot. But the Scot kept clawing in the tie-break, fighting off two set points with a forehand pass and a 132mph service winner to level it at 6-6. Murray needed three set points of his own to close out the set, and finally won it when he whipped a backhand passing shot that left Roddick shaking his head.
In the second set, Murray broke Roddick to lead 3-2 with another forehand pass down the line. Roddick held a break point on Murray's serve at 3-4, but the Scot again responded, pulling off a beautiful backhand drop volley and then booming two aces. Murray closed out the contest to love, completing it with a fore-hand pass that bounced off the top of the net cord and flew past frustrated Roddick.
That win earned Murray his first match against the 6ft 10in Karlovic, who won his semi-final against Germany's Benjamin Becker 7-6, 7-5.
- Guardian Service
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