Roddick gets double thumbs-up for Finals
Originally published on: 26/02/10 11:47
Things had looked bleak for Andy Roddick as he limped out of his second-round match with Stanislas Wawrinka on Tuesday night with a knee injury.
But the former world No.1’s mood will have brightened after receiving two welcome pieces of news ahead of the year-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
The American had been forced to retire with the knee injury just seven games into his first match at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000, and immediately flew to New York for medical advice.
After having the knee examined by Dr David Dines and Dr Josh Dines, an MRI scan showed a mild ligament sprain. The diagnosis good news for Roddick, who is now expected to resume training in two to three weeks.
“Results of the MRI showed a mild sprain of his medial collateral ligament of the left knee,” a statement on his website said. “The news was very good for Andy.
“No surgery will be needed and Andy is expected to make a 100% recovery,” the statement concluded. “Andy will rest and receive treatments and will be expected to start activity in two to three weeks.”
Meanwhile, events in China have virtually guaranteed Roddick a spot in the season finale at London’s O2 Arena.
The world No.6 headed to Shanghai in pole position to clinch one of the three remaining singles berths at the World Tour Finals, with Nikolay Davydenko, Fernando Verdasco, Robin Soderling and Gilles Simon all in contention for a top-eight season finish.
Three of those four would have to overtake Roddick to prevent him from reaching London. Davydenko helped his cause with a 6-1 4-6 6-1 victory over Radek Stepanek to reach the semi-finals.
But Robin Soderling was shocked in his quarter-final match by Feliciano Lopez, winning three matches outside of Challenger events for the first time this season with a 7-6(4) 6-3 victory.
Defeats for Verdasco and Soderling leave both needing to win the BNP Paribas Masters 1000 in Paris next month to top Roddick, along with Gilles Simon, who must win both Paris and Shanghai to finish ahead of the American.
With only one of those three now capable of overtaking Roddick at the final Masters 1000 event of the season, which begins November 8, he is guaranteed a top-eight finish.
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