Roddick rues “a pretty bad effort”
Originally published on: 06/08/10 10:59
“Overall, I feel great,” Andy Roddick had said on Monday as he prepared to kick off his campaign for a fourth Legg Mason Tennis Classic title in Washington.
Four days later, Gilles Simon unceremoniously dumped the world No.9 out of the tournament he had won on three previous occasions, condemning the American to his earliest exit in nine appearances in Washington.
Defeated 6-3 6-3 for his first career loss to the Frenchman, Roddick was broken three times by the world No.33.
“It was just a bad night, I don’t have much of a defence for it and I don’t think you can defend it,” said the despondent 27-year-old. “I didn’t feel right physically or mentally, it was just a pretty bad effort.”
Roddick won the Washington title in 2001, 2005 and 2007 and reached the final last year before losing to eventual US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro.
And after a tumultuous mid-season, this latest setback continues to fuel thoughts that this year’s tournament at Flushing Meadows could be the 2003 US Open champ’s last real shot at claiming a second Grand Slam.
After claiming his first break of serve, set and – ultimately – win against Roddick in 70 minutes, Nice-born Simon booked his spot in the quarter-finals of a tournament for just the second time this season.
The 25-year-old struggled with a knee injury earlier this year, and his Roddick-scalp brought up just his 11th tour victory this season.
Fourth-seeded Marin Cilic added to the American exodus in Washington, ending Mardy Fish’s career-best 11-match winning streak in the third round with a 6-4 4-6 6-2 victory in just over two-and-a-quarter hours.
John Isner had followed earlier in the day after losing out to Xavier Malisse in a third-set tiebreak.
A day’s play that was delayed by thunderstorms for over four hours ended under a cloud for the American dream, with no home player making it through to the quarter-finals for the first time in the tournament’s 41-year history.
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