Andy Roddick Sets Up Murray Semi

4 months ago 02nd Jul 11:46

Andy Roddick was forced to battle against Lleyton Hewitt to secure his place in the semi finals in what was the best quarter final of the day.

Questions had been raised as to how quickly Hewitt, who has been on an impressive run of form throughout the tournament, after his five set encounter with Radek Stepanek on Monday.

And it looked like he hadn't recovered in time as Roddick took the first set with ease as Hewitt struggled with his serve and his range.

The second set was a much tighter affair as Hewitt pushed the big serving American all the away to a tie break. With a 5-2 lead it was almost a certainty that Roddick was going to take the second set but the tenacious Aussie, who had plenty of support on Court 1, had other ideas.

He battled back as the tie break lasted twenty two points and when Roddick sent a forehand long Hewitt was back in the match at one set a piece.

It was more of the same in the third as they both struggled to get a handle on the other's serve and into the tie break they went.

But it was a dominant show from Roddick as Hewitt's game disintegrated and he to be hampered by a leg issue.

Taking the tie break 7-1 Roddick looked to be in full control as he broke Hewitt at the beginning of the fourth. But Hewitt had other ideas as he was spurred on by his very vocal supporters.

Hewitt reclaimed the break and pushed forward as he struck in the final game of the set as Roddick sent a backhand wide to claim the set.

So into the fifth and final set and the two former grand Slam champions went two to two. But it was Roddick who got the first break chance at 4-4 and he took advantage as he broke the resilient Hewitt to serve for the match.

But Hewitt was done as he fought against the Roddick serve to level at 30-30 and a possible break was on the cards. But Roddick was having none of it as be brought up a match point sealing the match when Hewitt put a volley long winning 6-3 6-7 (10-12) 7-6 (7-1) 5-7 6-4.

Earlier on Court 1 Tommy Haas had but out Novak Djokovic in an exciting four set match, a repeat of the Halle final which Haas won only a couple of weeks ago.

It was a tight first match with some brilliant tennis from both players and it was Tommy Haas' single break of the Djokovic serve that handed him the first set.

Into the second and it was more of the same but once again break points fell to the German, the oldest man left in the draw, but his nerves got the better of him and he was unable to capitalise.

This pushed the second set into a tie break, a tie break Djokovic was bossing until a fight back from Haas secured him the second set.

The third set looked like Djokovic was on the comeback path with a singular break of Haas' serve to take the third set.

But Haas destroyed any hope Djokovic had of a semi-final spot as the German put his foot on the accelerator to take the third set 6-3 to wrap up the victory 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-3.