| Roddick Keeps His Eye On Tennis Masters Cup Prize |
American Andy Roddick (pictured) took advantage of a bad day for his fellow Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai contenders by fighting back to defeat Juan Carlos Ferrero 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the China Open semifinals on Friday in Beijing.
Three players – Fernando Gonzalez, Tommy Robredo and Richard Gasquet – who have an opportunity to qualify for prestigious circuit finale in November, each suffered quarterfinal exits.
Second seed Roddick fired 23 aces and converted two of four break points as he recovered from a one set deficit to improve to a 5-0 record against Ferrero. The 26-year-old right-hander, who trailed David Ferrer by eight points in the ATP 2008 Race at the start of the week, is attempting to clinch his place at the circuit-ending championships for a fifth time. The Beijing debutant improved to 39-13 for the season, highlighted by winning his 24th and 25th ATP titles at San Jose (d. Stepanek) and Dubai (d. F. Lopez) and reaching the final at Los Angeles (l. to del Potro).
In the semifinals, Roddick will face German World No. 137 Bjorn Phau, who battled past Gonzalez, the third seed and defending champion, with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory in one hour and 50 minutes. The 28-year-old Phau advances to his first ATP semifinal since April 2006 at Casablanca (l. to Massu). Gonzalez, who saved 10 of 15 break points, dropped to 35-12 on the season. The 28-year-old Chilean is currently No. 11 in the ATP 2008 Race and is attempting to compete at the prestigious circuit finale for the third time (2005, 2007).
Phau’s compatriot Rainer Schuettler overcame fourth seed Richard Gasquet of France, currently No. 22 in the ATP 2008 Race, with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in two hours and 22 minutes. Seventh seed Schuettler, who is making his fifth appearance in Beijing, broke the Gasquet serve four times to improve to 15-17 on the season. Since reaching the Wimbledon semifinals (l. to Nadal) in July, the 32-year-old Korbach native has also made a quarterfinal exit at Kitzbuhel (l. to Melzer). Gasquet, who hit 12 aces, had won their only previous meeting at Tokyo last year. This year’s Stuttgart finalist, currently No. 22 in the ATP 2008 Race, dropped to 27-19 this year.
Dudi SelaSchuettler will next meet unseeded Israeli Dudi Sela (pictured right) for the first time on Friday. World No. 92 Sela continued his giant-killing run Friday after defeating sixth seed and last year’s runner-up Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-4, 6-1 in 79 minutes for a place in his maiden ATP semifinal. The last Israeli to reach an ATP singles final was Harel Levy at 2000 ATP Masters Series Toronto (l. to Safin).
Sela, who overcame World No. 5 David Ferrer in the second round on Thursday, hit three aces, won 22 of 28 points on first serve and saved five of six break points he faced. The 23-year-old also beat Robredo at ATP Masters Series Miami in March. The Tel Aviv resident improved to 14-20 on the season, while Robredo dropped to a 33-19 mark. The 2006 Tennis Masters Cup qualifier began the week at No. 17 in the ATP 2008 Race. In July he won his seventh ATP title at Bastad (d. Berdych).
