Roddick, Murray, Federer, Haas in semis Cebu Daily News
July 03, 2009
WIMBLEDON, England — Most of the talk at Wimbledon has been about the likelihood of a final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray. It turns out another Andy is also making a strong title run.
Andy Roddick overcame former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-7 (10), 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4 Wednesday to set up a semifinal matchup against Murray. Five-time champion Federer will meet German veteran Tommy Haas in the other semifinal on Friday.
This is Roddick’s best showing at Wimbledon since 2005, when he lost in the final to Federer for the second year in a row. He lost in the third round in 2006, the quarterfinals in 2007 and second round last year.
Roddick served 43 aces against Hewitt in a 3-hour, 50-minute match that swung back and forth until the American got the decisive break for a 5-4 lead in the fifth set, converting his second chance with an easy forehand into the open court.
“It certainly wasn’t short on drama,” Roddick said. “It was tough from a mental standpoint because Lleyton wasn’t going away and there were a lot of ebbs and flows to the match. I’m just happy to be on the good side of it.”
When it was all over, Roddick let out a sigh and raised a fist, then threw his racket down, sat in his changeover chair and covered his face with his hands.
Roddick and the other men get a day’s rest Thursday, which is set aside for the women’s semifinals featuring the Williams sisters against two Russian opponents.
Roddick knows he will be battling more than just Murray in his next match. Scotland’s Murray, who swept Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 to reach his first Wimbledon semifinal, is bidding to become the first British player to win the men’s title since Fred Perry in 1936.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Roddick said. “We might be able to count the people for me on this (one) hand. But I think it will be something to remember. I think the crowd’s going to be electric. I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere, one that I can certainly appreciate, even if it’s not for me.
“I’m just going to pretend when they say, ’Come on, Andy’ that they mean me.”
Murray holds a 6-2 edge against Roddick, including a straight-sets win at Wimbledon in 2006.
21st Grand Slam semis
Federer reached his 21st consecutive Grand Slam semifinal by taming 6-foot-10 (2.08-meter) Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (3). Federer, who has won 17 straight matches, is closing in on his sixth Wimbledon title and record 15th Grand Slam championship.
“It would be writing in the history books of tennis,” Federer said. “It’s not there yet. Still far away. Many points, many serves, many forehands. We’ll see.”
Haas upset fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic 7-5, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-3 to advance to his first Wimbledon semifinal. The 31-year-old German was the oldest player in the quarters, while the 22-year-old Djokovic was the youngest.
Haas led Federer two sets to love in the fourth round of the French Open a month ago, only to lose in five.
“This is the best results, the best tennis I’ve played here, the best I’ve been feeling,” Haas said. “Unfortunately, my next opponent is a really tough hurdle to go by.
