The Hindu : Roddick is Master at Montreal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Roddick is Master at Montreal

Andy Roddick of the U.S., who won the Masters tournament, reacts during the final against David Nalbandian of Argentina in Montreal on Sunday. — AFP

Montreal (Canada) Aug. 11 . American Andy Roddick swept aside rain-delay frustration to claim his fourth title in seven events this season with a rollicking 6-1, 6-3 victory over David Nalbandian at the $2.45 Masters Series.

Roddick, the sixth seed, and Nalbandian, Argentina's 2002 Wimbledon finalist, had to wait for 90 minutes to get on to court after a morning of storm in Quebec on Sunday.

After the delayed start of play at Jarry Park, Roddick, 20, got straight down to business, grabbing control of the first set and winning it on his second opportunity after double-faulting away the first.

It took just 26 minutes.

Roddick, itching to fly down via private jet to Cincinnati for next week's Masters Series where he opens as seventh seed against a qualifier, had to endure another weather setback.

It lasted an hour and came as the American led a set and 4-2 with Nalbandian complaining of slippery lines. That forced the contest off court for drying which took another hour.

The second match delay only postponed the inevitable as Roddick returned to repeat the victory he took over Nalbandian at the Canadian event last year in the quarterfinals.

Roddick spent just a few more minutes in clinching the title, improving his Canadian match record to 14-2.

Roddick struck six aces and broke Nalbandian five times. The Argentine produced 27 unforced errors.

The American owns four trophies from seven events on clay, grass and hardcourt this year.

Roddick won $400,000, moving to joint second in match wins this season with 49 alongside Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero. Roger Federer, beaten by Roddick in the semifinals here, has won 57 matches this year.

Roddick's other titles in 2003 have come at St. Poelten, Austria, Queen's and Indianapolis.

Nalbandian, without a title this season, is the fourth consecutive unseeded player to reach a Canadian final after compatriot Guillermo Canas last year — who beat Roddick for the title — Romanian Andrei Pavel in 2001 and Israeli Harel Levy, a 2000 finalist against Marat Safin.

Bhupathi-Mirnyi pair wins crown

Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi of Belarus defeated Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Todd Woodbridge of Australia 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win the doubles crown in the ATP Tennis Masters tournament at Montreal, Canada.

The top-seeded pair, which got a walkover in the semifinal against Czech Republic's Cyril Suk and Martin Damm, had no problems last night in overcoming the challenge of the fourth-seeded Swedish-Australian pair in straight sets to win its third ATP title of the year.

The duo had earlier won the Estoril Open and the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters event and finished runner-up at Wimbeldon.

The results (final):

Singles: Andy Roddick bt David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles: Mahesh Bhupathi/Max Mirnyi bt Jonas Bjorkman/Todd Woodbridge 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

AFP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport