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  • Roddick and Blake lay the smackdown with solid wins

    2/22/08 3:29 PM | Jonathan Morgan
    - Both Roddick and Blake were able to dominate thier opponents. Roddick even going old school with verbal intimidation.

    James Blake def. Jesse Levine 6-3, 6-4

    Not a suprising result at all. Levine is a young lefty with a great game and much potential, Blake is the experienced vet and lefty-destroyer. Levine showed signs in this match of why he has such potential. The scoreline was not bad at all for Jesse, who showed quite a bit of fight in him. Levine had several break points, but could not convert on any of the 5. Levine didn't choke, not at all, Blake just took it to him more, dominating the baseline with his forehand. Levine put out a good showing and is a great young prospect to keep an eye on. Blake will play Robby Ginepri in the Quarterfinals in a rematch of their semifinal match last week in Delray.

    Andy Roddick def. Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-4

    Roddick threw down 7 aces and some intimidation in his cooling of Nishikori's en fuego game. In the opening set, Roddick ate up Nishikori's serve, both first and second, putting extreme pressure on the youngster to do battle from the back of the court. In the baseline exchanges, it was about even, with Roddick being able to break Nishikori twice in the set. After one net exchange, Roddick felt the need to shout at Kei.

    “I told him to stick me with it the next time. I just let him know that he needs to finish it. I had no problem with it. But it was a monologue,” said Roddick after the match.

    Nishikori calmly walked away without talking, a great sign of maturity. Or perhaps its because Roddick is about twice his size...Regardless, the match went on.

    In the 2nd set, Nishikori made some adjustments and was able to work over Roddick in his service games, trying not to be overpowered by the Roddick serve. Nishikori was broken in one game but bounced right back to break Roddick, before being broken once again. Roddick went on to win the match and said afterwards it was the best he had played in a while. Nishikori will need to up the ante on his serve as it was quite pathetic. His baseline game is superb, however, and he felt satisfied with the way he played. He will now go to Memphis to play in the qualifying draw.

    Roddick didn't seem to have a problem with his actions and used it as a mental ploy against Nishikori.

    “Things were happening for him without him thinking so I wanted him to think about other stuff and not how well he's playing,” he said. “There was nothing personal in it. He's probably not that happy with me for doing that. But I don't need any young friends,” said Roddick.

    Perhaps a jerk move, but a smart one considering Nishikori's current form. Roddick will now play good friend since high school Mardy Fish in the next round.

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