Article

  • Rome R3: Andy Roddick vs. Simone Bolelli

    5/8/08 6:32 AM | Jonathan Morgan
    - Crowd favorite Bolelli will ride his momentum and support into his 3rd round clash with American #1 Andy Roddick.

    Roddick is not the best on clay. However, he has scored some good scalps on the dirt over the years and is competent on this surface. Bolelli is a solid clay courter and has played fantastic tennis the past 1.5 weeks in Munich and here in Rome.

    Roddick's biggest weapon is his giant serve. Bolelli's biggest weakness is returning a big serve. If this match was on hardcourt, Roddick would win playing lefty. However, it is on clay and is thus an entirely different matchup. Roddick will try to blast a first serve into Bolelli, hoping for a cheap point or an easily attackable return. Bolelli will try to use his serve (which is actually quite good, certainly not Roddick quality, but its very solid) to do the same.

    Once the ball is in play, Bolelli has the immediate advantage. He is superior over Roddick from the back of the court and knows how to move and slide well. Bolelli's forehand can do much of the damage, both constructing and finishing a point. Roddick can also do that, but on a much lower degree of effectiveness. The smart play for Bolelli will be to hit to Roddick's backhand and move the American around.

    It might be a toughly contested one, but Bolelli will ride the support of the crowd to the Rome QF.

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Comments

I guess not! Roddick in straight sets, good job Andy!

angelalynn , 5/8/08 8:37 PM


I had both Blake and Roddick going down today.

Guess I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised.

RickyDimon , 5/8/08 8:46 PM


Looks like Roddick took out another good claycourt player maybe you guys should learn to look at a players results instead of relying on personal bias and bad myths about Americans on clay when you write up your previews. :)

sheila , 5/8/08 11:15 PM


sheila - the only people who picked Roddick in that match are American sports fans who don't know anyone on the ATP Tour other than Nadal, Federer, and Americans.

FYI Bolell is far from a clay-court specialist. He is solid on all surfaces. Roddick will get embarrassed when he actually plays a real clay-court guru, not to mention someone in the Top 50.

FYI Bolelli was favored by the bookies in this match. Get your facts straight before going off on another one of your useless tirades at J. Morgan.

RickyDimon , 5/9/08 4:26 AM


"FYI Bolell is far from a clay-court specialist. He is solid on all surfaces. Roddick will get embarrassed when he actually plays a real clay-court guru, not to mention someone in the Top 50."

Someone like Tommy Robredo perhaps? :)

sheila , 5/9/08 11:17 PM


someone like wawrinka!!

sisterofnight12 , 5/9/08 11:28 PM


no, not someone like Robredo

I had Roddick in that match, and with confidence. Surprised it was that close.

RickyDimon , 5/10/08 5:30 AM



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