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1/6/10 10:36 PM | Ricky Dimon
James Blake and Tomas Berdych take very different paths to the Brisbane quarterfinals on Wednesday. Joining them there is No. 1 seed Andy Roddick, a straight-set winner over Carsten Ball.
James Blake d. Marc Gicquel 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(8)
Despite cruising through the first set, Blake ended up displaying his best survival skills en route to a three-set victory over Gicquel on Monday afternoon in the second round of the Brisbane International. After dropping set two, the 44th-ranked American not only recovered from a break deficit in the final set, but he also saved match points at 5-6, 6-7, and 7-8 of the decisive tiebreaker. "I was not going to let him beat me," said Blake, who finished with 13 aces and two double faults during his win that took exactly two hours to complete. "You play your best when you have that clear mindset." Gicquel struck eight aces and five double-faults while saving eight of 10 break points. Blake is now set for a blockbuster quarterfinal with No. 3 seed Gael Monfils, who outlasted Florent Serra in three tight sets.
(4) Tomas Berdych d. Marcos Baghdatis 6-0, 6-1
Berdych needed just 65 minutes to crush Baghdatis in alarming fashion on Wednesday. The 20th-ranked Czech lost a mere eight points in the entire first set, although he did have to save three break points. More of the same continued in the second, but Baghdatis at least got on the scoreboard this time. The Cypriot served dismally--36 percent--but there was really nothing he could do against an on-fire Berdych. Brisbane's No. 4 seed finished with no aces and no double faults; he did almost all of his work from the baseline and he did it flawlessly. Berdych will face No. 8 seed Thomaz Bellucci for a spot in the semifinals.
(1) Andy Roddick d. (WC) Carsten Ball 7-6(0), 6-3
Ball treated the Australian fans to a competitive match, but the 22-year-old wild card eventually succumbed to Roddick after one hour and 20 minutes of spirited play. An entertaining first set saw Roddick save one break point and Ball fend off six chances en route to a tiebreaker. When the No. 1 seed dominated the decider 7-0, however, it was all but over. One break was easily enough to decide the second set for Roddick, who lost only three points in his last five service games. The seventh-ranked American wrapped up his effort with nine aces and no double-faults while serving at an outstanding 83 percent. Next up for Roddick is a quarterfinal showdown against Richard Gasquet, who got past qualifier Matthew Ebden in straight sets.
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