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  • TMS Rome semis: Roddick vs Wawrinka

    5/10/08 11:35 AM | David Cox
    - Last month in the USA’s Davis Cup quarter-final against France, Roddick had got his country off to the perfect start and the commentary team announced they saw no reason why Roddick couldn’t be a big threat in the French Open.

    Given Roddick’s much-publicised disdain for the red dirt (he chose Mardy Fish’s stag party ahead of playing Monte Carlo !) and his hardly flattering record in Paris - he hasn’t been past round 2 for 7 years, the comment raised much amusement. However if the American’s form this week is anything to go by, it could turn out to be a remarkable piece of foresight.

    When he first broke onto the tour Roddick used to love the clay, he won 3 titles on it from 2001-2003 and made the semis in Rome back in 2002. However, over the next 5 years, the forehand diminished in ferocity, confidence decreased and a series of frustrating losses against lowly ranked baseline sluggers followed, culminating in first round exits in Roland Garros the past two years. It’s all changed though this week, the Roddick of old is back, firing regular service bullets, hammering the forehand and looking to get into the net at every opportunity. As a result he’s had impressive wins against Simone Bolelli (Munich finalist last week) and Tommy Robredo.

    Wawrinka has backed up the impressive form he showed in Barcelona last week, making the last 4 in a masters series for the first time. After a few first round jitters against Marat Safin, the Swiss’ tennis has been sublime, outplaying Andy Murray and Nadal-slayer Ferrero before outlasting James Blake in a long quarter-final. Wawrinka has always been a fine shot-maker but he seems to have added a little more consistency and mental edge this year, easily his best season to date.

    As against Robredo, Roddick will look to rush the net at every opportunity, often serve-volleying on both serves. Robredo’s returning was not up to the task in the final set, can Wawrinka, a more attack-minded player do better. The Swiss is not as good an athlete as Robredo but Roddick will find it harder to boss the points

    Prediction: Roddick to win another long 3 setter

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