1 Response to memphis02roddick.blake

1. Voo de Mar says:

   March 19, 2016 at 11:34 am

   Points won by each set: | 27-21, 25-33, 42-39 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   36 % Roddick – 31 of 86
   28 % Blake – 29 of 101

   A meeting between the two most promising American players at the twilight of the Sampras/Agassi era. The 22-year-old Blake was playing his 20th main-level event while his 2.5 years younger compatriot just 27th. That final exposed Blake’s [64] problems that will be hunting him throughout his career: sloppiness at the beginning, shakiness at the end. Blake won as many as 50% of points directly behind the serve in the opener (7 aces!), yet any of them in his very first service game which he lost at 15. In the 3rd set he led *3:2 (40/30), but lost that game making more simple forehand errors than in the entire contest. He was six points away from the title at 5-all, leading 30/0 on Roddick’s second serve, but produced another forehand error. Roddick [17] converted his first match point with a backhand down the line passing-shot winner, following Blake’s double fault at 30-all. The exciting duel lasted 1 hour 47 minutes. Four years later they would play a similar final against each other with a reverse outcome (Indianapolis).

   Roddick’s route to his 4th title:
   1 Lars Burgsmuller 6-2, 6-3
   2 Andre Sa 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
   Q Sargis Sargsian 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
   S Xavier Malisse 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3
   W James Blake 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

   # Roddick trailed 0:4 in the 2nd set vs Sa!

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