ATP News : 2005


Roddick rolled as Nadal pulls through for victory

Madrid (dpa) - Rafael Nadal shrugged off knee worries Wednesday and chief rival Andy Roddick was defeated by Ivo Karlovic as the top seeds swung into action Wednesday at the Masters Series Madrid.


Top seed and home favourite Nadal showed no signs of distress from tendinitis as he crushed Victor Hanescu 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to move into the third round. The teenage top seed struck 24 winners and 18 unforced errors in his one-hour, 39-minute debut. But it was lights-out for Roddick, the tournament number 2, who has not won an ATP match since late August in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The second seed, complaining throughout the match about perceived line call injustices, dropped his opening match to Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-3). The 2.08-metre-tall challenger followed up on a first-round knockout of Greg Rusedski and frustrated a clearly rattled Roddick.

The Croat saved a match point in the second-set decider, then broke down the confidence of the fragile American, now 51-13 this season. Roddick admitted he had only himself to blame for the defeat. "I'm not happy with it. I couldn't have played better through two sets. It was the highest quality match that we've played," Roddick said.

Only hours before the match, Roland Garros champion Nadal underwent a scan on his left knee, which showed his inflammation problem was improving. The world number 2 took to the court with a spring in his step that left organisers breathing easier.

"My knee was fine," Nadal said. "It didn't hurt at the beginning, just a little bit when I got my foot (wrong) on the court. But I was fine," Nadal said.

"I'd been three weeks without playing and I wasn't able to train because of the knee. But I'm happy, I think I've done well." With rival Roger Federer missing this week due an an ankle ligament injury, Nadal looks set to pass the Swiss on match victories
this season.

The Spaniard has claimed 75 victories so far in 2005, two more than Federer. The game's top pair is also duelling for Masters Series and season title glories. Federer won four Masters trophies since January; Nadal three.



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