Roddick gets the breaks

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:44

The world number five required two tie-breaks to see off his 10th-ranked opponent, eventually prevailing 7-6 (7/2) 4-6 7-6 (7/5).

In a match that lasted two hours and 37 minutes, Roddick’s normally impenetrable serve was broken twice, first in the 10th game of the second set to pull Verdasco level in the match, and again when Roddick was serving for the match at 5-4 in the third.

Roddick held his nerve in the subsequent tie-break, however, to set up a last-eight encounter with world number four Novak Djokovic at the outdoor hard-court event.

The Serbian had earlier become the first player to qualify for the quarter-finals when he ousted Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny, ranked 29th, 6-3 6-4.

Sixth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro also progressed as he defeated Victor Hanescu of Romania 3-6 6-3 6-4.

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