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Roddick serves his way out of trouble

AAP/Image: SMP Images Monday 4 January 2010 15 Comments »

Andy Roddick’s troublesome knee was given a stern test but the big-serving American came through with flying colours in his return to the ATP tour on Monday night.

Australian Davis Cup regular Peter Luczak gave Roddick a worrying first-set scare before the top seed prevailed 7-6(5) 6-2 in his opening match at the Brisbane International.

Luczak, who has worked his way to No.77 in the rankings after an injury-hit 2009, was up 5-3 in the tense tiebreak but failed to close out the set by dropping clutch points on serve.

Roddick swiftly grabbed the opportunity given by two unforced Luczak errors and then quickly ran through the second set with his signature booming serve firing on all cylinders.

The world No.7 iced the first set with an ace, one of an amazing 15 for the match, with his weapon hitting speeds beyond 220 km/h.

Roddick finished 2009 early to rest his knee but after three months rest he moved as well as ever during his one hour and 23 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena.

Luczak was impressive from the baseline and more than held his own for the first 12 games but slipped after creating a gilt-edged chance in the tiebreak by drawing Roddick in with a deft drop shot and then finishing off with a volley at the net.

But the 29-year-old was guilty of overdoing the drop shot in the second set as Roddick pounced to break in successive Luczak service games.

Roddick could meet another Australian in the second round with wildcard Carsten Ball standing in his way if he beats Germany’s Mischa Zverev on Tuesday.

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Roddick admitted Luczak took him out of his “comfort zone” by playing far more aggressively than he expected and taking the rallies up to the 2009 Wimbledon finalist.

The Texan was grateful his prime weapon – his serve – was on song to allow him to stay in the opening set.

“I served great tonight, that’s what got me through the first set,” he said.

“It was like an insurance policy for me … it buys me time sometimes and allows me to work my way into a match.”

Roddick, who has given himself a heavy training workload in the past month, was pleased his knee gave him no problems and felt he finished the match in far better nick than he started.

“You don’t climb a mountain and then play your best tennis after a four-months layoff,” he said.

“I feel good and I feel excited and there’s definitely room for improvement.”

Results from the Brisbane International today
Men Round 1
1-Andy Roddick (USA) bt Peter Luczak (AUS) 7-6(5) 6-2

2-Radek Stepanek (CZE) d John Millman (AUS) 6-4 6-0

8-Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) d Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 6-3 3-6 6-1

Harel Levy (ISR) d Michael Llodra (FRA) 6-2 6-0

Alejandro Falla (COL) d 7-Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4 6-4

Marc Gicquel (FRA) d Philipp Petzschner (GER) 6-3 6-1

Wayne Odesnik (USA) d Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-4 7-6(2)

Richard Gasquet (FRA) d Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 4-6 6-4

Women Round 1
4-Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d Ekaterina Ivanova (RUS) 6-1 6-7(5) 6-1.
6-Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 6-2 6-2

Agnes Szavay (HUN) d Peng Shuai (CHN) 5-7 6-4 6-2

Justine Henin (BEL) d 2-Nadia Petrova (RUS) 7-5 7-5

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d 5-Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 6-4 2-6 6-2

Lucie Safarova (CZE) d Anna-Lena Gronefeld (GER) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1

Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) d Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 6-2 0-6 7-6(1)

Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 6-4 7-6(3)

3-Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d Jelena Dokic (AUS) 7-5 1-6 6-3

Roberta Vinci (ITA) d Sara Errani (ITA) 6-4 2-6 6-2

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Tags: Andy Roddick, Peter Luczak

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