Murray and Roddick Still Standing At US Open

Written by: Global Chick on 3rd September 2011

Murray and Roddick Still Standing At US Open

Andy Murray of Great Britain hits a return to Robin Haase of the Netherlands during their second round match on the fifth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 02 September 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

British hopeful Andy Murray moved one step closer to winning his first Grand Slam today after he came through in five sets against Dutchman Robin Haase 6-7 (5) 2-6 6-2 6-0 6-4.

Murray lost the first set in a tiebreaker and then gave away the second set 6-2 to Haase. Murray finally got his game together and came back only losing six games in three sets. “I’m going to need to play better on Sunday or I’ll be going home. You can’t come through four or five matches like that. I’m going to need to play better for sure,” The Brit said.

The 24-year-old Hasse is ranked No. 41 in singles. The Dutchman won the ATP Tour tournament in Kitzbuhel in July this year. This is his second US Open, he played in 2007 and lost in the first round.

Murray fired 21 aces and 55 winners past his opponent today on Louis Armstrong Stadium. Haase called the trainer several times during the match. In the final set the Dutchman came back from 0-4 down and levelled at 4-4 and the set was back on serve again. Murray broke and then took the set and the match.

Murray sent out a Facebook message to his fans today that read, “Thanks everyone for the message of support today, I’ll try and repay you with less of a rollercoaster on Sunday.”

The World No. 4 is now facing his mother’s dream tennis player Feliciano Lopez of Spain. The No. 25^th seed left Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil behind. Lopez won 5-7 6-4 7-6 (3) 7-6(5).

Hometown hero Andy Roddick rolled into the third round today by sending American youngster Jack Sock home. A-Rod won in straight sets 6-3 6-3 6-4. “Today, staying in the points was a good thing. Tonight I felt like the ball was doing whatever I wanted it to do for most part. I was able to control it,” Roddick said.

Jack Sock was awarded a wildcard into the main draw at this year’s US Open due to him winning the Boys’ Under 18s National Championships. Sock was also the US Open boys’ Champion last year. Sock said, “Obviously, it’s one of the biggest stages in tennis, if not the biggest. So I went out there and I soaked up the experience I could and learned a lot from it and had a good time.”

Roddick is at his lowest ranking since 2001. His many injuries have contributed to the drop outside Top 10. But in today’s match the veteran was too good for the young man on the other side of the net. Roddick hit 11 aces and won all of his five breakpoints.

The former US Open Champion will meet French wildcard Julien Benneteau in the third round. The World No. 81 is not to be underestimated after having qualified at the Winston Salem Open and then making it all the way to the final where he lost to American John Isner in three sets. Benneteau won against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in straight sets today.