ATP Champions Tour Delray Beach – Roddick Makes Winning Debut; Ivanisevic Buzzing About Cilic

Written by: on 15th February 2014
ATP Champions Tour Delray Beach - Roddick Makes Winning Debut; Ivanisevic Buzzing About Cilic  |

Jan-Michael Gambill

 

DELRAY BEACH OPEN BY THE VENETIAN LAS VEGAS

ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR

14-16 FEBRUARY

DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

 

RODDICK MAKES WINNING DEBUT

 

Former World Number One Andy Roddick made a blistering start to his ATP Champions Tour career with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of his ‘childhood hero’ Mats Wilander.

 

Roddick was born three months after his opponent won his debut Grand Slam title at the French Open in 1982, and he was able to take full advantage of the 18 year age gap at the Delray Beach International Tennis Centre on Friday night, firing down serves of 130mph and unleashing his trademark topspin forehand.

 

Roddick was delighted with his first experience of life on the Champions Tour with his fellow champions.

 

‘I really enjoyed that match tonight, it was a blast,’ he said. ‘I had fun, I love being a little bit more interactive on the court. It’s new for me, it’s different, but I’m loving it.’

 

‘It’s good to play against guys that you grew up idolising, and Mats is certainly that for me. We missed each other generationally speaking, so it’s really a lot of fun to be able to play against him.’

 

Roddick’s victory, along with that of Jan Michael Gambill over Goran Ivanisevic earlier in the day, gave Team America a 2-0 lead over Team International going into day two.

 

 

IVANISEVIC BUZZING ABOUT CILIC

 

Goran Ivanisevic suffered a narrow three set defeat to Champions Tour debutant Jan Michael Gambill at the Delray Beach Open on Friday, losing out to the American 6-3. 5-7, 10-8.

 

But not even defeat on the tennis court could dampen the Croat’s spirits; not after his pupil Marin Cilic notched up his biggest victory since employing Ivanisevic as his coach, against Andy Murray in the quarter finals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. It followed a win over Jo Wilfried Tsonga earlier in the week.

 

‘I would never swap Marin’s win today for one for me,’ said Ivanisevic. ‘This is so great for Marin to beat two top ten guys in the same week, especially Andy because he is always struggling against him. It’s great. I’m really happy for him.’

 

And Ivanisevic is confident that his charge will go at least one step further and reach his second ATP Tour Final of 2014.

 

“It’s not over yet,’ he said. ‘He’s in the semis and I’m expecting him to come here to Delray on Monday so that means he must be in the final in Rotterdam. He is ready. He’s really confident. To beat Murray in two sets you have to be playing well.’

 

Given the Team USA vs. Team International format in Delray, the US built a 100% record after day won with the victories for Roddick and Gambill.

 

On Saturday, Ivanisevic takes on Aaron Krickstein, Mikael Pernfors meets Jan – Michael Gambill, Wilander then faces Krickstein, before Roddick plays Pernfors.

 

 

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