ATP Champions Tour Delray Beach – Roddick Triumphs; Goran Ivanisevic Is Still Humorous.

Written by: Staff on 17th February 2014

ATP Champions Tour Delray Beach - Roddick Triumphs; Goran Ivanisevic Is Still Humorous.

epa02985048 Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia returns the ball to Yvgeny Kafelnikov of Russia during their macth at the gala tournament Tennis Classics in Papp Laszlo Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary, 29 October 2011. HUNGARY OUT EPA/IMRE FOLDI |

DELRAY BEACH OPEN BY THE VENETIAN LAS VEGAS

ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR

14-16 FEBRUARY

DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

Roddick brings it home for Team USA

Andy Roddick dispatched Goran Ivanisevic 6-4, 6-3 to seal a landslide victory for Team USA over Team International at the Delray Beach Open on Sunday.

It was the first time the pair had met since the third round of Wimbledon 2001 when the Croat completed one of the seven victories that won him the title as a wildcard that year. History did not repeat itself though, and on this occasion it was Roddick who proved the stronger, despite Ivanisevic mounting a valiant defence and persistently matching the American for service speed.

Roddick was not only pleased with the win, but also delighted to be able to have fun on the court.

‘I feel like we really had it all going out there on the court today,’ he said. ‘It was fun. Goran and I wanted to have a good time, play some good tennis and make sure the crowd left having been entertained.’

These days Roddick spends most of his time presenting a nightly news, opinion and highlights television show on Fox Sports, but he was glad to take a few days off to return to one of his favourite tennis venues.

‘These days I’m a pretty good tennis player for a broadcaster,’ he joked. ‘But seriously, I haven’t played much tennis since I stopped, and when I was asked to come back here to Delray Beach where I have so many memories, it was an easy decision. I’ve had a great time.’

The 2003 US Open Champion also played tribute to his fellow big-serving opponent Ivanisevic.

‘Goran has such a good personality and we just kind of played off of each other today,’ he said. ‘He can still play, that’s for sure. He can still serve a lot easier than I can. He’s got that easy power. Every time I play someone like him I realise how not talented I actually was when I played.’

Despite the result, Ivanisevic was also still able to make the most of his time on court.

‘It’s always enjoyable for me,’ he said. ‘I make it fun, I make it enjoyable and Andy is a guy you can have fun with because he’s such a relaxed, cool guy and a great tennis player. It was perfect today.’

Earlier in the day, Aaron Krickstein added to the Americans’ success with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Sweden’s Mikael Pernfors. Mats Wilander was forced to withdraw from his match against Jan Michael Gambill due to a hamstring injury, handing another point to Team USA and leaving the final points total at 8-1 in their favour.

The ATP Champions Tour now moves on to Stockholm, for the Kings of Tennis tournament, 11-14 March. http://www.atpchampionstour.com/events/stockholm.aspx

Goran Ivanisevic Twitter chat: ‘Croatians Are Ninjas'; ‘My Valentines Surprise'; ‘I Am Perfect’

Goran Ivanisevic took part in a Twitter chat @ChampionsTennis yesterday. It was, of course, different. http://www.atpchampionstour.com/news/tennis/2014/delray-beach-sunday-twitter-qa-ivanisevic.aspx

Video – Watch Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic watch THAT Wimbledon semifinal … together -http://goo.gl/11ti2g

Video – See John McEnroe, Carlos Moya, Goran Ivanisevic in kilts in Edinburgh – http://goo.gl/QglZBu

Video – Facing Federer: Mark Philippoussis remembers his 2003 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer – http://goo.gl/vpo60h

Video – What’s in your bag? Tim Henman rummages through the belongings of one of his fellow ATP Champions Tour stars. But whose bag is it? – http://goo.gl/u8al7C

Topics: 10sballs, Aaron Krickstein, Andy Roddick, Delray Beach Open, Goran Ivanisevic, Jan Michael Gambill, Mats Wilander, Mikael Pernfors, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wimbledon

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10sBalls_com says:

February 17, 2014 at 7:50 am

ATP Champions Tour Delray Beach – Roddick Triumphs; Goran Ivanisevic Is Still Humorous. – http://t.co/aLuiMfX7ue #ATP @andyroddick #tennis
moniquesourdif says:

February 17, 2014 at 5:48 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: ATP Champions Tour Delray Beach – Roddick Triumphs; Goran Ivanisevic Is Still Humorous. – http://t.co/aLuiMfX7ue #ATP @an…