Roddick breezes into U.S. Open quarterfinals
American routs Gonzalez to advance past fourth round for seventh time
 | Andy Roddick celebrates his 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 win over Fernando Gonzalez at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. |
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NEW YORK - Andy Roddick was nearly perfect against Fernando Gonzalez in the U.S. Open’s fourth round Tuesday night.
Roddick, the 2003 champion, won 53 of 62 points on his serve and faced only one break point while putting together a 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 victory over the 11th-seeded Gonzalez to reach the quarterfinals for the seventh time in nine appearances at Flushing Meadows.
Roddick finished with 30 winners and only seven unforced errors, an unusually strong ratio made more impressive in comparison to Gonzalez’s 24 winners and 33 unforced errors.
“You never think you’re going to run away with it,” said Roddick, who is seeded eighth.
Roddick hit serves at up to 141 mph, and the lone break point he faced came while leading 3-1 in the third set. It quickly vanished when Gonzalez pushed a forehand passing try wide.
Roddick now faces No. 3 Novak Djokovic, the 2007 U.S. Open runner-up and reigning Australian Open champion. Roddick and Djokovic split their two previous matches on tour.
Djokovic needed five sets to win his fourth-round match against No. 15 Tommy Robredo and had to deal with stomach, hip, ankle and breathing problems.
“I’ve got to feel good,” Roddick said, thinking ahead. “He’s got about 16 injuries right now.”
After Roddick jokingly tossed out a few possible additions to Djokovic’s long list of ailments — “bird flu, Anthrax, SARS” — he was asked whether he believed the Serbian was exaggerating his problems.
“Either he’s quick to call the trainer or one of the most courageous guys of all time,” Roddick said.
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