Saturday, May 10, 2008 Americans find rare success in clay in ATP Rome Masters
ROME—Most years, Americans wilt on the red clay courts of the Foro Italico.
Not this year.
Andy Roddick and James Blake reached the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters on Thursday, marking the first time two Americans have reached the last eight since Andre Agassi won the French Open warmup in 2002.
The sixth-seeded Roddick beat rising local favorite Simone Bolelli of Italy 7-6 (5), 6-3—silencing a partisan crowd—and No. 8 Blake rallied past Fernando Verdasco of Spain 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.
“Who would have thought we would have a couple Americans making up a quarter of the draw in the quarterfinals,” Roddick said. “I guess we landed on the moon.”
The last time two or more Americans got this far in Rome was in 2002, when Roddick and Blake joined Agassi in the quarters.
“I’m actually moving OK and I’m getting better height on the ball than I think I normally do,” Roddick said of his clay-court game. “For me, it’s just a matter of getting a couple matches, but I don’t always give myself that opportunity.”
Blake beat another Italian Wednesday, Andreas Seppi, and reached his first career clay-court final in Houston, Texas, last month, losing to Marcel Granollers.
Blake said he has learned how to become more defensive, use drop shots effectively, and slide into balls.
“I’m not trying to change my game too much, not necessarily stepping back and playing like a David Ferrer or anyone that moves far back,” Blake said. “I’m just still playing my game on clay.”
In 2004, Blake had a freak accident in Rome that nearly ended his career. He fractured vertebrae in his neck after colliding into the net post during a practice session.
Roddick will next face either No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko or No. 14 Tommy Robredo. Blake plays Stanislas Wawrinka, who ended Juan Carlos Ferrero’s run with a 6-4, 6-3 win. (AP)
On Wednesday, Ferrero ousted three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal.
In the other half of the draw, top-ranked Roger Federer picked his shots carefully to get by towering Ivo Karlovic, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Federer improved to 6-0 in his career against the 6-foot-10 Croat.
Karlovic served 12 aces, routinely registering above 210 kph on the radar gun.
“It’s difficult to judge against him. Ivo has an unbelievable serve, probably the best we have in the game,” Federer said. “And he comes to the net too, so there’s always a lot of pressure.”
Federer will next face Radek Stepanek, who defeated Peruvian qualifier Luis Horna, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
Also advancing was Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who survived a mid-match scare from Igor Andreev before eliminating the Russian 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Djokovic’s next opponent is Spanish clay-court specialist Nicolas Almagro, who advanced with a walkover when No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez pulled out with a right leg injury.
This tournament is an important clay-court tuneup for Roland Garros, which begins May 25.
Neither Roddick nor Blake have ever gotten past the third round in Paris.
Agassi was the last American to win the clay-court major in 1999.
Roddick said he “wished” he had learned more from Agassi about how to play on the surface.
“I think Andre was rare in the fact that the way he hit the ball hard as he was able to, and not give up any ground at the baseline, that comes along once every 10, 20 years,” Roddick said. “James is probably more capable of doing that than I am.
“I think the majority of what James and I learned from Andre probably didn’t pertain to clay-court tennis.”
Still, U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe is probably smiling.
The Americans will almost certainly have to play on clay in the semifinals at Spain in September, and team spirit is growing along with the positive results.
“We’re really good friends. We hang out all the time,” Roddick said of his relationship with Blake. “I don’t think being teammates stops when it’s not a Davis Cup week. James and Mardy (Fish), and the Bryans, we’re all kind of each other’s family on the road. We always support each other.”
The Bryan brothers - Bob and Mike - won the Barcelona Open last week and are also competing here.
The only other American in the tournament - Fish - was beaten by Roddick in the second round.
