US Open Second Round Results
Andy loses 6-3 5-7 3-6 6-7(4).
I was able to catch this match, but I couldn't watch every single point intently--too much homework to do. But I had it on in the background and watched points/games when I could.
Andy opened the match on serve and had triple break point to go up 2-0; ESPN2 cut away, and I didn't see the end of the game, but Tipsarevic fought off the break points and was able to hold. Andy got back to break point a couple games later and took the break then. He started to get deep into Tipsarevic's service games, and he was trying to do what he could to get the break at 5-2. He couldn't break, but he went on to hold and took the set.
The second set got a bit more interesting. To start the match, they were both going into really extensive baseline rallies--mostly backhand to backhand, but Tipsarevic started hitting forehands to Andy's backhand, which proved pretty effective. Andy started to change his game a bit--which is what really helped him start to get the upperhand for the second half of the first set. Andy seemed to have firm control, and then they went back to those same long rallies after a few games in the second set, and it caught up to Andy. He faced 0-40 on serve, was able to save the first two break points, but he couldn't save the third, giving a 3-1 lead to Tipsarevic. Luckily, Andy fought to get into the next return game, forced it to deuce and was able to take the break back on the first break point he earned. Things went on serve from there until Andy was serving for a breaker. He started with his first double of the match before Tipsarevic came up with more great backhands and got to triple set point. Andy saved the first two with big serves, but Tipsarevic came up with some well-placed backhands that lead to an error from Andy to give Tipsarevic the set. I can't say much about what happened there since I couldn't watch with too much detail, but it looked like Andy started losing steam--probably a result of so many dang rallies early on.
Things didn't look promising to start the third set either. Tipsarevic held easily--at love or 15--while Andy went down 15-30 and had to come from behind. He did hold his opening service game, though. He came back with big serving to get an easy hold, finally, to even it at 2-all. What made me worried in the next game was that he had Tipsarevic running well behind the baseline from side to side for who knows how many strokes and didn't put him away when he had the open court; he kept going to the backhand slice up the middle--and he lost the point even though he was in control for the majority of the point. Tipsarevic went on to hold at love. Then Andy continued the weak play in his service game--weak backhands everywhere. And of course it didn't help any that he wasn't making serves either. Facing 0-40, yet again because of a terrible backhand, he was able to save one break point with a decent second serve. Tipsarevic took the break on the following point when Andy came to net and hit just a loose volley--it looked a lot like the Fish match in Cincinnati with him coming to net when he hadn't all match long really. Just to make it worse, Tipsarevic came out with aces for yet another love hold. Things kept going until Andy was down 2-5, serving to stay in the set. Things got interesting really quickly. Andy hits what looks like a clear service winner; then Andy looks over to the line judge. Turns out the line judge called a foot fault on him. Apparently Andy asked which foot the judge saw hit the line, and the line judge says it's his right foot. Andy flips and starts telling the line judge and then the chair ump that it's impossible for his right foot to slide up and catch the line--and he asks the chair ump if he's ever seen Andy foot fault with his right foot in his career. They go back and forth for a while, Andy goes back to the backline and double faults--which leads to him going down 0-40 aka set point for Tipsarevic. Andy continues to fight with the judge and ump, gets fired up and goes on to hold. (They showed a replay of the call, and he did indeed foot fault, but it was with his left foot.) While waiting for Tipsarevic to get up to serve in the next game, Andy continues the arguing--typical Andy style--and starts pumping himself up with a "c'mon" and some help from the crowd. He gets to 30-all, but Tipsarevic gets to set point again; Andy saved that and gets to deuce, but Tipsarevic gets back to set point and takes when Andy lets a backhand go down the line. Everyone thought it went long, but it caught the line, and suddenly Andy's down two-sets-to-one. It looked like the whole fiasco might wake him up and turn around the match, but it didn't happen. But it got the crowd into things for the first time all night. And the tournament director ended up pulling that line judge out after the set.
And in case things weren't odd enough for Andy's serve tonight, he gets called for yet another foot fault early in the first game of the fourth set--by the new line judge. Andy looks over to the new judge, asks which foot again, and the line judge says it was his left foot. Andy gives a thumbs up, wins the point on his second serve, and he goes on to hold. What makes this better is that they went back to replay on ESPN2, and he definitely did not foot fault this time around. To keep this going, the McEnroe brothers--who were doing the commenting for the match--said they thought Andy foot faulted on the final point of that game; turns out Andy did foot fault there but wasn't called for it. So at least things balanced out, but it was still all over the place. Tipsarevic goes on to hold before Andy gets a rare love-hold (and how weird is it that a love hold for Andy is rare in a match?). Things went on serve with pretty little drama until 3-all with Andy serving. He was called for yet another foot fault (The replay confirmed it as a legitimate fault.) but after the second serve for that point, they were all over the place at net, and Andy ended up missing what would have been a great shot up the line after Tipsarevic clipped the tape and managed to get the ball over to Andy's side of the net--lots of luck involved there. That sent things to 15-30, but Andy hit a couple winners for game point and was able to hold. Andy seemed to have regained a bit of energy by this point in the match, but he showed that he's still not 100 percent at 5-4 with Tipsarevic serving to stay in the set; he couldn't get after points, was breathing harder than normal and wasn't putting away balls that he normally would. It started to look more like the third set. Eventually, they both held, forcing Tipsarevic to serve for a breaker--which is where they went. It started on serve until Andy missed a ball just an inch long to give Tipsarevic the minibreak at 2-3. Tipsarevic held his service points, and then Andy held his two points to get to 4-5. Andy started pumping himself up, the crowd stood up and did what they could to keep Andy energized, knowing that Tipsarevic had the match essentially on his racquet. Unfortunately, Andy missed the return into the net to give Tipsarevic double match point, and Andy couldn't save it.
So this marks twice now that Tipsarevic has taken Andy out in the second round of a major in a fourth-set tiebreak (Wimbledon in 2008 being the last time). Andy let his guard down or decided to conserve energy way too early in the match or whatever...all that matters is he's out ridiculously early in a Slam again.
I think what makes this feel worse is that as Andy was leaving the court, he tossed all four of his racquets into the crowd. He looked completely defeated and just frustrated. I think Andy's got a tough end to the year coming. Things looked so promising after Miami...and now everything has fallen apart. Three straight Majors with Andy going out in the second or third round...unheard of.
So let the questions begin...
I'm also waiting for the US Open website to get his interview online; it's still not there, which doesn't surprise him because they didn't have his first-round interview up by Tuesday morning when I checked it. But I'll definitely post it when I see it's there--unless someone can get to it before I can.
*Posted in andyroddick on Sept. 1, 2010. Original entry found here.