News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Sports » Roddick, Coria surge through

Roddick, Coria surge through

January 22, 2005 10:50 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Andy Roddick  and Guillermo Coria scored easy wins at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, on Saturday to progress into the fourth round of the Australian Open.

Roddick bulldozed his way, firing 22 aces, past Austria's Jurgen Melzer on his way to a 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 win while Coria continued Argentina's good showing at the Open when he crushed former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.

The American needed only 95 minutes on Rod Laver Arena centre court to dismiss 32nd seed Melzer, who had reached the third round in Melbourne for the second successive year but has never progressed further in a Grand Slam event.

Left-handed Melzer was unable to break Roddick's impregnable serve, with the American's fastest serve registered 225 kph (140 mph).

Roddick was also at his powerful best as he dictated the course of the match from the back of the court, forcing Melzer to come in to the net in a bid to break his stranglehold.

The tactic did not pay off for Melzer, who hit 33 unforced errors in a performance which never matched Roddick's high standard.

Melzer's frustration got the better of him in the closing stages of the match.

Serving at 5-5 in the third set and facing break point, the Austrian netted a simple forehand before angrily snatching the ball and slamming it high into the Rod Laver Arena stands, risking a fine.

Roddick reached the semi-finals in Melbourne in 2003 and has an excellent chance to go that far again.

He has made the round of 16 for three years in a row but relinquished his number one ranking after losing to Marat Safin in Melbourne last year.

He faces unseeded Philipp Kohlschreiber in the next round after the German beat French qualifier Jean-Rene Lisnard 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.

CORIA LEADS THE ARGENTINE MARCH

The sixth seed easily overcame Ferrero's challenge on the Australian hard court.

The baseliners got off to a nervous start as they swapped four service breaks in the opening six games on Rod Laver Arena centre court before the 23-year-old Coria gradually began to assert himself against the 31st seeded Spaniard.

Coria grew in confidence against Ferrero, a semi-finalist here last year and 2003 Roland Garros champion, and quickly shut his opponent out in what had been expected to be a long baseline battle.

Last year's French Open runner-up, Coria broke three times in the final set to finish off the match in a little over two hours, matching his best performance in Melbourne.

He now faces a possible meeting with compatriot and ninth seed David Nalbandian, who plays Chilean 23rd seed Fernando Gonzalez in a third round match.

Earlier, 12th seeded Argentine Guillermo Canas joined Coria in the last 16 when he saw off Czech Radek Stepanek in straight sets.

Later in the day, 25th seed Juan Ignacio Chela will bid to join his compatriots in the fourth round when he plays third seed and local hope Lleyton Hewitt.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024