Roddick, Verdasco to duel for San Jose title
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA , FEB 14 - Top seeds Andy Roddick and Fernando Verdasco will duel for the SAP Open ATP title Sunday, but not before each was extended to three sets in the semi-finals.
Roddick rallied to beat seventh-seeded Sam Querrey 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4), although he didn't muster a single break point against his fellow American.
Second-seeded Verdasco, trying to become the first Spaniard to win a title in the San Francisco Bay area since Manuel Santana in 1964, defeated Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
"I was not playing great in the first set but I wasn't missing," Verdasco said. "We were both up and down, and when it came to end of the match I tried to push harder, make good returns and send the ball deep.
"I hit two good forehands and he made a couple of mistakes. He's playing well this year and he's dangerous."
Istomin had beaten two seeded players - fourth-seeded German Tommy Haas and sixth-seeded German Philipp Kohlshreiber - to reach his first career semi-final.
He had reached the third round at the Australian Open.
"I've started the season well and I hope that leads to a good year," said the 23-year-old Istomin, who plays next in Marseille before playing in the Davis Cup. "Every match is an opportunity to improve. I can play with these guys. I can battle with these guys."
Verdasco reached his 10th ATP World Tour final, and his second in the United States. He won his third tour title last August at New Haven.
Roddick emerged with a victory in a shootout that included a combined 53 aces.
"I'm not going to say I wasn't fortunate or lucky," Roddick said. "Sam pretty much outplayed me the entire match. When I'm not hitting the ball as well, I use my serve to get me some points. I figured if I get to the tiebreak in the second set it could turn real quick."
Querrey, a native of nearby San Francisco native, had 32 aces.
"I played well the entire match," Querrey said. "It was just a couple of loose errors in the tiebreaks. I just kind of sprayed a couple."
Roddick takes a seven-match winning streak against Verdasco into the final. He is 9-2 against the Spaniard all-time.
Posted on: 2010-02-14 02:09
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