Facing a Ghost of Himself, Roddick Proves the Victor

active_tennis — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:41:38 GMT

Andy Roddick and Ernest Golbis have a lot in common.

They share the same birthday, Aug. 30, they both have a big serve and a big forehand. They both wanted to win their second round match at the U.S. Open on Friday night.

The difference being Roddick turned 26 on Saturday, Golbis 20.

After losing the first set, 6-3, in under 30 minutes, and slamming his racket into the ground half way through the second, it appeared Roddick was well on his way to ceding his crown to the next generation of big-serve tennis.

Or maybe the release of aggression was just what he needed to wake him up to the calling. Holding off Golbis' charge toward a two-set lead, Roddick reversed his fortunes in the second half of the set, breaking Golbis' serve twice to take the set and level the playing field.

It's a classic reversal of fortune that is characteristic of champions: coming back when a set down to summon the mental fortitude to overcome.

After failing to convert on two opportunities, Roddick found himself in the fourth set receiving serve for the match. In a climatic finish with Golbis putting a forehand into the net, Roddick clinched a hard-fought win, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-5.

At 1:34 a.m. New York time, Andy Roddick proved to the world, and probably himself, that this old pro was not ready for retirement.

(Photo: AP/Elise Amendola)

Blog Posts From 2008 US Open Tagged With golbis

Facing a Ghost of Himself, Roddick Proves the Victor