FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – The 20th seed Andy Roddick postponed his retirement by advancing to the fourth round of the US Open with a 7-5, 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4 win over Italy’s Fabio Fognini on Sunday.
“I am trying to keep all of my emotions together. All the support I have received over the past few days has been truly humbling,” said Roddick.
“It was a pretty physical match. You know, we had some ‑‑ we were moving it around a little bit. But, no, I mean, I don’t go in expecting anything. You go in, you just try to play your game, and sometimes it goes like the other night and sometimes, you know, you kind of ‑‑ got away from me a little bit and I had to get it back in the fourth set. That’s just the way it goes sometimes. It was pretty physical out there. I have the rest of tonight, all day tomorrow, and I have a feeling they might give me some time on Tuesday, as well.â€
2003 US Open winner Roddick, who announced his retirement once the tournament is over, will play for a spot in the quarterfinals against 2009 winner Juan Martin Del Potro, the seventh seed from Argentina.
Roddick spoke about his match-up with Del Potro: “We’ve had really close matches. I was 0‑3 against him. I beat him the last time we played. I think of the 0‑3, two of them I had match points in. We played a bunch in 2009, in that summer. I think we played back‑to‑back weeks. You know, he’s a tough matchup for anybody because he hits such a big ball. I’m going to have to serve well, kind of try to rush him a little bit. When he gets into a groove and has time, he’ll put a hurt on the ball.â€
Del Potro defeated 63rd ranked countryman Leonardo Mayer 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(9) in a three-hour 20-minute marathon.
“I play good match. Is not easy when you play with friends or players from Argentina, but the match was okay. I have many match points, but he made big serves and he play really, really well until the last point,” said Del Potro.
“This is my best tournament. All of my biggest memories are here.”
As for the match with Roddick: â€I will prepare like always. I know this is special, this day, for him, but I’m doing my job. I will trying to be focused on my match and doing my things, my shots. The match is going to be very tough. But, anyway, if I play in high level, will be tough for both players.
“Big atmosphere. The crowd loves Andy here and they have respect to me, so will be a fantastic show to the players and to the fans also.
“I don’t know if all crowd will be with him. But, anyway, I like to play in these kind of matches. Is nice for me. But I will like to win and I will try to do my best tennis.â€