Roddick Gets Birthday Gift As Blake Survives Tough Late-Night Match

Aug 31, 01:40 AM

Current Headlines: NEW YORK _ Some kids got magicians and clowns for their birthday parties. Andy Roddick got family trips to the U.S. Open. There is no place in the world he preferred to be on Aug. 30, and that remains the case.

Roddick celebrated his 25th birthday Thursday by securing a spot in the third round, although not how he had anticipated. His opponent, Jose Acasuso of Argentina, retired with an injured left knee and Roddick leading 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. It was the fourth time Roddick played on his birthday at the U.S. Open, and he has a 3-1 record on the special day.

He went out for dinner with friends and family to celebrate, but one of his best buddies, James Blake, couldn't make it because he was busy winning the first five-set match of his career. Blake outlasted cramping 34-year-old Fabrice Santoro, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, in a thrilling match that ended past midnight EDT.

Blake had been 0-9 in five-setters, and when he hit his winning shot against Santoro, he screamed, `It's about time," and motioned as if taking a monkey off his back. "So many close ones, and finally, it went my way, I got my five-setter," he said.

Santoro, who was the oldest man remaining in the Open, said his goal had been to "give James troubles," which he did, making the sixth-seeded American dig deep. One of their fourth-set rallies went 29 strokes. Blake congratulated Santoro at the net, saying: "You played incredible."

Blake had 83 winners to Santoro's 39, but he made 71 unforced errors to Santoro's 21. "You never know what's coming with Fabrice, and I'm lucky I came out on top."

Roddick likely got back to his hotel in time to watch the end of Blake's match, capping a perfect birthday. He recalled his ninth birthday at the Open, when he watched Jimmy Connors' spectacular run to the semifinals.

"I'd get here for the first match and I wouldn't leave until it was over," Roddick said. "Those are probably my fondest memories, just sneaking into the nosebleed sections. I actually snuck into the players lounge one time and stole a cheesecake."

He no longer has to sneak into the players' lounge. He practically owns the place. He is one of the sport's most popular players, especially at this tournament, and the crowd was thrilled to see him advance.

Acasuso called for a trainer between the second and third sets and had his left knee wrapped. But his movement was clearly inhibited, and Roddick figured Acasuso would not make it to the end of the match, when he saw him motioning to his box after Roddick went up a break in the second set.

"It's unfortunate because this isn't how you want to get through," Roddick said. "But I'm happy to be in the third round and that I have a chance to play again. I was playing a lot better in the second and third sets, and hopefully, I can carry that on to the next round."

American teenager Donald Young had an even easier day than Roddick. His opponent, Frenchman Richard Gasquet, withdrew before their match because of a sore throat and a fever. Young, 18, had never won a Grand Slam match before this week, and he now finds himself in the third round.

"I prefer to win it, but I'll take it," said Young, a wild card who is ranked No. 223. "I was really surprised because I saw him in the locker room, saw him hitting yesterday and the day before. I thought he was OK."

Gasquet said he started feeling sick Tuesday and got worse Wednesday.

"I tried to practice, but I couldn't play," Gasquet said. "I had a fever and that is a big problem. I am really, really disappointed because it's an important tournament for me."

Young's next opponent is fellow lefty Feliciano Lopez, who toiled more than three hours to get past Igor Adreev 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

SHARAPOVA CRUISES

Other than Young, the player who put in the shortest work day Thursday was defending women's champion Maria Sharapova. She probably doesn't even have to launder her red sparkly dress after needing just 51 minutes to roll over Casey Dellacqua of Australia 6-1, 6-0.

Over her first two matches this week, Sharapova has lost a total of two games, had 60 winners to her opponents' five and spent an average of 50 minutes on the court.

"I don't want to give my opponents any chances, and I've got to take mine," Sharapova said. "Just got to do my job and get off the court. It's always special playing night matches. You're treated like entertainers and you go on the court and feel like you have to perform well."

Martina Hingis and Svetlana Kuznetsova also advanced.

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