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With a packed house of 23,000+ in attendance, both red, white, and blue patriotic players took to center stage – Arthur Ashe Stadium- for a 9:30pm start. Andy bullied the ball tonight right off Santoro’s racquet and broke his opening service game. At 1-0, Andy was serving for the game and a 147 ace down the T guaranteed its hold to the server. The Frenchman got on board the game after at 2-1. From baseline-to-baseline rallies to tricky volleys, both players added magic to tonight’s match, though Andy’s firepower- especially his cross-court passing shots- was too much to handle. Break point #2 came around and our man in head-to-toe black Lacoste clinched it. At 4-1, with the lead sealed for the set, both players held their games to end the 26 minute set at 6-2.

Warmed up and up a set, Andy pulled a few yellow bullets out of his black cap, turned them into feathers, and dropped them right onto Santoro’s side, breaking the Frenchman’s opening service game yet again. At 4-2, the second set started looking like the first as Andy broke the 35-year-old veteran for the fourth time after he sent a rally long. The number one American went on to hold, take the set 6-2, and lead two sets to love.

Deja vu three-fold began as Andy sent soaring returns back off Santoro’s serves, and Andy’s third opening opportunity to break came, this time with double break points, and landed right into his back pocket with the other two. Now, stop- rewind to first set- repeat, and that’s how Andy closed out the third set games, took the final set, and the match. Piling 15 aces, 41 winners to 14 unforced errors, and a 147 ace up in 87 minutes of play earned Andy his 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 victory over one of tennis’ true entertainers.

Recap: AndyRoddick.com

According to the official US Open website, Andy is scheduled to play Fabrice Santoro (FRA) for a 7PM start (USA time).

Tennis Magazine - July 2008 Scans

Tennis Magazine - September 2008 Scans

The September issue features a four page spread all about Andy and the year he has had. It features live action digitals and some photos from his childhood in there as well as being a great read for any fan. Click the links to be taken to the specific sets. I’ll be adding Andy’s spread in ‘Outside’ magazine (July 2008) to the site shortly!

Q. Special place, I would think, for an American player to be back in the US Open playing in New York. Your thoughts on this particular Grand Slam?

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, it’s obviously the one if you’re an American you look forward to the most every year. There’s had also a certain energy unlike any other tournament. It’s probably not only a tennis tournament but an event, things like today going on outside. The things here going on here. It is a special place for me.

Q. Having been a champion here, Roger was talking about the fact that while he’s been not getting the results this year as he has in the past, but having the experience of, you know, getting it done, is always psychologically a big help coming in. Is it for you?

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, it was a little while ago when I won, so you’d like to think it’s still relevant, but who knows.

I think the biggest thing about New York is playing a night session. It’s a different animal than any other tournament. I feel comfortable in the fact that I’ve been in most situations here at this tournament, good and bad.

So I’d like to think I’m ready for it.

Q. How are you? How do you feel you’re playing right now?

ANDY RODDICK: Getting better. I’ve actual enjoyed having a practice week that’s been healthy. I’ve kind of been going from not playing and then jumping straight into tournaments, which isn’t ideal, you know, but you’ve got to kind of play the hand you’re dealt.

So it’s been a good week, and, you know, hopefully I’ll be there when the final comes around.

Q. You said you’ve been having some training. How about the two weeks where you weren’t playing in the US Open Tour instead of playing Beijing, would that help you here where you had some good results?

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I played ?? I probably played average in those two events, but it definitely helped me get back into match shape, you know. I don’t feel like I was in great shape going into LA. I’d been off for a little while.

And even just playing points in the rhythm of a match, I think that helped.

Q. How does your shoulder feel now?

ANDY RODDICK: It feels fine. Yeah, it’s good. Read more… »

Celebrating Lacoste’s 75 Anniversary at Macy’s (Click to view)

9th Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis (Click to view)

The second event was the 9th Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis event, where Andy donned a cooking apron and got to work in the ‘kitchen’. He also held his own on the red carpet for the event. Click the above links to access each set of candids from each event.

I apologise for the lack of updates and results concerning Andy at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic tournament!

Not to fear, I have over 50 images from Andy’s participation in the tournament to add to the gallery… so keep a look out for them tomorrow!

“I really enjoy it here,� Andy noted after the match as he now moves on to Round 2 after defeating Paraguay’s Ramon Delgado 6-3, 7-6(4). Though both sets boasted Andy earning the first break, Delgado getting one back, then Andy taking the lead, the second kept you on the edge of your seat until the last point.

Andy opened with a 139 mph serve. From the get-go, he was unleashing his forehand. Delgado quickly picked up on it and played mostly to his backhand. Andy’s first double fault gave away the first break, 2-1, though Andy immediately broke back and broke Delgado’s next two service games to serve. Holding one more game a piece, Andy served out the set. In 37 minutes, Andy seemed to be smooth sailing into the second.

“It was a mental error, I played sloppy after the break,� Andy admitted to losing two match points. His serving weapon earning him 16 aces turned into his brick wall when he double faulted at 5-4 with the match on the line. Delgado used Andy’s frustration to his advantage, and capitalized by breaking back to even the score at 5-all. Andy, however, was not going quietly into the warm DC night and cranked it up a notch to hold to 6 all for the all-powerful tie-breaker. Not only did Andy’s first serves “click� again, but so did his offense and they earned him two match points on his racquet. And just like that, “click� – a 137mph lightening ace down the T to Delgado’s backhand slammed into the back wall to chime that the Paraguayan’s time is up.

“I’m going to bear down mentally from here on out.� Andy now moves into the second round to face Eduardo Schwank of Argentina on Thursday in Washington D.C. Stay tuned to AR.com for a look at his next opponent and what’s still to come. Go Andy!

Source: Andy Roddick.com

View live action photos from the match (Click to view)

It took Andy a while to get into a groove and find a way to push the Argentine, and del Potro immediately capitalized on that. Andy struggled to hold serve and was only able to hold off one break point of the four in the set. After getting on the board at 1-4, a medical timeout was called as Andy had the trainer stretch out his lower back. This gave our American Firepower a chance to regain his composure and refeul in the shade, though del Potro still managed to run away with the set.

Andy started figuring out the 19-year-old’s game plan and began to fight back. Serve and volleying cut off del Potro’s attack down the middle of the court and forced him to make errors, which kept him far away from breaking Andy again. Though his serve and flat, ferocious forehand were lightening quick today, Andy pushed del Potro to a tie-break.

In his element, under pressure and in crunch time, Andy pulled out all the stops to start the ‘breaker right. With a winner and an ace, Andy got the crowd on his side and took the lead 2-1, though that was the last time he’d get on the board for the final. Del Potro held serve and then earned the mini break when Andy’s cross court backhand landed just outside the sideline. A volley war was then won by the 6’6� soon-to-be champ to lead 5-2 and went on to serve out the match, 6-7(2).

“I was really happy to make it to the finals… even if I did get my butt kicked,� Andy joked with the media in his press conference. Now’s it’s onward and upward, or rather eastward as Andy packs up and heads to Washington D.C. to defend his title at the Legg Mason Classic.

Recap Source: Andy Roddick.com