Roddick's power brings Sanguinetti to his knees
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Your support makes all the difference.Andy Roddick is primed after moving into the second round on Court One with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win against the Italian Davide Sanguinetti, who held a match point against Tim Henmen in the British No 1's opening contest at Queen's Club two weeks ago.
The American fifth seed, who delivered 14 aces, said the court played slower than at Queen's, where he won the Stella Artois Championship, but his serve was not seriously challenged by Sanguinetti until the third set, when the Italian was unable to convert any of three break points for 4-4.
Roddick, aggressive from the start, hit an ace at a moderate 123mph on the first point of the fifth game, and the ball struck a lineswoman in the face. Asked by the players if she was hurt, she gave a stoic shake of the head and continued her job as human radar.
Sanguinetti, who was broken to 15 in the next game, mis-hitting a forehand wide, became increasingly sceptical about the accuracy of some of his opponent's serves. He questioned the umpire about the validity of a 141mph ace (Roddick's fastest of the day) on the third point of the seventh game and was told the ball landed well inside the line. Roddick held to love for 5-2, and then broke to secure the set after 23 minutes, Sanguinetti hitting a forehand long.
Roddick delivered three aces in the opening game of the second set, prompting his opponent to go down on one knee and hold his racket in front of his face for protection.
The Italian was under pressure on his own serve in the second game, recovering from 0-40 and holding with an ace, earning a cheer. None the less, Sanguinetti was broken to love for 2-4, netting a backhand drive, and Roddick went on to serve out the set after 26 minutes.
Although there were some spirited rallies, even a drop-shot here and there, the match was becoming too predictable to sustain the interest. Roddick broke for 3-2 in the third set, driving a forehand winner down the line, and it was not until the eighth game that Sanguinetti's probing produced his first break points of the match. "Aaaagh!" the Italian shouted in frustration as Roddick saved the third, and last, with a 125 mph ace. The American held and broke to win after one hour and 20 minutes.
"It's always difficult getting out of the gates at a tournament," Roddick said. "I started off pretty fast and stayed strong."
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