Rematch

US Open 2003. Juan Carlos Ferrero had scored a major upset over crowd favorite Andre Agassi, beating him in the semifinal. Things were looking up: he was world #1 and he had made it to the US Open final, his second Grand Slam final of the year after winning the French Open. And then he ran into a wall of exhaustion... and Andy Roddick.

Cincinnati Masters 2005. After tumbling out of the top ten last year due to illness and injury, Ferrero is now ranked #24. Roddick meanwhile had ended 2003 as #1 but had slid down to #2 in 2004 and now #5 at this point in 2005. For only the second time in their careers, Ferrero and Roddick played each other, but the results were the same: Roddick over Ferrero (6-7,7-6,6-2).

The gameplay this time, however, was markedly different. Ferrero was the better player over the course of one and a half sets, taking the first set in a tiebreaker. Ferrero had a golden opportunity to upset Roddick, who's been vulnerable all this year. Roddick meanwhile had to prove that he's still a top contender and a formidable opponent. With both of them at full health this time, this second round match was more closely fought than their US Open final.

Ultimately, it was Roddick's confidence that made the difference as he took the second set tiebreaker and steamrolled Ferrero in the deciding set.

posted by Noelle De Guzman @ 9:52 AM