2008 COUNTRYWIDE CLASSIC AUGUST 4 - 10, 2008, UCLA CAMPUS, LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA - Day 4
Tournament Coverage
RODDICK SCHOOLS VEMIC AT THE COUNTRYWIDE CLASSIC
By Steve Pratt
Andy Roddick never cared much for school, so when someone asked him Thursday night at the Countrywide Classic what he thought of UCLA, his answer was predictable.
“I was never one for going to too many classes so I’m good being here on these terms,” said Roddick, after dispatching Dusan Vemic of Serbia, 6-2, 6-2, in a second-round match Thursday night in front of a full house at the Countrywide Classic event.
Roddick advances on to face Marc Gicquel of France in the quarterfinals in the evening match Friday.
The Countrywide Classic quarterfinals must have seemed a world away in May to Amer Delic, who won the Classic $50,000 USTA Challenger in Carson after losing ranking points because of a wrist surgery.
On Thursday, Delic beat former world No. 1 and No. 7 seeded Carlos Moya, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5) in a match that lasted two hours and 18 minutes. Delic, currently No. 137 in the ATP Rankings, will be playing in his second quarterfinal of the season. He had an appearance in that round at Las Vegas earlier this year.
He may just be a teenager still, but Argentine player Juan Martin del Potro has impressed the local fans early, continuing his fine form in his first appearance since clinching back-to-back ATP titles, defeating Italian qualifier Andrea Stoppini 6-4, 6-2.
del Porto won his 11th straight match and advances to his fifth quarterfinal this season. He is currently ranked a career-high No. 24 after winning his first two career ATP titles in consecutive weeks at Stuttgart (d. Gasquet) and Kitzbuhel (d. Melzer) last month.
Frenchman Gicquel eliminated 19-year-old American Donald Young from the tournament, 6-3, 6-3. Young had upset two-time champion Tommy Haas in his opening-round match.
For questions or comments email Steve at steve@tennisnews.com
RESULTS – THURSDAY, AUGUST 07, 2008
SINGLES SECOND ROUND
(1) Andy Roddick (USA) d (LL) Dusan Vemic (SRB) 6-2 6-2
(3) Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) d Andrea Stoppini (ITA) 6-4 6-2
(Q) Amer Delic (USA) d (7) Carlos Moya (ESP) 6-2 6-7(5) 7-6(5)
Marc Gicquel (FRA) d Donald Young (USA) 6-3 6-3
DOUBLES FIRST ROUND
Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) / Marat Safin (RUS) d James Cerretani (USA) / John Isner (USA) 7-5 6-4
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) / Fabio Fognini (ITA) d Feliciano Lopez (ESP) / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 7-6(4) 7-6(2)
LEGENDS SEMIFINAL ROUND
Jim Courier d Aaron Krickstein 6-4 6-4
John McEnroe d Mikael Pernfors 6-3 7-6(4)
Andy Roddick – USA
