The 2003 U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick advanced to second-round play by beating 21-year-old Rhyne Williams in straight sets, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium Tuesday. It was Williams’ Grand Slam debut.
Roddick overpowered his young opponent with blistering and very accurate serves, hitting 20 aces in three sets. Williams fought hard but hit too many errors, 23 and only 30 winners.
Williams had his opponent in trouble only once in the match. Halfway through the third set, Roddick faced three break points. The threat seemed to invigorate him; he responded with a pair of aces book-ending a pair of forehand winners. Roddick then ended the match with another ace, fittingly.
Roddick, two days shy of his 30th birthday, praised Williams, who got a wild card into qualifying and then won three matches to reach the first round. “It didn’t look pretty but we were battling out here,” he told ESPN.
When asked about a birthday wish, he replied, “I just want to be around for next week—that’s all for my birthday. Then we'll renegotiate.”
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