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Roddick`s antics at issue in US Open dispute
New York, Aug 30: Andy Roddick`s antics to arouse the passions of US Open spectators became the centre of the first major controversy here at the year`s final grand slam tennis tournament.
New York, Aug 30: Andy Roddick's antics to arouse the passions of US Open spectators became the centre of the first major controversy here at the year's final grand slam tennis tournament.
The fourth-seeded American reversed his fortunes in a
fourth-set tie-breaker early this morning during the first
minutes of his 21st birthday to defeat 43rd-ranked Ivan
Ljubicic of Croatia 6-3 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 7-6 (10/8).
Roddick won eight of the last 11 points, including a controversial call on Ljubicic's third match point, to reach the third round, only to be blasted by his rival as an unsportsmanlike jerk that other ATP players despise.
"I'm just telling you the feeling of the guys in the locker room," Ljubicic said. "Every single player said to me, 'Good luck. Kick his ass.'"
"I don't like him. Nobody in the locker room likes his acting on the court. He's a good player. He's going to win a lot of matches. But not because he's like that. It's just we don't like it. Because nobody acts that way. He's the only one."
Ljubicic said Roddick lacks respect for fellow players and has been given a boost beyond his talents because he is able to intimidate linesmen and umpires in US venues, where he plays a large number of his ATP events.
"He doesn't respect the others," Ljubicic said. "In your face or not in your face, doesn't matter. What he's doing is just pumping up the crowd. In the United States he can do it. But everywhere else if he does it, people smile. "
Bureau Report
Roddick won eight of the last 11 points, including a controversial call on Ljubicic's third match point, to reach the third round, only to be blasted by his rival as an unsportsmanlike jerk that other ATP players despise.
"I'm just telling you the feeling of the guys in the locker room," Ljubicic said. "Every single player said to me, 'Good luck. Kick his ass.'"
"I don't like him. Nobody in the locker room likes his acting on the court. He's a good player. He's going to win a lot of matches. But not because he's like that. It's just we don't like it. Because nobody acts that way. He's the only one."
Ljubicic said Roddick lacks respect for fellow players and has been given a boost beyond his talents because he is able to intimidate linesmen and umpires in US venues, where he plays a large number of his ATP events.
"He doesn't respect the others," Ljubicic said. "In your face or not in your face, doesn't matter. What he's doing is just pumping up the crowd. In the United States he can do it. But everywhere else if he does it, people smile. "
Bureau Report