It isn't often that power-serving Andy Roddick is broken three times in a single set, and probably less frequent that he recovers from such a blow to the foundation of his game to win the match. But that's just what he did in his battle with Radek Stepanek in the second round of the Swiss Indoors today. Overcoming some fine returning by Stepanek (he won 44 percent—7 of 16—of Roddick's first-serve points in the first set), Roddick surged back to win, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
It was an odd match—a not unfamiliar theme when the 32-year old Stepanek is involved. He can play lights out tennis for long periods, only to take his eyes off the proverbial prize at a critical moment. He can dazzle one moment, fizzle the next. Impulsive, instinctive, gifted with excellent hands and feel, only a self-sabotaging streak has prevented him from attaining greater success.
Those qualities were in abundant display against Roddick, although the American (seeded seventh in Basel) certainly played a large role in nudging Stepanek toward the brink and ultimately helping him step off. Roddick had just 10 aces in this three-setter, only two more than Stepanek. Roddick posted a solid 67 percent first-serve conversion percentage, while Stepanek managed just 50 percent. That service inconsistency enabled Roddick to do some damage with his groundstrokes—something you can't always count on. Roddick won just 19 percent of Stepanek's first-serve points, but he collected 62 percent of the points when Stepanek hit second serves.
Roddick must feel happy with the way he defended today, as well as with the efficiency and pace of his groundstrokes. At times, his forehand looked like the shot that pundits have been virtually begging him to produce, or at least attempt—sharp, crisp, penetrating, weapon-like. . .
Despite his serving woes, Stepanek managed that somewhat rare feat—he won a game (the last one of the first set) by serving four aces, although a double fault in between somewhat spoiled the feat. (Wouldn't you also have gone for the big boomer on your second serve when three aces already brought you to 40-0?) Somehow, that was a characteristic Stepanek moment.
The second set rolled out with both men playing solid, aggressive tennis. Neither man had even a sniff of a break until Stepanek served to even the set at 4-all. He fell behind 15-30, and attacked the net behind an excellent approach, only to see Roddick send a terrific forehand pass whizzing by along the sideline. Although Stepanek fought off the subsequent break point, he made an unforced backhand volley error on the second one to give Roddick the critical break. Roddick served out the set.
In the decider, the two men lost a grand total of just four points on the serve through four games. But in the fifth game, Stepanek's serve mysteriously fell apart. He started with a double fault and the points fell like a series of dominos, the last one an inside-out forehand error.
Roddick applied the screws in the next game, ratcheting up the pace. He held, and topped off a good day with an unexpected, match-ending break two games later—after Stepanek had leaped out to a 40-0 lead that he could not hold.
You know how it is with Stepanek—always an adventure.
—Pete Bodo