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4/3/10 11:30 PM | Kelli DeMario
Sixth seed Andy Roddick is set to face 16th seed Tomas Berdych for the top prize in Miami Sunday afternoon, as the players contest the Sony Ericsson Open championship.
Andy Roddick holds a 5-2 lifetime advantage over Tomas Berdych heading into Sunday’s final, having taken the pair’s last three consecutive matches. The World No. 8 has earned two hard-court victories against his World No. 20 opponent in 2010, including a come-from-behind semifinal win in Brisbane. Roddick took out Berdych in San Jose in February, pocketing 12 of 12 service games en route to a 7-6(5), 7-6(5) success.
The 27-year-old Austin native enters into his second consecutive Masters 1000 final on Sunday. Roddick reached the same stage in Indian Wells, where he lost a tight straight-sets encounter to veteran former World No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic, 6-7(3), 6-7(5). The American, through to his third final of the season, looks for a second championship in 2010, adding to a title-winning run in Brisbane (def. Stepanek).
Roddick extended his record to 25-4 this week, posting early-round wins over Igor Andreev, Sergiy Stakhovsky, Benjamin Becker and Nicolas Almagro, all in straight sets. The American rallied from a set down in the semifinal, upending World No. 4 Rafael Nadal on Friday, 4-6, 3-6, 3-6.
Roddick, who captured the Miami title in 2004, stands to collect ATP World Tour title No. 29 with a win on Sunday. He aims to secure his first Masters shield since the 2006 event in Cincinnati (def. Ferrero), raising his career tally to five.
Sixteenth seed Tomas Berdych, through to his first championship match in 2010, attempts to snag ATP World Tour title No. 6 on Sunday. The Czech aims to collect his first Masters shield since 2005, where he downed Ivan Ljubicic in five sets.
Berdych is 17-6 for the year, bolstered by early-week victories over Thiemo De Bakker and Horacio Zeballos. The 24-year-old snapped an eight-match losing streak to World No. 1 Roger Federer in the round of 16, upsetting the two-time former Sony Ericsson Open winner in three sets, 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(6). Berdych rallied to oust 10th seed Fernando Verdasco in the quarterfinal, then followed with a routine semifinal win against 5th seed Robin Soderling, 6-2, 6-2.
Prediction: Roddick may prove to be too consistent for Berdych, who hasn’t been in a big title match for years. The Czech has been on a roll this week, however, and if his forehand is working, the American may be in for a long afternoon. Berdych in three sets.
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final picks - http://www.tennistalk.com/en/blog/Ricky_Dimon/20100404/Sony_Ericsson_O pen_final_picks_-_Berdych_vs._Roddick
RickyDimon , 4/4/10 2:34 AM
c'mon berdych!!! do it in two sets!!!!!!!!!!
homos , 4/4/10 4:00 AM
my prediction: roddick in 3. 4-6 7-6 7-6. As long as roddick serves well, he will win his 5th masters shield.
tj600 , 4/4/10 8:06 AM
if Roddick played the same way as in the last two sets against Nadal being agressive and smart that would give him the win specially if his serve could be greater,solid performence in the last two masters i hope he can win this one
comon Andy do it man
tennislover , 4/4/10 12:46 PM
If Tomas plays like he has played against Sod... Rod has same chance as GolumMuzza to find boyfriend...0%
zare , 4/4/10 2:30 PM
This should be a great final, better than the women's beat up yesterday. There's not much to choose between A-Rod and Berdy and the serve will be the key. Both players are playing a smart game but I'll give Roddick the edge if he keeps his head.
AceIt , 4/4/10 3:40 PM
Prediction? Pain.
SenorPlaid , 4/4/10 3:57 PM
I would like Roddick to win but I think the match is in Berdych's hand, If he plays well he will win otherwise Roddick wins.
vmm , 4/4/10 4:43 PM
Dont mind who wins but I believe it will be Berdych especially if Roddicks serve is not on.
TopDog , 4/4/10 5:05 PM
I think I'll give a slight edge to Berdych. I've never seen Berdych played so well - his movement around the court, his forehand, his gets, his volleys and most importantly his mindset (self belief, never gives up) - I'm truly impressed by Berdych this tournament. Just when I thought he would fold against Verdasco when he was one set down, he came back and won the next two sets. It helps him physically that he has a relatively easy and short match against Soderling. Roddick would have to dig deep if he were to beat this on-fire Berdych. I think most likely the match will go the distance, as I know Roddick will fight all the way. I do like Roddick for his fighting spirit, his intelligent brain and his gutsy play. Whoever wins will certainly be the deserved winner. All the best to the two of you! Please give us a good match.
luckystar , 4/4/10 6:34 PM
If Tomas plays like he has played against federer... Rod has same chance as tennistalk to find a post from zare which has no insults...0%.
Dont worry about my private life zare, i have no troubles like yu frustrated nadal fans seem to have.. doting on a neanderthal just because you can find no better. Anyway in most college it is a trend that the fat loser girls and the smoked out wierdo guys are big nadal fans. That is just staying in character so cant blame them also.
GoMuzza , 4/4/10 7:15 PM
Hiya! First set to Andy! Go go go!
FEDistheGOAT , 4/4/10 8:13 PM
if roddick wins, tennis is dead.
attackingtennisrulez, 4/3/10 4:37 AM
Tennis: 1873-2010 RIP
SenorPlaid , 4/4/10 8:56 PM
YAY!! AR got it!
great win over rafa, cleverly done; and knocks down poor tomas.
just had to say it cos so many picked the bird on TT. no that i don't like berdych but couldn't have stood it if AR lost back to back finals- IW and Miami.
zoey234 , 4/4/10 8:57 PM
yeayyyyyyyy Andy!! Congrats.. I'm very proud of you.. In your face berdych!! hahaha..
GoldenRose , 4/4/10 9:17 PM
Wow. Congrats to Roddick for the win. Well played match by Roddick. Berdych's first serves failed him today, anyway a good start for Berdych this year, hope he can build from here n be better in the coming days n years. He'll move up to 15 now n Roddick up to no. 7, well done both of u.
luckystar , 4/4/10 9:18 PM
@Sp, i thought tennis was a royal sport from around the 15th century.. i remember i had read a novel by Madame La Fayette in which a ennis match was described in which king henry is playing like a genius and anne was much enamoured by it.. Sorry for the off-topic post, but i remember being surprised then to find tennis playing a part in a historical novel..
FEDistheGOAT , 4/4/10 9:37 PM
FITG, you might be right. I just grabbed the first number I could. Shudda done better than that ... Actually the "modern game" started in 1873. Either way, tennis is dead now anyway, right? RIGHT?
Anyway, Berdych had a heckuva run. I guess in the end it was too much to ask him to beat FOUR top 10 guys in the same tournament, as he would have if he won today.
SenorPlaid , 4/4/10 10:14 PM
I really felt for Berdych. I really thought he would pull it off. Oh well, fantastic run. Roddick played like a champ. He deserves the championship, he deserves the win. Congrats to Roddick fans.
sky , 4/4/10 10:40 PM
Tomas Berdych
Andy Roddick
Sony Ericsson Open
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Berdych is my pick too, just love his sonic fh too much.
rfzr , 4/4/10 1:32 AM