American Andy Roddick said he was itching to reverse years of pain by knocking world number one Roger Federer out of the Masters Cup on Friday.
SHANGHAI: American Andy Roddick said he was itching to reverse years of pain by knocking world number one Roger Federer out of the Masters Cup on Friday.
The fifth-ranked Roddick, already through to the semi-finals, faces an unusually vulnerable Federer who has suffered three defeats in the past four weeks, his worst run since 2003. "There's no reason for me to be nervous. I can go out there and let it fly," said Roddick, who pasted Fernando Gonzalez 6-1, 6-4 late on Wednesday.
"The way I see it on Friday night, I can just go out there and play and go for my shots and play aggressive and try to knock him out." "I'm sure I'll have about seven other guys cheering for me to do that!"
Defeat for Federer, who lost to Gonzalez earlier, would send the Swiss tumbling out in the group stage for the first time in six appearances. Until this week the triple Masters Cup champion had only lost twice at the year-end showpiece, in the 2002 semis and in a marathon final two years ago.
Among his victories was a demoralising three-sets win last year over Roddick, who took the first set in a furious onslaught only to be edged 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4. The Texan has beaten Federer only once in 15 meetings, at Montreal in 2003, losing three Grand Slam finals along the way. But Roddick, who will contest the Davis Cup final with Russia late this month, appears fresh after a break with injury problems while Federer is yet to hit top speed.
"I'm pretty eager. I really geared my fall schedule towards the Davis Cup final and kind of made it known that that was going to be my priority," Roddick said. "So maybe I'm a little bit more eager here, especially knowing I have another two or three weeks after this that is still very important to me."
Roddick, 25, beat Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in his opening match. He is making his fourth Masters Cup appearance after reaching the 2003 and 2004 semis and withdrawing in 2005 with a back injury.
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