TMS Cincinnati

[Stille]

Die Roddick...

-time champion Andy Roddick failed to hold onto a set and break lead in his first-round match Monday night at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, falling to Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-1.

Roddick pulled ahead a break 3-2 in the second set, but failed to maintain the advantage as he double-faulted to hand the break back to Kohlschreiber three games later. He continued to struggle with his service game, setting up set point for the German with two straight double-faults.

The American had his share of chances to break Kohlschreiber in the first game of the decisive set, but was unable to capitalise. After double-faulting to go down 30/40 in the following game, Roddick - who had received a warning earlier in the match - whacked the ball into the stands and was given a point penalty, handing the game to Kohlschreiber. The German built up a 5-0 lead before closing out the victory on serve.

“I started to play maybe a little bit better, more free. I think I almost broke him to love or 15, so it was a very good break,” said Kohlschreiber of the turning point in the second set. “Basically I was back in the match. Then maybe he struggled a little bit more. Same thing the next break, that I guessed four times the right side, played a solid return, he had to come in, and I played some good passing shots. Turned the match around.”

World No. 47 Kohlschreiber, who next plays Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, reached the Cincinnati quarter-finals in 2008.

Roddick won the Cincinnati title in 2003 and ‘06, and was also a finalist in ‘05. The World No. 15 was making his first main draw appearance since a third-round exit at Wimbledon (l. to Lopez), and now heads to North Carolina for the inaugural Winston-Salem Open.

“For two sets tonight I actually hit the ball well considering. I hit the ball a lot better than I thought I would, if I'm being totally candid,” said Roddick, who had been hampered by an abdominal injury in recent weeks. “I probably will wake up tomorrow morning feeling a little bit better about where I'm at than I did when I woke up this morning. I'm not that concerned about New York right now.

“I got to get to Winston Salem and try to get a couple matches. That's it. For me it's silly to think about New York yet. Obviously if I go and win Winston Salem then it's a different ballgame, or final of Winston Salem it's a different ballgame. So a lot can change in a matter of two weeks.”