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Roddick’s only major championship came at the 2003 U.S. Open. In trying to add a second, he recently tweaked his diet, says he’s in the best shape of his career and has tinkered with his game since hiring Stefanki for this season, working on returns, volleying and backhands.
Those elements helped against Hewitt, who gutted things out Wednesday despite a bothersome left thigh.
Roddick started close to perfectly, making one unforced error in the opening set. He won 20 of 26 points on his serve in that set, and also received a bit of a gift from Hewitt, who double-faulted twice in a row to get broken in the second game.
But in the match’s first tiebreaker, Roddick blew a 5-2 lead, then three set points. He also wasted a 2-0 lead in the fourth set.
“A lot of chances to hang his head,” Stefanki noted. “He didn’t.”
Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, Roddick saved one break point with a 126 mph ace, and another thanks to what he called “probably the best half-volley I’ve ever hit in my life.” At 4-all, Roddick fended off three game points for Hewitt, then converted a break point with a forehand passing shot.
“We were giving everything we had out there,” Hewitt said.
Roddick just had a little more in his game than he used to. Now he’ll see if it will be enough against Murray, who leads their head-to-head series 6-2.
Coming off the court after overwhelming Ferrero, Murray was asked whether he would prefer to play Roddick or Hewitt, whose quarterfinal was barely under way.
“I’d just like them to have a long match,” Murray said with a snicker, “so they’re a little bit tired for the semis.”
He got his wish.
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