Andy Roddick can’t handle magical Dudi Sela

Defeat: Andy Roddick
13 April 2012

Four-time Queen's winner Andy Roddick crashed out of the AEGON Championships today, losing 6-4, 7-6 to Israel's Dudi Sela.

Sela, playing some inspired tennis, never allowed Roddick to settle on the centre court that has given the American so much success and fittingly the 14th seed clinched victory with a spectacular diving back-hand volley at the net.

Roddick came into Queen's needing court time after an early exit at the French Open in Paris having opted for a shorter clay-court season while he celebrated his wedding anniversary.

Now, he has to head early to the Wimbledon courts for practice sessions knowing that his famed serve is not enough to keep him in tournaments or replicate the run that took him all the way to last year's final, where he lost to Roger Federer.

Roddick had produced brilliant tennis to defeat Britain's Andy Murray in the semi-finals before earning that crack at Federer in the Wimbledon final but will have to find improved confidence and ground stroke power to have any hope of a good run this year.

World No63 Sela was well worth his win, delighting the packed centre court crowd with his improvised shot making and refusal to be intimidated by Roddick's big serve.

The fourth seed had won their only previous meeting in Beijing in 2008 and appeared too experienced for Sela, who was supposed to provide Roddick with a 30th career win at Queen's.

However, with a mixture of well placed top spin forehands and clever shot making — including one where he hit the ball between his legs — Sela took the first set confidently and then saved a set point.

He could even afford to fire a wild backhand wide to waste a first match point before accepting his second with that volley to end a pulsating tie break.

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