Roddick Wins 1St Title of 2009 in Memphis
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14 Tuesday 24th February, 2009 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships final Bayliss believes Sri Lanka can Roddick wins 1st title still win Test Rex Clementine Pakistani soil in 16 months reporting from Karachi as Australia and India refused to fulfill their com- mitments. While the Trevor Bayliss is of the Australians pulled out last of 2009 in Memphis view that the Sri Lankan year due to security reasons, team can still win the first become the first Czech to win in Memphis India refused to honour their by Teresa M. Walker Test here in Karachi despite since Ivan Lendl in 1991. commitments following the the tourists picking up just Mumbai terror attacks last The American survived a tight match two wickets after bowling 90 year. In between, the MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) - Andy Sunday by breaking Stepanek in the 12th overs on day three. After Sri Champions Trophy sched- Roddick won his first title of 2009 and the game of each set to extend his streak of Lanka made 644 for seven uled to be played in Pakistan 27th of his career Sunday, beating Czech years with at least one title to nine. declared, Pakistan reached last October too was called 296 for three and although Radek Stepanek 7-5, 7-5 in the finals of the Stepanek had won off after Australia, New they still require 149 runs to Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. nine consecutive Zealand, South Africa and avoid the follow on, with cap- Only Roger Federer (57) and Rafael matches but strug- England raised security con- tain Younis Khan unbeaten cerns. Nadal (32) have won more titles among gled with unforced on 149, the hosts seem to be Bayliss, however, said active players. errors. out of danger. there’s nothing to be Roddick got a bit of revenge for los- The world’s Bayliss said on the flat alarmed of about the situa- National Stadium track, Sri ing to Stepanek in the semifinals in San sixth-ranked tion in Pakistan and said the Lanka could still winthe Test Jose last week and improved to 5-1 all- player took team was quite happy with and stressed the need to take time against the man trying to home the playing cricket here. early wickets to put Pakistan $300,000 win- “We come from Colombo under pressure. “There’s and some of the news and ner’s check and only one team that can win television reports that you 500 ranking this Test at this stage and get from Colombo sounds points for the that’s us. We need to play bad. That seems to be the really well and the longer ATP World case with Pakistan, but you they bat for tomorrow a Tour. He have to be here to under- draw becomes likely and our improved to 17 stand the situation. I am plan would be to take early comfortable and happy to be wins against three wickets in the morning,” here.” losses in match play Bayliss told journalists after Ajantha Mendis was play- this year. Of his 27 Brooklyn Decker, girlfriend of Andy Roddick, the third day’s play. ing his first Test match out- titles, 19 have come in On a batsman friendly applauds during the trophy presentation. side Sri Lanka and after his wicket, both teams have put North America, and 26 wicket world record haul down a few catches and this is Roddick’s sec- Roddick, with his fiancee, model Brooklyn on debut against the Indians, according to Bayliss, the sce- ond at Memphis. Decker, cheering him on at courtside, was the focus was on the bowler. nario could have been differ- The spinner had struggled in coming into the final off the longest match ent had the chances been the ODI series against India of the tournament. He needed two hours, 11 taken. “This is a very flat early this month, but on a minutes to beat Lleyton Hewitt compared to wicket and had the teams dead wicket, the bowler, the 57 minutes Stepanek breezed past quali- taken those half chances, the known in many parts of the score wouldn’t have been fier Dudi Sela. world as a mystery spinner, that high. You like to see a Stepanek came in enjoying the best start showed signs of wicket tak- wicket that has more in it to a year in his career with two titles ing ability. where you will have better “I thought he bowled pret- already to his credit and trying to win for cricket with the bowlers ty well. He had a tough the second straight week. He had won nine coming into play, but every series against India and I consecutive matches but started slowly. now and then you come think he learned from that. I Roddick broke him in the second game to across a wicket like this. I am not too sure whether thought all over players gave go up 2-0. Stepanek trailed 3-1 when he that’s due to the pressure he 100 percent and I am happy broke Roddick and then held serve to even was put under by the with that effort.” the first set at 3-3. Indians, but here his line Sri Lanka are the first and length has been better.” They appeared headed toward a team to play a Test series on tiebreaker when Stepanek trailed 30-40 and hit a forehand long to give Roddick the first set. Tied at 4-4 in the second set, Stepanek 26th ITF tennis gets had a chance to break Roddick at 15-40. The American fought back to force deuce, served up one of his eight aces with a 130 mph, underway at SSC before Stepanek hit a forehand wide after a by Revata S. Silva entries of which a higher long rally. number of over 50 are for- Stepanek kept the match entertaining, at The 26th ITF Junior Int’l eign participants this year. one point using his head to knock a ball Tennis Championship began Well recognised junior play- at the Singhalese Sports ers from India, Thailand, back to a ball girl and then hitting a ball Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, over to a ball boy through his legs. Club tennis courts on Monday (22). The tourna- Kazakhstan, Pakistan, When needing to hold serve to force a ment will go on till Feb. 28. Denmark, China and Canada second-set tiebreaker, Stepanek won only The latter part of the sched- are amongst those entries. one point off a forehand Roddick hit long up ule on the opening day on ‘Excell Trading’ and Andy Roddick holds the winner’s trophy after defeating Radek Stepanek in the championship 0-40. Roddick then closed out the title with a Monday was affected due to ‘Bank of Ceylon’ are the match at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships tennis tournament in Memphis, Tenn., forehand passing shot, celebrating by rais- rain, according to the SSC main sponsors of the tour- ney while ‘3G Sports,’ the Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Roddick defeated Stepanek 7-5, 7-5. (AP Photos/Mark Humphrey) ing both arms in the air. tournament organisers. It is the fifth consecutive year country’s agents for ‘Head,’ that the SSC is hosting this is the official ball sponsor. international tennis event. “We are moving ahead, Sri Lanka’s reigning forging many such partner- women’s national champion ships in promoting tennis in Australia draw first Jithmie Jayawickrema, ITF Sri Lanka. This is one such I am concerned about initiative. Combining the world junior rank 480, is heading the girls’ seedings, strengths of ‘Head’ and SSC, while last year’s boys’ seg- we are confident of pro- SA Tour match pelling tennis in Sri Lanka my bowling – Powell ment winner Guyanga to a new platform,” Suriya POTCHEFSTROOM, South field Sunday. Weerasekera, carrying a Ramnaresh Sarwan has bowling,” Powell admitted. present ITF world rank of Bibile, Director, ‘3G Sports’ Africa (AP) - Marcus North North was touted to be warned his West Indies “If I was another player has been quoted saying in a made a strong case for inclu- competing for the No.6 bat- 640, is the boys’ No.3 seed. team-mates not to allow a looking in and seeing some- Dineshkanthan Thangarajah media release on Monday. sion in the Australian team ting spot in the test team with repeat of the Antigua third- one in my shoes, not pick- ITF White Badge umpire for the first test in Andrew McDonald, and on (571) is the No. 2 of the boys’ Test drama - after they ing up wickets, I would feel seeds. Ishara Seneviratne is the Johannesburg, scoring two the statistics at least he won escaped defeat at the hands bad not to be playing. Tournament Referee and half-centuries and claiming that battle. North scored 52 According to the organis- of England by the narrow- “I have a bit of a problem ers, there have been 80 Shalini de Silva is the career-best first-class bowl- not out and 50 not out, while est of margins. with the way I grip the ball; Tournament Directress. ing figures of 6-69 against the McDonald contributed 23 and Man-of-the-match I am working on it, it’s get- South African Board 29 not out, and claimed only Sarwan struck 106 in the ting better, my control is President’s XI on Sunday. one wicket in the match. second innings at the getting better. The match ended in a If North was to be selected Antigua Recreation Ground “Hopefully in Barbados I draw when the captains as a spinning allrounder for as England were left one can keep on working, try- England dominate agreed to halt play half-an- the first Test, the selectors wicket short of levelling ing to get more consistent hour early on the final day.