Andy Roddick Beats El Aynoui in five hours and in five sets…scoreline reads 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4, 21-19 (a total of 83 games). Longest game in Aus Open history…
Roddick wins an epic
Andy Roddick is through to his first ever Grand Slam semi-final after defeating Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui in one of the greatest ever Grand Slam matches, with the American winning the deciding set 21-19 in an unforgettable clash that lasted exactly five hours.
Both combatants hugged at the conclusion and received a lengthy standing ovation from the capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena.
“I’m extremely humbled by this victory,” Roddick told the crowd. “I’m not even thinking about the next match.”
The final set lasted more than two hours and the entire match eclipsed the previous longest ever men’s singles match at the Australian Open since tie-breaks were introduced.
Roddick, the No.9 seed, defeated No.18 seed El Aynaoui, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4, 21-19 (a total of 83 games).
In 1988 - the first year of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park - Frenchman Yannick Noah defeated Roger Smith of the Bahamas 6-7, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 16-14 (a total of 73 games).
In a remarkable final set, the first opportunity for El Aynaoui emerged in the 10th game when the Moroccan earnt a match point on Roddick’s serve. The young American saved the match with a ripping cross-court forehand.
Both players then held serve until Roddick got a vital breakthrough in the 21st game. But just as it seemed the young American was ready to close out the match 12-10, the Moroccan rallied and broke back straight away.
It then took until 19-19 - with both players tiring but still managing to pull off some remarkable shots - before Roddick got the match-winning break.
The 20-year-old then moved to 40-0 on serve - the last point courtesy of a 204km/h ace - to set up three match points and almost-certain victory.
But in a point that reflected the overall tone of the match, Roddick missed on his first match point with a diving volley that missed the line by centimetres. It would have been a fitting conclusion. But it didn’t matter as he closed it out with the next point.
Roddick’s greatest strength - his powerful serve - perhaps got him over the line. In the final set it was El Ayanoui who was always under slightly more pressure to hold serve.
But at the same time, El Ayanoui’s ability to get serves back - somehow, anyhow - created the epic contest that was witnessed.
The statistics tell a remarkable story. Roddick served 27 aces (El Ayanoui 25). The American won 80 per cent of the points on his first serve (El Ayanoui 79 per cent).
Roddick was asked how tonight’s match compared to his memorable victory against compatriot Michael Chang at the 2001 French Open when he overcame cramps in the fourth set to defeat Chang 7-5 in the deciding set with a tournament record 37 aces, Roddick was certain about where this match stood in terms of his psyche.
“This is more about heart than that match,” he said.
But full credit must go to both players. Roddick is the young buck on the tour and is expected to achieve big things in his career.
El Ayanoui, on the other hand, is 31 years old and defeated world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt in four sets just to reach the quarters.
Remarkably, he speaks numerous languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Italian and Portugese.
And if his five hours on court wasn’t enough to drain his energy, the Moroccan conducted several interviews afterwards to cater for the various languages.
Roddick will now play German Rainer Schuttler in a semi-final on Friday but after tonight’s win - and a come-from-behind five-set win against Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the fourth-round - the young American is capable of big things at this tournament.
Barring the possibility of him being too drained from this quarter-final win, there is the potential for a meeting with three-time Australian Open champion Andre Agassi in Sunday’s final.
But let’s first digest what has been a great night at Australian Open 2003.
It was such a treat watching this match today :k: Excellent tennis and one of the great ones i have ever seen.
