Wimbledon 2012: Roddick Versus Ferrer - Preview

Andy Roddick takes on the challenge of David Ferrer in the third round on Saturday, the 30^th June. Both had straight sets victory over their opponents in the second round. They have met ten times before with Ferrer prevailing six times. They have never met on grass. Roddick has significant achievements at Wimbledon where he has been finalist thrice as against Ferrer who has never gone beyond the round of sixteen.

It is a matchup between explosive service of Roddick and consistency of Ferrer. The game will be on familiar pattern. Ferrer will strive to induce Roddick into long rallies where the point will end with an error from Roddick. Roddick will rely on his serve to win his service games and put pressure on Ferrer’s serve. In order to finish the point earlier on Ferrer’s serve, Roddick will have to go in for winners. In increasing the pace of the shot and acuteness of the angles, he will risk overhitting the ball, but there is little option. Ferrer can run miles and retrieve all balls. He plays the same type of game, same pace, same spin and same serve. Since he has limitations on serve power, he keeps the first serve percentage high. Return of serve should not be a big problem for Roddick, though he is not counted among the best returners of serve. Ferrer also does not pack much power on his shots, but is a machine which goes on returning with enough safety margins in the shot. Only a variety can disturb his rhythm like that played by Federer. Roddick has a good forehand but he does not have Federer type of variety. Over the years, he has lost a bit of tendency to innovate and his game has acquired some familiarity. He will come to the net a bit more than Ferrer, but not enough to disturb Ferrer’s rhythm. Ferrer has good penchant for the passing shot and Roddick’s volleying skills are good without being legendary. Roddick should have advantage in tie breaker which he can reach after keeping own serve intact. Ferrer does not have secret weapons in a tie breaker. He would play the same game after reducing his unforced errors. Roddick has some leverage on serve placement. His outgoing first serve can give him opportunity for one-two shot combination.

Ferrer works hard, but in the most competitive era of ATP tennis, hard work can only take you only upto a point. He is like a blue collared worker who will do well against senior and junior co-workers, but when he meets his boss, he has to surrender, since he does not believe in his superiority over a better qualified performer. Roddick has better qualifications on grass and has performed better, but he cannot boss Ferrer around.

If Roddick serves well and keeps unforced errors down, he can win. However, on paper, Ferrer is the higher seed based on his performance during the past one year.