Roddick knocked out at Queen's

LONDON (AP):

Andy Roddick made his earliest exit in nine years from the Queen's Club grass-court championships when he was ousted in the third round by 14th-seeded Dudi Sela of Israel yesterday.

Roddick, a four-time champion at Queen's, lost 6-4, 7-6 (8).

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal survived a fierce challenge from Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, reaching the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 victory. Nadal needed a trainer after the second set to work on an upper right leg complaint.

The fourth-seeded Roddick was under pressure for the entire match and failed to convert two set points in the tiebreaker before Sela clinched victory on his second match point by striking a backhand winner.

"He played great," Roddick said. "Credit to him. I think he had a very specific game plan, and I thought he executed it very well and never dug himself a hole on any service games, never had any sloppy errors.

"I think I could have done some things differently, but I thought he played a pretty perfect match. He outplayed me today."

Sela will next face Germany's Rainer Schuettler, who had a walkover when 11th-seeded Richard Gasquet withdrew with a back injury.

Strong start

Seventh-seeded Sam Querrey of the United States advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over Marcel Granollers of Spain, while No. 8 Feliciano Lopez beat Julien Benneteau of France 6-2, 6-4.

Roddick made a strong start, serving two aces in the opening game and then breaking Sela for a 2-0 lead.

But the Israeli broke right back and did so again to take the first set. Roddick saved three break points in a 10-minute opening game of the second set and served a disputed ace to hold for 6-5.

Roddick squandered two set points in the tiebreaker. On Sela's second match point, the Israeli put away a backhand volley.

Nadal struggled to overcome Istomin who rallied well and made few unforced errors in their first meeting.

After Nadal edged the first set in a tiebreaker, Istomin took the second with a break in the opening game.

In the decider, Nadal served for the match at 5-3 and held two match points, and although Istomin broke him, the Spaniard earned the victory on his third match point by breaking his opponent with a forehand winner.