Americans Roddick, Isner Win At BNP Paribas Masters

By: Lauren Lynch

(November 8, 2011) Thirteenth seed Andy Roddick and World No. 25 John Isner used their large serves to edge their opponents in Paris on Tuesday for their first rounds.

Advancing to the round of sixteen with a bye in round one, 29-year-old Roddick ousted Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-4 in 82 minutes for the fifth time in their career head-to-head. He hit nine aces and won 63 percent of his first serves while converting four of eight break-point opportunities.

Roddick’s best showings at the BNP Paribas Masters were a pair of semifinal appearances in 2003 and 2005. In his first semifinal appearance in Paris he was defeated by eventual champion Tim Henman.

Roddick will face either second seed Andy Murray or French player Jeremy Chardy, who advanced to the next round when Marcel Granollers retired against him.

Meanwhile, World No. 25 Isner upset 16th-ranked Stanislas Wawrinka in a battle that lasted four minutes under three hours at 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(5). This was his second win in three career matches against the fellow 26-year-old.

Isner hit 20 aces while the No. 2 Swiss player hit 12 of his own. Isner relinquished only 31 of 111 total service points and won 78 percent of first serves. This was his 33rd win of the season compared to 20 losses.

He has lost in the first round of every match he has played since the US Open quarterfinals but hopes to add to the titles he won in Winston-Salem and Newport. The 6’9” player faces lucky loser, Igor Kunitsyn, who replaced Juan Martin Del Potro who withdrew due to a shoulder injury.