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Roddick downed by French youngster

General RSS / / 24 May 2007 /

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Andy Roddick has crashed out of the Hypo Group International in Poertschach, beaten in straight sets by French starlet Gael Monfils.

Roddick was looking to stay in the tournament as long as possible with the French Open due to begin on Sunday, but he was beaten 7-5 6-3 by the 20-year-old at the quarter-final stage.

Roddick is no lover of the slow clay-court surface, and has only reached the third round at Roland Garros once in his career, back in 2001, but was hoping to reach the second week this time around in Paris.

And he looked on course to take a one-set lead after breaking for a 5-4 lead, before Monfils broke twice himself to take the first set.

Roddick had his chances in the second but failed to convert and smashed his racket in a fit of temper as his young opponent cruised to victory.

The victory was Monfils' second successive triumph over the fast-serving American, having won 6-2 6-3 win at the quarter-finals of last year's Masters Series in Rome.

Monfils, who has not reached a semi-final since, will now face either fourth seed Lleyton Hewitt or Argentina's Diego Hartfield for a place in the final.

Hewitt is currently trading at the 2.32 favourite to win the tournament with Monfils on offer at 7.6 and Nikolay Davydenko available to back at 2.7.

The Frenchman saved all three break points however with an ace, a deft backhand volley and a perfectly-struck forehand winner, and was soon reapplying the pressure on Roddick, breaking the American once more to go 2-0 ahead.

Losing his cool in the Austrian heat, the 2003 US Open winner smashed his racket in the following game before hurling a string of abuse at himself.

The outpouring had little effect though with Monfils holding his serve for the rest of the match to complete a second successive win over Roddick following his 6-2 6-3 win at the quarter-finals of last year's Masters Series in Rome.

Monfils, who has not reached a semi-final since, will now face either fourth seed Lleyton Hewitt or Argentina's Diego Hartfield for a place in the final.

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