Roddick levels U S Open final against Federer

NEW YORK, Sep 11 (Reuters) Andy Roddick levelled the U S Open men's singles final against world number one Roger Federer by taking the second set 6-4.

After losing the opening set 6-2 in just 29 minutes, Roddick, the 2003 champion, stormed back, playing with much more energy and urgency in the second set.

The American ninth seed broke Federer to love in the opening game of the second set and held in the fourth game helped by a brilliant point where he stretched wide to reach a half-volley and then hit a reflex volley in self defence for a winner.

Playing with much more confidence from the service line and swinging freely with his powerful forehand, Roddick served out the set after his opening break and committed just two unforced errors in the set.

Twice defending champion Federer, the winner of 10 of 11 previous matches against Roddick, charged into the early lead by winning the opening set with ease.

The hard-serving Roddick, who had lost serve only five times in his first six Open matches, was broken three times by Federer in the first set as the Swiss master ripped 15 winners against just five by the ninth-seeded American.

Federer broke Roddick in his first two service games on his way to grabbing a 5-0 lead yesterday. The American broke Federer in the seventh game to make it 5-2, before the Swiss champion broke back in the next game to end the set.

Federer broke Roddick in his opening service game to 15, following up three groundstroke errors by the American with a powerful forehand winner down the line.

The Swiss world number one belted an ace to dodge a breakpoint against in the next game, sealing a 3-0 lead with two more forehand winners.

Luring Roddick towards the net with cut backhands, Federer lashed passing shots by him to break again in the fourth game.

Roddick finally won a game when he held at love in the sixth game and then broke the top seed in the next game. But Federer returned the favor to close the set 6-2 with his third break against the American.

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