Juan Martin Del Potro won the 2009 Legg Mason Tennis Classic beating Andy Roddick in a gripping third set tiebreaker.

While the crowds were chanting, “Andy, Andy,” it was Del Potro who hit four aces in the tiebreaker which proved too much for Roddick to overcome. Del Potro went up to a 6-3 lead, holding three match points in the tiebreaker. The first break point was erased by a Roddick ace, the second by backhand pushed wide and then Roddick won a mini break against Del Potro to even things back to 6-6. After a Hawk-eye review of the lines call it was the fourth match point that Del Potro needed to win the match.

Looking strong, Roddick took the first set from Del Potro by a score of  6-3. Del Potro who is just starting his summer warm-up on the US hardcourt season with the finale in NY at the US Open.

Del Potro came out stonger in second set playing much stronger in the second set breaking Roddick’s serve early. Andy broke back though in the tenth game to bring the set even at 5-5. Serving to take the second set into a tiebreaker the slimmed down version of Andy ran down an incredible drop shot for his own winner, but it was Del Potro that continued with his outstanding tennis to get the break and win the second set, 7-5.

Andy got an early break after running down a series of shots from side to side before throwing up a lob and then Del Potro shanked the overhead wide. But nerves also crept in to Roddick after being broken at love as he double faulted at game point to even the third set at 3-3.

Damm/Lindstedt Win Men’s Doubles Title

In their first year as a doubles team, Martin Camm and Robert Lindstedt earned their third ATP World Tour title today at the Legg Mason. Camm/Linstedt beat the fifth seeded team of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski by a score of 7-5, 7-6(3).

Andy Roddick celebrates in his semifinal win over John Isner at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. (Photo by Roland Pintilie/OffWing Photo)

Fernando Gonzalez hits a volley during his semifinal match with Juan Martin del Potro at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. (Photo by Roland Pintilie/OffWing Photo)

Two South Americans meet in the first semifinal match today, Argentinian Juan Del Potro, #2 seed, and #4 seed Chilean Fernando Gonzalez. Del Potro won the tournament last year and must defeat his ATP points.

The Chilean was down early, broke back and lost in the tie breaker after 3 opportunities to close, in a very entertaining first set.
In the second set; heat took its toll on both players, Gonzales mounted a fight after getting his second wind and being down 3-0, to end the match 6-3.

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) lost to Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) in a tight 3 set match. Thursday Aug. 6th, Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

Tommy Haas (GER) def. Frank Dancevic (CAN) Tuesday evening at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

www.flickr.com Off Wing Opinion’s 2008-08-15 Legg Mason, Day 5 (Allen Clark/OffWing.com) photoset

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