Tennis’ angry young man

Victoria Sun

Friday, Sept. 7, 2001 | 10:31 a.m.

NEW YORK -- The night after Americans Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras staged one of the greatest matches in U.S. Open history at Arthur Ashe Stadium, two youngsters followed the veterans with a gem of their own.

Each wearing a white baseball cap turned backwards and baggy black shorts as a testament to their youth, American Andy Roddick and Australian Lleyton Hewitt answered many questions about what will become of men's tennis once Agassi and Sampras retire.

The young players delivered memorable baseline rallies, powerful serves and plenty of personality during their U.S. Open quarterfinal match Thursday night, suggesting the future of the game will be just fine.

They dove for balls, chased down improbable shots and entertained the die-hards in a seesaw struggle that ended three hours and 40 minutes later in a fit of rage.

Hewitt prevailed 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, earning his second consecutive trip to the semifinals, where he will play Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

The tension mounting between the two players came to a boil with Roddick serving 4-5 in the final set. On the first point of his service game, Roddick hit an inside-out forehand to the far right side of the court out which he thought nicked the line.

Chair umpire Jorge Dias of Portugal overruled the lines person's call, prompting Roddick to race over to the chair and launch a nasty speech at Dias. "What is wrong with you?" Roddick shouted. "How can you overrule on the far side of the court?

"The ball was right on the line, right on the line. You can't overrule in the fourth or fifth set! What are you? Are you an absolute moron?"

It was Roddick's first trip to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Of the outburst, he said he would try to contain himself in the future but stood firm in his belief that he was wronged.

"Do I feel that call had a big part of me being broken in the last game?" Roddick asked. "Yes. I think that's pathetic.

"I think that was an absolutely pathetic call. No umpire in their right mind will ever make that call."

Afterward, he never recovered.

Tied at 30-30, he ripped a backhand into the net giving Hewitt his first match point, the only one he needed. Trailing 30-40, Roddick hit an approach shot deep into the backhand corner off Hewitt's return. Hewitt chased down the ball in plenty of time and ripped it right past Roddick to seal the victory before falling to his knees in celebration.

"It's definitely up there," Hewitt said of his dramatic victory. "I've wanted to make the semifinals again. I've had a consistent year this year without having a great or fantastic year. I've made a lot of semifinals in the Masters Series events, but haven't been able to make that next step in the slams or Masters Series. Coming back here and having to defend a semifinal from last year is a big relief. It's great."

Hewitt had beaten Roddick in their two previous meetings.

They last met at the French Open in a round of 32 match that had the makings of a classic, but it was cut short when Roddick retired at 2-2 in the third set with a pulled hamstring.

"I seem to have disappointing moments against Lleyton," Roddick said. "The French, you know I was wearing it on my face.

"That was pretty disappointing. Tonight ranks up there with that."

Earlier in the day Roddick, who turned 19 on Aug. 30, was named to the U.S. Davis Cup team in an announcement made by captain Patrick McEnroe.

Last November, Roddick was playing in a Challenger event in Las Vegas before a few dozen people.

Heralded for his heavy ground strokes and short service motion which helps him to hit lethal first serves that have been clocked as high as 141 mph, Roddick has been proclaimed the next great American tennis player.

In his first full year on the tour, the skinny teenager who resides in Boca Raton, Fla., has won three tournaments and has wins over Sampras, Marcelo Rios and No. 1 ranked Gustavo Kuerten.

"If I was American, I'd be out there supporting him," Hewitt said of the pro-Roddick spectators. "If I was someone from the public, watching him play, he's a 19-year-old who has had some unbelievable results over time."