Sam Groth was the only Australian on the singles schedule on Day 3 at the US Open. He was bested by Tommy the 26th seed Tommy Robredo in straight sets (6-4, 7-6, 6-4).
Sam Groth vs. Tommy Robredo
The veteran Spaniard played a solid match winning 80% of his first serves and 74% of second serves while committing only 11 unforced errors. For most of the match, he pressured Groth into half volleys and then came up with beautiful passing shots. The 27 year-old Groth did not seem to have his A-game in this encounter. Groth came to net 64 times but only won just over half those points. Best known for his big serving (he has the fastest serve on record of 163.4 mph, which he served at an ATP Challenger event in 2012), he had only 7 aces and an average first serve speed of 119 mph.
After being up 40-15 in the first game, Groth was not able to hold his serve throwing in a double fault and some loose volleys. Both players held serve quite easily for the rest of the first set with Robredo needing only the one break of serve to win the set. Despite Robredo’s first serve percentage of only 35%, Groth was not able to challenge him on return-of-serve.
Groth opened the second set by losing his serve at love. His serves were not up to his usual speed and his volleys were not working for him. In the second game, Groth was able to put pressure on Robredo’s serve for the first time in the match. However, Robredo remained calm and consistent and Groth was not able to take advantage of his first break point opportunities. Groth was able to get the break back in the eighth game, helped by Robredo’s first double fault to lose the game. Robredo stepped up his game in the tiebreak and won it 7-3.
Robredo continued to open up the court, move the Aussie around, force half volleys, and execute beautiful passing shots in the third set. Groth won only 9% of receiving points in this set. Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Groth was did not hold serve as Robredo again pressured him to make half volleys and then Robredo connected with nice passing shots.
Robredo will be happy with this win, he has not fared well in the Grand Slams this year – exiting in the first round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and losing in the second round at Roland Garros. Groth reached the third round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and lost in the first round at Roland Garros. The big Australian has played a lot of tennis this summer – Davis Cup, Bogotá, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and Winston-Salem.
In the third round, Robredo will face Benoit Paire (who knocked out 4th seed and last year’s finalist Ken Nishikori in the first round). Paire has a head-to-head record of 2-1 vs. Robredo: winning in the Round of 16 in Hamburg and the Finals in Bastad in July and losing in the Quarterfinals in Casablanca in 2013.
Day 4 Preview
Lleyton Hewitt will face fellow Aussie and good friend Bernard Tomic on Day 4 at the US Open. This will be their first tour level meeting. Sam Stosur plays Evgeniya Rodina from Russia, their first tour level match as well.
