Rod loses his cool and falls in last eight

SANJOSE: An injury-hampered Andy Roddick lost his composure and then the match, beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Denis Istomin on Friday in the quarterfinals of the SAP Open.

Hobbled by a fresh right ankle sprain and a troublesome hamstring that forced his retirement from last month’s Australian Open, Roddick lost every point in his first service game and never regained his rhythm. He slammed one racket, broke another, sailed a ball into the stands in frustration, argued with thechair umpire and even shouted at his own box.

“It would be abnormal if you weren’t frustrated,” said Roddick, who still plans to play at next week’s ATP Tour stop in Memphis.

“The question is, ‘How do you figure your way through it?”’

Earlier Friday, 19-year-old American Ryan Harrison closed in on his first ATP Tour singles title with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Bulgaria’s Dimitar Kutrovsky. Harrison will face defending tournament champion Milos Raonic in the semi-finals. Raonic defeated Kevin Anderson 7-5, 7-6 (3).

Istomin’s semi-final opponent will be fifth-seeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who edged Belgium’s Steve Darcis 7-5, 7-6 (3).

Already slowed by injuries, Roddick struggled to cover the court against an opponent that found every angle.

He lost the first four points on his usual stout serve before saving three break points in his second service game. At 3-1 and 30-all, Istomin’s shot caught the tape, flicking past Roddick for a winner that the American simply shook his head at.

After Istomin stuck a crosscourt forehand winner for a second break to go ahead 4-1, Roddick dropped his racket.

When Roddick’s shot landed in the net in the next game, he sent a ball soaring into the curtains beyond the opposite baseline grandstand, receiving a misconduct warning from chair umpire Steve Ullrich – which infuriated Roddick more.

Roddick asked the umpire if the warning was for racket abuse. Ullrich told him it was for the “ball.”

Roddick responded, “I challenge you on that.” He never put up such a fight against his on-court opponent. — AP