Roddick gets lucky break
Andy Roddick got a lucky break in his bid for a record fifth Queen's title as Mardy Fish withdrew after just one set of their third round match on Thursday.
Roddick, the reigning Queen's champion, had just taken the first set on a tie-break when Fish, who fell awkwardly while trying to make a diving volley late in the set, was forced to pull out with a foot injury.
The former US Open champion now faces either British number one Andy Murray or Latvian teenager Ernests Gublis in the quarterfinals.
Roddick, seeded three, was playing only his second match since suffering a shoulder injury in Rome five weeks ago, and may have wished for a longer spell on court to get some valuable grass-court practice.
But he has a phenomenal record at Queen's, winning the pre-Wimbledon warm-up event four times in the last five years to draw level with Lleyton Hewitt, John McEnroe and Boris Becker on the all-time list.
Although he still needs treatment on the shoulder problem after every match it didn't unduly restrict his thunderous serve against Fish, the 15th seed.
The American needed two big serves to get out of jail when he gifted Fish two break points in the fifth game.
That was the closest either player came to making a breakthrough and a tie-break was needed to decide the set. Roddick took it thanks to a booming forehand from the baseline that earned him a decisive early mini-break.
Fish had tumbled while trying to return a powerful forehand from Roddick during the tie-break and he immediately took of his shoe after the set. An injury time-out didn't ease the pain and he was soon shaking hands with Roddick to concede the tie.
Roddick was joined in the last eight by giant Croat Ivo Karlovic, who over-powered Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 7-5.
At 6ft 10in Karlovic is the tallest player on the ATP Tour and he uses that height to good effect with a ferocious serve, hitting over 1,300 aces last year.
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