Nadal makes quick work of Roddick in Indian Wells

Nadal makes quick work of Roddick in Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Rafael Nadal needed just 73 minutes to defeat Andy Roddick in their Pacific Life Open semifinal Saturday, winning 6-4, 6-3.
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Rafael Nadal celebrates after rolling over Andy Roddick during their semifinal match at the Pacific Life Open.
The second-ranked Nadal showed there was quite a gap between him and No. 3 Roddick, at least on this hot, still afternoon in the desert. The Spaniard consistently won points by keeping the ball deep to Roddick's backhand for several exchanges, then driving forehand winners past the American.
Roddick often could only stand and watch as winners bounced just inside the line.
Although Roddick had his serve working, with a couple at 147 mph among his 16 aces, everything else seemed to go Nadal's way.
On one Roddick serve of 138 mph in the second set, Nadal whipped a forehand return across court that Roddick had no chance of getting. And when Roddick came to the net, Nadal usually came up with passing shots for winners.
Nadal converted three of 10 break point opportunities. Roddick had none.
Complete results
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The match was the third the pair have played. Roddick won in the second round of the U.S. Open in 2004, and Nadal beat him on clay in the Davis Cup final later that year.
Nadal, who won five times last year after capturing 11 titles in 2005, is looking for his first championship since the French Open last June, going a stretch of 12 tournaments without a title.