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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 28, 2010

Roddick rallies in rain


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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Andy Roddick returns the ball during his second-round victory over Blaz Kavcic in yesterday's French Open.

CHRISTOPHE ENA | Associated Press

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The remaking of Andy Roddick is paying dividends at the French Open.

He's no longer quite so dependent on that fastest-on-tour serve and booming forehand. No longer in trouble when Plan A doesn't work on a given day. And no longer a pushover on the red clay.

Stuck on his least-favorite court, at his least-successful Grand Slam tournament, and dealing with wet weather that figured to make matters worse, Roddick managed to lose serve seven times and still get by, beating Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, yesterday to reach the third round at Roland Garros in Paris.

"It was brutal for me out there. I couldn't get my serve to go anywhere, and the ball was just sitting up. I woke up this morning, looked out my window, and knew that it was going to be a long one," the No. 6-seeded Roddick said, referring to drizzles that delayed the start of play more than 4 1/2 hours.

"It kind of takes away a lot of shots," he added, "and it makes it just about hitting the ball and running."

When play was suspended last night because of darkness — there are no lights on the courts at Roland Garros — Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova were leading their matches, while unseeded American Mardy Fish was tied at a set apiece with No. 14 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia.

There were 18 singles matches that never began, so four-time champion Rafael Nadal and 2002 champion Serena Williams won't hit a shot in the second round until today.

GOLF

FUJIKAWA TIED FOR 43RD

Moanalua High alum Tadd Fujikawa shot even-par 72 yesterday and was tied for 43rd place after two rounds of the eGolf Tour's Grand Harbor Open at Ninety Six, N.C.

Fujikawa played the Golf Club at Star Fort yesterday and has a 36-hole total of 4-under 139.

Jesse Mueller, the reigning Hawai'i State Open champion, followed his opening 61 with a 69 at the Patriot Golf Club (par-71) at Grand Harbor and is tied with Scott Weatherly, who shot a 65 at Star Fort, at 13-under 130.

THREE TIED ATOP COLONIAL

Jason Bohn, Jeff Overton and Blake Adams shot 7-under 63s to share the first-round lead at the Colonial, where 2008 champion Phil Mickelson's return turned into a struggle after an impressive start yesterday.

Mickelson birdied the first two holes, but that was the lowest he got. Lefty finished with a 1-over 71 and is tied for 89th place, while 75 players were under par at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

"There's no excuse. There's no wind, the golf course is in perfect shape, and there were a lot of scores out there," Mickelson said. "I just wasn't one of them."

Brian Davis was alone in fourth after shooting 64.

FREEMAN TOPS SENIOR PGA

Robin Freeman shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the first-round lead at the 71st PGA Senior Championship at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colo.

Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer also took advantage of an early tee time before the winds whipped up yesterday and dried out the greens, firing a 66 on the piney 3-year-old private course.

Tom Lehman and Brad Bryant were two shots back at 68.

NFL

ROETHLISBERGER CAN RETURN

Ben Roethlisberger was cleared by the NFL yesterday to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers beginning next week, although no decision has been made on the length of his suspension.

The quarterback was suspended without pay for six games last month by commissioner Roger Goodell after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexual assault in Milledgeville, Ga. No charges were filed.

Roethlisberger underwent a behavioral evaluation as part of the suspension, which could be reduced to four games by Goodell, who will review the case again before the regular season.

SAINTS' SHOCKEY HAS SEIZURE

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Metairie, La., yesterday afternoon after suffering what was later diagnosed as a seizure.

"I am OK. Thanks to everyone who has shown their concern," Shockey said in a message posted on his Twitter account. "Don't worry about me. I will be fine."

Shockey was in the Saints' weight room when the seizure took place. Trainers quickly attended to the star tight end, who was able to walk on his own to an ambulance.

It was not immediately clear how long Shockey would be hospitalized.