By DPA
Miami : Andy Roddick credits good friend Mardy Fish for softening up Roger Federer with an Indian Wells win less than two weeks ago which paved the way for another upset in the quarter-finals at Miami.
Roddick came out on top of the Swiss for only the second time in 17 matches, but could not have been happier after his Thursday night win.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t encouraged by Mardy’s (semi-final) result last week,” said the number six-ranked Roddick. “I had got home from a long kind of a day of practice, and I had just gotten off the phone with Mardy’s fiance.”
“She was going nuts, and I parked my car and went out again and went for another run because I think I was excited and optimistic,” he said.
Austin, Texas-based Roddick said he had “a sudden burst of energy” upon hearing the news of his friend’s big win.
“I went out and ran till the sun went down because I was starting to feel hopeful and I was happy for Mardy. So I was probably encouraged by that result.”
Roddick remains a realist about his accomplishment over Federer after losing repeatedly since 2003 against the Swiss.
“I’ve actually lived those matches. I’m not going to sit here and act like all of a sudden I’ve fixed the problem,” he said.
“I think I’m batting 2 for 16. Still pretty crappy, it’s a little less crappy.”