Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
Gay Marriage Vote Puts Heat On Christie
Michael Llodra of France generated the biggest upset of the U.S. Open so far by defeating Wimbledon runner-up and No. 7 seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4, on Wednesday. Berdych, who finished in the semifinals at the French Open and finals at Wimbledon, is the highest-ranked player to fall at Flushing Meadows.
Llodra, who is ranked No. 35 in the world, is one of the best serve-and-volley players on the tour. The 30-year-old Frenchman's patented serve and volley helped him shorten points in the extreme heat throughout the match. He used a chip and charge to seal the contest on match point against the 24-year-old Berdych (pictured above).
The 6-foot-3 Llodra came to the net 75 times in the match. Berdych hesitated to come to the net and did nothing to break up Llodra's rhythm in the contest. The Czech only came to the net 24 times in the match. After Berdych lost the first-set tiebreak on a handful of unforced errors, his body language took a turn for the worse.
Llodra's serve was fantastic throughout the match. He was not broken once and converted on 85 percent of his first-serve points. Berdych was unable to come up with the vital breaks when he needed to, like he had done in Paris and at Wimbledon. Llodra was able to convert on breaks in the second and third sets to ultimately give him the edge in the three-set match.
It was the first career match between the two on hard court, but Llodra had won their last meeting at Roland Garros in 2008. Lllodra levels his career record against Berdych at 2-2.
Llodra lost in the first round during 22 of his 36 previous major tournaments. His best U.S. Open appearance was in 2004, when he reached the fourth round. He came into this year's Open having lost in either one of the first two rounds the past three years. The Frenchman will face another dangerous unseeded player in Victor Hanescu during the second round.
Llodra is also known as an excellent doubles player. He is in the Open's doubles draw partnered with countryman Julien Benneteau.
Pressure Mounts On Mortgage Giants To Pursue Principal Reductions
Washington Gay Marriage Legislation Signed Into Law By Governor Chris Gregoire
House GOP Offers Deal In Big Fight
Officials Confirm: Prescription Drugs Found In Whitney Houston's Room
Obama Budget Signals Shift From Austerity Measures To Campaign Promises
U.S. Green-Lights Google's Massive $12.5 Billion Purchase
Syrian Rebels Fight Off Attack On Key Town
Downgraded: Moody's Cuts Credit Ratings Of Italy, Portugal And Spain
WATCH: Fox News Pundit's Disturbing Comments About Rape
How Long Will Santorum's Surge Last?
When Will The New iPad Be Announced?
Wall Street Fears Volcker Rule Will Force Testosterone Monitoring
Topless Protesters Target 'Gas Gangsters'
Afghanistan Base Named 'Aryan' Raises Objections From Soldiers
WATCH: CPAC's 'Best In Show'
WATCH: 25 Million Tons Of Japan Tsunami Debris Headed Directly Our Way
Obama's Birth Control Rule Will Hurt Homeless Veterans, Warns GOP Congressman
WATCH: Bill Maher Rips GOP Concept Of 'Elites'
GOP Candidates Out Of Step With Catholic Church On Unemployment
WATCH: Anderson Cooper's Hilarious Adventures With Adele
Supreme Court Justice Robbed
It's Only Getting Worse: Economists' Latest Dire Prediction
Huff TV: WATCH: Arianna Weighs In On Tony Bennett's Call To Legalize Drugs
