Roddick suffers shock defeat at Cincinnati Masters

WIMBLEDON finalist Andy Roddick has been dumped out of the Cincinatti Masters by fellow American Sam Querrey, less than two weeks before the start of the US Open.

 CRASHING OUT: Andy Roddick suffers shock defeat at the Cincinnati Masters

Roddick was matched shot for shot by Querrey, ranked 26th in the world, losing out in two tie-breaks, slipping to a 7-6 (11), 7-6 (3) defeat.

Querrey had lost all three previous encounters with the former US Open champion but he roared back from 5-2 down in the first tie-break to claim an epic first set.

The second set followed a similar pattern but Roddick lost his composure as the momentum swung both ways, before Querrey sealed a famous victory in the tie-break.

"Definitely one of my best wins ever," Querrey said. "Probably the best for me, it feels pretty good.

"It's a combination of everything. I've been doing a lot of running on the track. During a tournament I can't really do it. But I'm still running, biking and doing more agility movements.

"I just tried to stay level-headed and keep my composure and keep doing what I was doing and try not to let that alter my game."

Meanwhile, Roddick insists the defeat will have no bearing on his US Open campaign.

"To be honest I thought I played well," added Roddick. "I feel prepared for the Open. That's what you want to get out of this stretch. I'm disappointed that I couldn't play better here in Cincinnati, which is a place that I enjoy playing.

"I think he just played the big points better than I did."

Roddick was the only major casualty in Cincinnati last night as the top three seeds Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal all eased through.

Federer was at his ruthless best, overcoming Jose Acasuso 6-3, 7-5, while Murray was just as clinical against Nicolas Almagro, coming through 7-6 (3), 6-2.

But Nadal required two tie-breaks to defeat Andreas Seppi 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3).