Nadal, Roddick cruise to 3rd round

MONTREAL — Rafael Nadal won his first match since May when fellow Spaniard David Ferrer retired with a left knee injury in the first set of their match at the Rogers Cup on Wednesday.

Nadal led 4-3 when Ferrer informed the chair umpire he could not continue. Afterwards, Ferrer said the injury wasn’t serious and that he would likely be back on court next week for the tournament in Mason, Ohio.

It was an ironic twist since it was Nadal who was returning for his first match since the French Open due to tendinitis in both knees.

Nadal, who looked strong on the court as Ferrer made him run, will face German Philipp Petzschner in the third round on Thursday.

Earlier, Andy Roddick, playing in front of newly appreciative fans, beat Igor Andreev of Russia, 6-1, 7-6 (3), to reach the third round as well.

The fifth-seeded American said he was “humbled” by the reaction of fans both at the All England Club and back home in North America to his thrilling five-set loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final.

“During my career I’ve been portrayed as every type of person — good, bad, ugly, rude, nice — and this is the first time it’s been presented in the light of a hard-working, everyday Joe type of tennis player trying to make good,” Roddick said. “All the while the meat and potatoes of who I am have probably stayed the same.

“Maybe people have realized that it’s not easy and it does take work.” (AP)