Roddick out of Masters

Roddick, who rested during the Paris Masters in order to prepare for the season-ending tournament, was disappointing in the first set, dropping service games and unable to break himself.

Relying too heavily upon his serve, Roddick was undone by Nalbandian's superb backhand on numerous occasions.

"Give credit where credit's due, I didn't play badly tonight," Roddick said afterwards. "I hit the ball through the court, but he played very well."

In the second set the man known as A-Rod improved. 1-0 up, he came back from 40-0 down to break point, but failed to take advantage of the opportunity.

Both players held until 3-3. Roddick served up aces and then returned to his leaden stroke play as the game swung back and forth. Eventually a saving shot dropped a little long and Nalbandian had the crucial break.

Roddick looked beaten and resigned to his fate as he made unforced errors in the next game, but with the set precariously placed for him at 5-3, he made a comeback.

It was a combination of Roddick's newfound all-or-nothing attitude and Nalbandian choking. Two double faults from the South American gave the American the chance of a break and he managed to take it, with the crowd egging him on.

Further held games took the game to a tie-break. Roddick knew that to lose in two would see him out of the competition, not matter what the later result between Federer and Ljubicic.

The tie-break was close to start with, but a rare double fault from Roddick harmed his confidence at a crucial point and Nalbandian won through 7-4.

He was doubtless watching somewhere later, when Federer's win took him into the semis despite losing two of his three matches.