Andy Roddick (Getty Images)
HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - At a U.S. Open that will be remembered for goodbyes by Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters, another former No. 1 and Grand Slam champion, Venus Williams, left with a spirited second-round loss that felt nothing like a farewell.
Hours after Roddick chose the occasion of his 30th birthday to let the tennis world in on a little secret he'd been keeping - he'll retire after his run at Flushing Meadows ends - Williams served poorly and stumbled badly for a set and a half before recovering to make things quite competitive.
Williams came within two points of winning, but dropped five of the last six games and ended up exiting early at a tournament she's won twice, beaten 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 by sixth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany in a nearly 3-hour match that ended at 12:19 a.m. as Thursday turned to Friday.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Associated Press