Just a few comments.
Nice to see Andy into the 3rd round.
As I predicted(in the OP) Andy would face either Almagro, Istomin or Benneteau in the 3rd Round.
Almagro(as I pointed out in the OP is very inconsistent, so while he was probably the most dangerous - it's not a big surprise he was upset early. Consistency folks, it's the only thing Andy has on Almagro and most others, but it's there)
Istomin then played Benneteau and lost to him, which brings us to our 3rd round match up.
I'll be honest if Roddick plays like he did against Russell - Benneteau probably wins in 3. If Roddick plays like he did against Sock he probably loses or wins in a 50/50 coin flip - tight 5 setter.
However, one round at a time. If Roddick can raise his game another 10-15% on what he did against Sock, he should be able to "grind"(blech, ugh, etc.) his way to a 4 set win. I would expect it to be relatively grueling, and more likely to go 5 sets then 3.
A couple of things I noticed in the Russell match, and less so in the Sock match, was that there were a number of balls that Russell/Sock hit for winners that Roddick didn't even run for, that he normally would run for.
Whether he would get them back is uncertain. And this phenomena was more prevalent in the Russell match...which is an encouraging sign, in that Andy is trending toward getting to more balls and being in better "match" shape.
I believe that Roddick still has an entirely adequate, if not above average Aerobic base and endurance level. However, I think what is taking a little bit of time for Andy to play his way into is the Anaerobic - quick burst, sprinting stuff.
Obviously Andy has no offensive groundie weapons, and everyone, including grandmothers universe wide can put Roddick on the defensive. But that fact is, there were a number of shots Russell hit...and he hit them for clean winners...that Andy did NOT even run for. And I'm telling you an inform Roddick is either getting to those balls, or atleast making an attempt.
As I say, this was a LOT more noticeable in the Russell match, where I think there was atleast 8 per set. I'd say in the Sock match Roddick halved this to about 4 shots per set.
Obviously some winners no one runs for.....but these were shots where you could see that Andy would be running for them if he was match ready.
The good news is he was better in this department against a better offensive player in Sock then he was against Russell. The troubling news is that he's going to have to ramp it up even further to not have real trouble with Benneateu. Because while Julien may not outhit Sock, he won't have nearily the UE count either.
Still though, I expect Andy to grind his way to a 4 or 5 set victory. One must remember Benneteau is in pretty good form. Had Roddick played Almagro he would be playing someone with a WAY, WAY bigger game, and counting on Almagro's wild Verdasco-esque inconsistency.
Benneteau also has a bigger game then Roddick(who doesn't), but he doesn't possess the sheer fire power Almagro does. What Benneateau does better then Nicolas is have a lot more consistency, guile, experience etc. Plus Benneteau in beating Almagro and Istomin in straights, fresh off of the finals of Winston Salem - is clearly IN form.
Should be a douzey and Roddick's first pretty big test.
If Andy can ramp it up and beat JB in 3 or 4, then I see no reason he can't be in that 50/50 coin flip territory for Ferrer.
If Andy had faced Ferrer first round he gets blitz, 4-3-1, imo.
