A Rematch With Some Real Pop

The blur returning to the interview room was none other than U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick.

Roddick had left his post-match chat with the media Sunday and returned seconds later, wanting to play a verbal let. He wants to get it right -- on the court or in the news conference.

He had been asked about matches he would pay to see on the ATP and WTA tours. Roddick thoughtfully listed a few but wanted a “do-over.” He came in and told the handful of reporters remaining in the room that he would pay to see today’s meeting between 16-year-old Russian Maria Sharapova and Sesil Karatancheva, the brash 14-year-old Bulgarian who vowed to “kick off” Sharapova’s rear end.

“That’s a popcorn match,” said an enthusiastic Roddick.

He also could have been talking about his own “popcorn” match today against Australian Open finalist Marat Safin of Russia in the third round of the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The potential blockbuster stayed on track when the third-seeded Roddick beat Jan-Michael Gambill, 7-6 (3), 6-2, in the second round on the Stadium Court, and hours later on the same court when Safin defeated qualifier Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 7-6 (3). Safin survived a 4-1 second-set deficit.

It might seem unusual for the likes of Roddick and Safin to be meeting this early. But Safin’s ranking has dropped because of his wrist injury last year, so he has become what is known in tennis as a dangerous “floater.”

He brushed aside whatever was in his way in Melbourne, including Roddick in a five-set quarterfinal and then Andre Agassi in the semifinals, before losing to Roger Federer of Switzerland in the final.

“Maybe it’s a little bit too early to play a great match for both of us,” Safin said of facing Roddick again.

Most of the top 16 seeded players advanced Sunday, but there were a few exceptions. Qualifier Gisela Dulko of Argentina eliminated No. 7 Nadia Petrova of Russia, 6-3, 6-3, and Nathalie Dechy of France defeated No. 10 Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi of Israel, 7-5, 6-4, in the third round. On the men’s side, Irakli Labadze of Georgia defeated No. 7 Carlos Moya of Spain, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, and 17-year-old Rafael Nadal of Spain beat No. 11 Nicolas Massu of Chile, 6-3, 1-0 (retired).

The most convincing winner was No. 1 Federer, who defeated Andrei Pavel of Romania, 6-1, 6-1. Pavel probably wants to flee when he spots Federer, having lost to him four times in 2004.

“I was not expecting a match like today but I knew I could do it because I played him in Miami and I beat him, 6-1, 6-1,” Federer said. “When it happens, you’re always surprised.”

On the women’s side, No. 3 Lindsay Davenport was nearly as formidable, beating qualifier Samantha Stosur of Australia, 6-0, 6-3. As one of the few uninjured top players, Davenport is asked often about Venus and Serena Williams and whether she thinks they will play again.

There seems to be a daily dose of rumors about their plans, and whether Serena, out since July, is pondering leaving tennis for Hollywood. The sisters’ contract with IMG expired in February, but a spokesperson said they have not left the management firm yet.

Roddick made a point of mentioning them when he was asked about paying to watch matches.

“I want Venus and Serena to come back, personally, and really put it in there. I think that would be great,” he said. “The way the two Belgians have come along, kind of started dominating, I’d love to see the Williams sisters come back, and kind of be a two-on-two battle, Battle Royale. I think that would be good for the women’s game.”

Said Davenport: “Obviously the biggest impact is felt by Serena and Venus not having played hardly any since July. Some of the other girls that were really making names for themselves, especially here in the States, aren’t playing right now. With Kim [Clijsters] getting hurt, [Amelie] Mauresmo, it just kind of adds to the frustration that I think the fans and sponsors and even players feel.”