Schalken's debt to Roddick

Sjeng Schalken beat Vincent Spadea 6-2 7-5 3-6 6-2 to set up a quarter-final with Andy Roddick, the man who helped save his life earlier this year.

Roddick and Schalken were playing in an ATP Tour event in Rome in May when fire broke out at the Parco dei Principi hotel they were staying at.

Smoke filled Schalken’s seventh-floor room and both he and his wife escaped by jumping onto Roddick’s balcony one floor below them – and into the arms of the American.

Roddick was a hero that day because 12 other people also ended up on his balcony to escape the flames and smoke.

Both Roddick, the second seed at Wimbledon, and the Schalken were then rescued by firemen. However, three hotel guests did die in the blaze.

“I hope he is thinking about that a little and will take it easy on me! He didn’t do that the last three times,” said Schalken tonight.

“Before and afterwards we will be good friends but I’m sure we will both go out to win.”

Schalken explained: “We met each other on the roof. We were helping the elderly people.

“Andy helped us jump down to his balcony where we could see the firemen. I think we both kept our cool. You have these moments in sport and in life and I think we were a bit cooler (than everyone else).”