Roddick hoping to challenge tennis' Big 3
by Matt Cronin, Special to FOXSports.com
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- Day 12: Women's F | Day 11: Men's SF
- Day 10: Women's SF |
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- Day 6: Women | | | Women
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Analysis:
- Cronin: Nadal makes case for No. 1
- Pierce: Federer shows his mettle
- Cronin: Venus, Serena at their best
Others:
- Draws: Men's singles | Women's singles
- PHOTOS: Men's final | Women's final | Men's SF | Women's SF | Men's QF
- Results: Men Women | Ranks | Schedule
Partners:
There was no mention of American Andy Roddick, a two-time finalist here.
All focus is on tennis' so-called Big 3 — Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
"They've played pretty well, but it goes in waves, dude," Roddick said after his 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (0) first-round win over Eduardo Schwank on Tuesday. "People are gonna come in and out. I think Roger and Rafa and Novak have established themselves as the best players so far. There's no question about that."
Sampras, who grabbed seven Wimbledon titles, was the last U.S. male to win the tournament — back in 2000. Since then, American men have experienced nothing except angst when the final bells tolled. Croatian Goran Ivanisevic seized the trophy on People's Monday in 2001, and Aussie Lleyton Hewitt counterpunched his way to the title in 2002. Since then, it's been all Federer.
From the beginning of the Open Era in 1968 to 2000, U.S. men were frequently heard from, winning 15 of 32 titles, with Sampras taking seven crowns, John McEnroe three, Jimmy Connors two and Andre Agassi, Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe one apiece.
Then after Sampras retired in 2002, Federer's magical all-court wand wowed the green grounds. But it's not like the U.S. hasn't been in this position before, as the Swede Borg won five straight crowns between 1976 and 1980 before he was finally stopped by a headstrong McEnroe in 1981.
Yet the man who is being tabbed as the most likely usurper is world No. 2 Nadal, who crushed Federer in Paris. Few are giving two-time finalist Roddick more than a puncher's chance, as he has fallen significantly behind the Big 3 in major titles over the past year and half, failing to win a Masters Series or Slam crown.
But for Roddick fans, there is reason to hope. He posted victories over all of them this year, beating Djokovic and Nadal to win the Dubai crown and then besting Federer for the first time in his last 12 tries in Miami.
"I don't know if I've ever been the one that everyone's talking about," Roddick said. "I don't really care. I just want to win matches. To be honest, it's probably nice."
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| With a favorable draw, Andy Roddick has his sights on a deep Wimbledon run. (Ian Walton / Getty Images) |
If anyone was to highly tout Roddick, it would be based on a gut feeling, not on recent results. It wasn't Roddick who won the Aussie Open — that was the strong-legged Djokovic. The American didn't win the 2008 Masters Series crowns at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome or Hamburg or a Slam at the French Open (combined, those went to Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko and Nadal.). A shoulder injury took Roddick out of Roland Garros, and he returned in decent form on grass at Queen's Club, but he was run into the ground by Nadal in the semifinals.
Even Roddick, who believes deep down that he can go toe-to-toe with Nadal on a fast surface, paid the Spaniard homage.
"He's playing well," Roddick said. "I think grass helps his serve a lot, probably more so than a hard court. I didn't feel sharp. I hadn't really played much. I went into that one probably knowing it was going to be an uphill battle with how match-sharp he was. ... Everyone acts surprised he's playing well on grass. He made the Wimbledon final the last two years, so I'm not really that surprised."
However, Roddick continues to boldly state that had it not been for the existence of Federer, he could have added two to three Wimbledon titles to his sole Grand Slam crown, the 2003 U.S. Open, having lost to the Swiss in the 2004 and 2005 finals.
While on paper that possibility exists, it does not excuse the last two years, when he was out-thought by young Scot Andy Murray in 2006 in the third round and then allowed a zoning Richard Gasquet of France to come back from two sets down against him in the quarterfinals in 2007.
"I think if you were to pick five guys to win, I'd like to think of myself in those five," Roddick said. "This year I've played some of the best stuff I have in the last couple of years when I've been on the court. I always feel like I'm going to be able to grind out matches, kind of figure out a way to win sometimes. ... I haven't forgotten about that match against Gasquet last year. It definitely left a sour taste in my mouth and I'm sure I'll think about it from time to time. But once you get out there it's not something that is in my thought process when I'm having breakfast in the morning."
Seeded No. 6, Roddick couldn't have asked to be placed in a better quarter. He'll avoid the Big 3 until the semis, when he could face Nadal. Davydenko, the top seed in his quarter, is already gone.
If Roddick serves huge, gets enough returns in play, makes use of his ferocious forehand and doesn't overplay his hand at net, another semifinal should be his.
"I have to kind of pick and choose my spots to be pretty aggressive," said Roddick, who will face dangerous Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in the next round. "I just have to hit the ball pretty firm. I don't know how to explain it better than that."
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