LONDON (AFP) — Andy Roddick admits he is happy to let Roger Federer and Andy Murray hog the Wimbledon limelight as he seeks to take advantage of Rafael Nadal's absence from the All England Club.
With world number one Nadal having withdrawn from Roddick's quarter of the draw, the former runner-up looks well-placed to mount a threat to the pre-tournament favourites.
And, after coming through his first round tie with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3 win over France's Jeremy Chardy, Roddick said he had no problem with the men's singles being portrayed as a straight Murray-Federer battle.
"I don't care who you guys are writing about," he said. "You know, predicting two weeks from now, that's not how we go about our tournaments.
"As players, our job is to try to get through each round. As far as who's talking about what, I don't really care. I just want to go out and win matches."
Roddick does however feel that his experience of losing both the 2004 and 2005 finals to Federer could yet help his chances this year.
"Every year's different," he said. "You're not getting wins on finals played five and six years ago. But that being said, I think it just helps.
"Little things like going out on centre court, it's not as much of a big thing. Today it was his first time and maybe he was a little more nervous than I was. Subtle things like that help.
"At this point in my career, I'm not going to face many new scenarios. So, you know, maybe that's a good thing."
Roddick showed no sign of the ankle injury that denied him the chance of a fifth triumph in the pre-Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Queen's (he retired hurt in his semi-final).
The only blip in an otherwise impressive display was a sloppy service game that allowed the otherwise out-powered Chardy to break in the ninth game of the third set.
Normal service was soon resumed however as Roddick seized the initiative at the start of the fourth set and he finally brought proceedings to a halt after 2h 18min, extending his career grasscourt record to won 64, lost 14.
Federer is the only current player who has amassed more wins than the American on the surface and Roddick insisted his ankle was in solid shape.
"After Queen's they said there's going to be some inflammation, it's going to be sore.
"You know, I could walk on it but I couldn't move it in circles. My range of motion was a little limited but at this point, it's not something that's even worth talking about.
"I felt pretty good out there today."
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
