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Roddick in business mode for SW19


 

Originally published on: 20/06/12 00:00

You can usually rely on grass to put a smile on Andy Roddick’s face.

Without a win since beating Roger Federer in Miami in March, the American finally earned a stoke of luck at the Aegon International after countryman Sam Querrey was forced to retire with a back problem at 2-5 down in the opening set of their first round encounter.

The result ends a run of five straight defeats for the 29-year-old Texan, who was pleased to secure more match time on grass ahead of his 12th Wimbledon campaign.

“You’re here just trying to work. I felt like this was the best place to do it,” said Roddick, who is competing in Eastbourne for the first time after a surprise first-round exit to Edouard Roger-Vasselin at The Queen’s Club.

“You can’t really replicate match situations in practice, so it’s something I needed," he said of his visit to the South East coast. "They afforded me the opportunity to play here, and you know, I’m thankful for it.”

The world No.33 will be seeded No.30 for Wimbledon. Beaten by Roger Federer in the 2004, 2005 and 2009 finals, Roddick believes that it will take something very special to deny either Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Federer victory at the All England Club this year.

“I’m not really sure how to go about that,” he admitted. “Obviously they’ve played great and they’ve, you know, been pretty selfish about Grand Slam titles for a little bit.

“It’s going to take some extraordinary tennis – and consistently – over the course of a couple of weeks.”

Before all that, Jeremy Chardy is his next obstacle. Seeded No.6 in Eastbourne, Roddick has beaten the Frenchman in both of their two previous encounters – in straight sets in Tokyo in 2010, and in four sets in the first round of his 2009 Wimbledon campaign.

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.