Roddick banks on Wimbledon familiarity for Olympic bonus
Roddick banks on Wimbledon familiarity for Olympic bonus
Whether it is the dip that trips him up as he walks on
court or the veteran staff who have been there forever, there are many
things at Wimbledon to help Andy Roddick develop an Olympic relationship
he has never had before.
The big-serving American has played at the Games once
in Athens in 2004, but has a long-standing love affair with the grass
court slam stretching back 11 years and three losing finals.
With his star beginning to wane, the 29-year-old will
no longer among the favourites for a medal when the players return to
south-west London to fight it out for supremacy for a second time in
quick succession.
But having decided not to play in Beijing four years
ago, saying he would rather concentrate on that year's U.S. Open, Roddick is excitedly anticipating a shot at Olympic glory.
"The Olympics is a one‑off event every four years and
it's not in the same place, so you don't develop a relationship with the
Olympics," he told reporters after moving into the Wimbledon second
round by beating Britain's Jamie Baker 7-6 6-4 7-5 on Wednesday.
"You don't go to the venue and recognise people and know where you're going.
"So I think it (this year) might be a little bit different...
"Even (dressing room attendants) Doug (Dickson) and
Garry (Taylor) in the locker room, seeing those guys for the first time
every year.
"I think they've been here since the '20s. Maybe not quite that long.
"When you walk out to Court One, there's this little
dip. When you have grass court shoes on your trip on it every time, so
I've tripped on it about 66 times throughout the years. That always
reminds me that I'm back.
"Going over to Aorangi walking up to the practice. There's a million things."
As a Wimbledon veteran, there was something very
familiar for Roddick about having to return a day after starting his
first-round match to finish it off due to the drizzly weather that
descended in the late evening and returned early afternoon on Wednesday.
Leading by a set and a break overnight, the number 30
seed was efficient if unspectacular in the way he dispatched the British
wildcard to set up a second-round clash with Germany's Bjorn Phau.
"They tell you to go play, you go play," he said about
the near 22 hour rain delay. "You can't really stress about what's out
of your control. I've done it a million times.
"You just do it. It's not always perfect, but you just try to get through."
