Roddick keeps cool as Briton melts down

Posted: Thursday, June 26, 2003

 Britain's Greg Rusedski flings down his racket after a disputed call went against him in his second-round match against American Andy Roddick. Rusedski was up 5-2 in the third set when the call was made, and he lost the next five games to lose the match.Dave Caulkin/AP 

   WIMBLEDON, England - Andy Roddick knows how it feels to get so riled by a call that a tornado of anger swirls and swirls until it renders the racket useless.

   It was nice to be on the other side of the net this time: Greg Rusedski's profanity-filled tirade at the chair umpire over a disputed point was the beginning of the end of their big-serving showdown at Wimbledon on Wednesday.

   Roddick stayed focused and won the final five games, including his only breaks of Rusedski's serve, to advance to the third round with a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1), 7-5 victory.

   ''I knew he might be a little mad,'' Roddick said, ''so if I was going to get back into it or try to take over, then that was probably going to be my time.''

   This entire fortnight might just be his time. The No. 5-seeded Roddick is looking more and more like a player ready to claim his first Grand Slam title. He's fresh off his first grass-court title, at Queen's Club, and he's rejuvenated - if that word can be used to describe someone who's 20 - by new coach Brad Gilbert.

   ''The results are speaking right now,'' Roddick said. ''You don't become physically better overnight. A lot of it's between the ears, keeping calm.''

   That helped Wednesday against Rusedski, the 1997 U.S. Open runner-up and the man who eliminated Roddick in the third round last year.

   Roddick never has been to the round of 16 at Wimbledon, and standing in the way is No. 25 Tommy Robredo, who defeated Brian Vahaly of the United States 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Robredo knocked off Lleyton Hewitt at the French Open but is much more of a threat on clay than grass.

   Also into the third round were Todd Martin, who beat three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten; Justin Gimelstob, who topped No. 15 Arnaud Clement; No. 4 Roger Federer and No. 8 Sjeng Schalken. Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters and Lindsay Davenport won in straight sets, but No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova lost a 12-10 third set to Shinobu Asagoe.

   And proving that his Grand Slam-debut upset of defending champion Hewitt wasn't a total fluke, qualifier Ivo Karlovic slammed 29 aces in a 6-4, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-2 win over Paul Baccanello.

   Even Roddick and Rusedski - who share the record for fastest serve in history, 149 mph - didn't come close to that total, each compiling 14 aces. Both played stretches of superb tennis through the first two sets, neither allowing so much as a break point. Rusedski volleyed brilliantly; Roddick finished with 29 baselinewinners.

   Roddick seized control of the opening tiebreaker with a runaround forehand return winner, then closed it with a backhand passing shot at a nifty angle.

   Rusedski seemingly was getting back into the match, leading 5-2 in the third set, when the whole complexion changed. With Roddick serving at 30-15, he hit a shot that caught the line, and a fan yelled ''Out!'' Rusedski hit the ball over the net, but then stopped playing - he thought a linesman made the call.

   Roddick, a bit confused, too, tapped a volley over to win the point.

   Rusedski briefly argued with chair umpire Lars Graff, pleading for the point to be replayed. At the next changeover, though, Rusedski came unhinged completely.

   Walking off the court, he hit a ball back to the wall behind the baseline. He threw his racket down beside his chair, threw a ball, tossed his racket again, and screamed all sorts of obscenities at Graff.

   The BBC, which aired the match and picked up Rusedski's comments on a courtside microphone, apologized to viewers. Tournament referee Alan Mills said he will fine Rusedski but didn't immediately announce how much.

   ''I'm sorry for the language I used,'' Rusedski said. ''We all lose it. Unfortunately, if you lose it at work, it doesn't get shown on TV. If I do, it does.''

   He didn't win another game, losing 18 of the final 23 points.

   Roddick had something to do with that, of course. He played well down the stretch, bearing down on returns. During a practice session Tuesday, Gilbert asked French Open doubles champion Bob Bryan - like Rusedski, a left-hander - to hit serves so Roddick could simulate receiving serve from the Briton.

   Gilbert, a scrapper who won 20 titles between 1982-90 and used to coach Andre Agassi, was brought aboard by Roddick on a temporary basis after the American lost in the French Open's first round.

   Aside from strategic or scouting input from Gilbert, his biggest contribution appears to have been toning down Roddick's on-courtpersona.

   As Roddick put it Wednesday: ''I've been there before. I can relate to Greg.''

   He was known to flash a temper during his distinguished junior career. Most infamously, in the 2001 U.S. Open quarterfinals against Hewitt, Roddick lost his cool after the chair umpire overruled a linesman in the fifth set. He let loose with a racket-slamming, body-twisting tantrum and lost.

   ''That was then. He's a new kid now,'' said Gilbert, wearing a brown fishing hat with ''Metallica'' in white script. ''We're starting to see a more mature Andy. Every time he's imploded, he's lost.''

   The shout from the seats during Roddick-Rusedski came from the same general direction as one did during the preceding match on Centre Court, Williams' 6-4, 6-1 win over Katarina Srebotnik. After a Williams fault, a spectator yelled, ''Yes!''

   Williams double-faulted, and the chair umpire intoned: ''Ladies and gentlemen, please don't call out between first and second serve.'' There was no such admonition when fans cheered faults by Williams' sister, Serena, during her loss to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the French Open semifinals 21/2 weeks ago.


Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Thursday, June 26, 2003.


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