Wimbledon: Roddick, the crowd's real champ!
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Article by: Rumer Certeza Photos: Zumapress, Fame Pictures |
Andy Roddick's return to Wimbledon brings back the sting of last year's heartbreaker. But despite having yet to capture the big title, the American remain's the crowd's colossal hero.
An uproar of chants filled the Wimbledom stadium, in a flashback of one of the greatest, if not the greatest tennis matches ever witnessed. Last year's remarkable finish with a 16-14th fifth set, had the spectators in a screaming frenzy, but it wasn't the champion's name that echoed everywhere.
No, it wasn't Roger Federer, world's number one, claiming his sixth title at Wimbledom and a total record breaking 15 Grand Slam titles. Instead, the salute and centre of attention went to the runner-up, Andy Roddick, who fell to 1-4 in major finals, including 0-3 at the All England Club, at the expense of Federer.
So come Monday's Wimbledon opener, the 27-year-old American will bury that painful past, and embark on another quest for that lost glory.
Nothing more than spectacular. That exactly describes Andy Roddick's performance in last years finals, where his powerful serve was uncontested almost at will, and broken only once, in Federer's 77th and last game of victory, to the tune of 5-7, 7-6, (6), 7-6, (5), 3-6, 16-14, the longest match and longest fifth set, in terms of games in the history of Grand Slam Finals. Roddick even injured his hip in the fourth set, when he slipped on the court.
Roddick's lightning speed serve only gets more deadly and tougher for the opposition, especially with Wimbledon's slick surface. As Roddic's coach, Larry Stefanki would put it, "Grass is what you call his bread-and-butter."
Roddick, world's number 5 in rank, was able to capture the 2003 U.S. Open title, but is still waiting to bring home the big bacon at Wimbledon, and his close calls only gave him the boost to give it his all at the All England Club.
His coach however, gave a stark reminder that his boy needs to keep focus on the present, at the start of the big tournament.
Says Stefanki, "That's the last thing you want to think about, winning a major when you've got seven rounds to win. Until you get to that seventh match, you'd better put that on the back burner. I mean way on the back burner."
And without a doubt, other players will be standing in Roddick's path. Last year's finals rival, Federer for sure, will be the American's main obstacle.
Besides the top seeded Swiss, other names to look out for are No. 4's Andy Murray, the pride of Britain and best bet to end a Grand Slam title drought, No. 6 Robin Soderling, who put an end to Nadal's record 31 match winning streak in the French Open last year, as well as ending Federer's record streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals at the French Open this month; and no. 18 Sam Querry, who triumphed in a tuneup title on grass last weekend.
Nadal, Federer's known nemesis, was unable to defend his Wimbledon championship last year, because of a painful tendinitis in both knees, having to withdraw a few days before the tournament commenced.
So through all this time since that unforgettable event, people from all corners of the world have mentioned the match to Roddick, and have garnered countless new fans despite the defeat.
Let's all hope tables will turn for him this year. And I want to see those mind-boggling serves again. Make us proud!
Jesse James will move to Texas, hoping to bump into Sandra?
The 41-year-old 'Monster Garage' host is making a permanent move to Austin at the end of next month, according to his attorney John Schilling during a custody hearing Friday in Orange County, California,
James says that the migration was intended for him to handle business matters and other personal matters. Doesn't that spell out Sandra?
No, he wouln't say if it does have anything to do with estranged wife Bullock, 45, who owns a home in the same area.
And another concern is if the move will affect James' 6-year-old daughter Sunny's relationship with her porn star mother Janine Lindemulder.
The troubled ex-wife of the motorcycle mechanic, has ever since battled substance abuse, and currently resides in Los Angeles. he was granted periodical, supervised visits earlier this month.
Yet during Friday's hearing, a judge has received a letter from Lindemulder's current spouse, indicating that she was on prescription meds and should be disallowed to visit Sunny. However, Lindemulder's attorney provided a different letter in defense of her, making her husband's claims null and void.
Seems that Jesse James is slowly cleaning up his act. Hopefully.
