Roddick expects Federer to prove a point at Wimbledon

[edberg505]

LONDON (AFP) - Andy Roddick believes Roger Federer's French Open humiliation against Rafael Nadal will only make him more determined to win Wimbledon.

Nadal handed Federer a three-set thrashing in the final at Roland Garros last weekend and the Spaniard fancies his chances of repeating the trick at the All-England Club.

But Roddick, twice a Wimbledon runner-up, expects Federer to be fired up to prove a point as he tries to win the title for the sixth time.

"They're separate events. Playing the final on red clay against Nadal is not the same as playing on a grass court. It's just two entirely different things. If anything, it's going to annoy him to where he wants to prove everybody wrong," Roddick said.

"Maybe if he wins it six times, people won't question him. People are sitting here saying, 'Can Roger win Wimbledon?' Yes, he can. He's won it five times.

"I understand that it makes a good story. But I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Roger's pretty mentally strong and is capable of overcoming a defeat to win a tennis tournament.

"He's still the favorite no matter how you look at it."

Roddick, who advanced to the quarter-finals at Queen's on Thursday when his opponent Mardy Fish pulled out with a foot injury, knows how hard it is to beat Federer on grass.

Both his Wimbledon final defeats were at the hands of the Swiss, with the second prompting him to say he threw the kitchen sink at him, only to see Federer throw the bathtub back.

Roddick joked that he is planning to bring the heavy artillery this year: "It's just a matter of what I can lift. We'll see."

The former US Open champion plans to meet former coach Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon to prove there is no lingering ill-feeling after their split in March.

"He just called it but there were no hard feelings. There was no ill will. You know, I'm sure we'll get together if he's coming over to do commentary," Roddick said.

"Jimmy was great at helping me get my confidence back when I was kind of down and out a couple years ago, when I wasn't playing well. I think it took someone of his pedigree to kind of help me get back."

Link to article.

 

[malakas]

I agree with him.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Of course Roddick says that. Roger owns Roddick.

 

[simi]

Can't understand why people rag on Andy all the time. He seems like a level-headed, but fierce competitor.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Can't understand why people rag on Andy all the time. He seems like a level-headed, but fierce competitor.

He is a jerk to the umpires and seems like a spoiled kid.

 

[drakulie]

Fed is definitely the favorite, but I do feel the thrashing he took has to have a psychological effect on him.

Anyway, I think it will be Nadal and Fed again in the final.

 

[edberg505]

He is a jerk to the umpires and seems like a spoiled kid.

That he is, that he is indeed. Although in person he is a really nice guy.

 

[zagor]

LOL,Roddick is such a *******! I'm kidding,I agree with him and I also think that people who don't consider the guy who has dominated an entire field(save Nadal on clay) for 4 years and won 12 slams(10 slam finals in a row) mentally tough don't truly understand tennis.

 

[cknobman]

LOL,Roddick is such a *******! I'm kidding,I agree with him and I also think that people who don't consider the guy who has dominated an entire field(save Nadal on clay) for 4 years and won 12 slams(10 slam finals in a row) mentally tough don't truly understand tennis.

Nadal_Freak I think you should read this post over and over again. Maybe have it tatooed on your forehead so you can remind yourself everyday when you look in the mirror what a ******* you are being.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

I fear Djokovic over Federer. If somehow Nadal gets passed Djokovic, I think he'll beat Federer. That's a big if as Djokovic is a very tough matchup for Nadal.

 

[AprilFool]

Of course Roddick says that. Roger owns Roddick.

"(Federer) is probably the best in history." Raphael Nadal,14 May, 2008

 

[Richie Rich]

Fed is definitely the favorite, but I do feel the thrashing he took has to have a psychological effect on him.

only on clay, which has been the case the last 3 or 4 years. even no 1's have off days.

i agree with you though - fed is still the fav on grass. nadal could lose first round as easily as making the finals.

 

[ashnruin]

I love how even the pros are (publically) confident in Federer as well. First Murray and now Roddick. I just love the reverence people have for the man.

But I agree with Roddick.

 

[danb]

Of course Roddick says that. Roger owns Roddick.

You got that right... How could he say something bad about his pimp?

 

[danb]

LOL,Roddick is such a *******! I'm kidding,I agree with him and I also think that people who don't consider the guy who has dominated an entire field(save Nadal on clay) for 4 years and won 12 slams(10 slam finals in a row) mentally tough don't truly understand tennis.

Fed is tough until he plays a fighter - then BIG BOY WANTS MOMMY

 

[Mungo73]

I expect more excuses for my part 4 thread. Haw haw!

 

[fednad]

He is a jerk to the umpires and seems like a spoiled kid.

Andy never gets time-out warnings form umpire.
A jerk is better than a smart-*** fellow who consistently violates time rules.

 

[samster]

Federer will probably be able to prove that he owns Roddick on grass, as usual.

 

[fortunecookiesjc]

So he gets in conflicts with umpires on calls, sounds familiar......

 

[fluffy Beaver]

He is a jerk to the umpires and seems like a spoiled kid.

I'm gonna assume you've met him and he was mean to you?? Otherwise, do you really know he is a jerk?

the keyword is seems. Meaning you think he is a spoiled brat but you are not sure. Nice perspective.

 

[NamRanger]

Andy never gets time-out warnings form umpire.
A jerk is better than a smart-*** fellow who consistently violates time rules.

Or purposely disrupts his opponent's serve.

 

[moonbat]

I don't know...Fed looks a lot more vulnerable this year. It's as if his "get up and go musta got up and went."

 

[cueboyzn]

It seems Roddick is intelligent and also not susceptible (unlike a lot of so-called "experts") to all the hype and whoo-haa to think a heavy loss on red clay will translate into losses on grass for Federer. It is like chalk and cheese.

 

[ninman]

Or purposely disrupts his opponent's serve.

Or gets coaching from the stands.

 

[zagor]

Fed is tough until he plays a fighter - then BIG BOY WANTS MOMMY

Grow up,you're talking about a professional athlete who dominated almost the entire field for 4 years now.In my opinion you don't truly understand tennis or professional sport in general.

 

[prince]

roddick is just trying to take pressure off him diverting the issue to fed with that interview.

 

[samster]

roddick is just trying to take pressure off him diverting the issue to fed with that interview.

Very true. No more, no less.

 

[Blade0324]

I think it is very clear that Fed is the favorite, and he should be. The big question is can he bouce back from what happened at the French. My speculation is yes. He has done it the past 3 years to win Wimby. Now this years beat down from Rafa was pretty huge so time will tell how he will react. I think the biggest thing is that he has probably the strongest competition ever. He will have to play very well if he wants to win it again, and I'm not yet sure he can do it.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

Roddick is a nice guy. He is funny as hell, but his game can annoy me at times because he can do so much better, kind of like Safin.

It was funny on TTC during the Wimbledon show where the players spoke about equal pay. Unlike everybody else saying whether they agree or not, he stated that he's thinks they're all lucky just to play tennis for money. It was pretty funny becaue it seemed like he didn't want to get on anyone's bad side, LOL

 

[TheTruth]

So cussing out umpires isn't worth a warning? And it's better than time violations (instituted by Federer because a good stopwatch will disprove you) and cheating (also instituted by Federer) and you have the nerve to call anyone on this board a hater? Your comments prove who the real hater is. Every opportunity you get to diss Nadal, you take it. But you're the first one to call someone else a hater!

 

[TheTruth]

I'm gonna assume you've met him and he was mean to you?? Otherwise, do you really know he is a jerk?

the keyword is seems. Meaning you think he is a spoiled brat but you are not sure. Nice perspective.

But that's how we all think. We see different things and filter it through our own likes and dislikes. Nadal Freak isn't the only one who feels he's a jerk on court. Many others share that opinion.

 

[TheTruth]

roddick is just trying to take pressure off him diverting the issue to fed with that interview.

That's what it sounds like to me. You think Roddick isn't going to go in thinking he's got half a chance after the confidence sapping loss in a grand slam? Get real! He's probably re-watching the tape as we post!

 

[sureshs]

Fed is definitely the favorite, but I do feel the thrashing he took has to have a psychological effect on him.

Anyway, I think it will be Nadal and Fed again in the final.

It had better not be, because I want Federer to win here.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Federer would beat Nadal in the final again.This time it wont go 5 sets if it happens.

 

[raiden031]

I fear Djokovic over Federer. If somehow Nadal gets passed Djokovic, I think he'll beat Federer. That's a big if as Djokovic is a very tough matchup for Nadal.

I think if its a Fed-Nadal final, Nadal will win. But I have doubts he will make it to the final. I think Djokovic might be a big threat to Fed though. Djokovic would probably take out Nadal if they meet.

 

[raiden031]

Federer would beat Nadal in the final again.This time it wont go 5 sets if it happens.

I would love for a convincing win by Fed if they meet, but I think that Nadal is just too much the anti-fed. Their games just match up so bad for Fed.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

This is grass my friend.Clay is a different story.

 

[tangerine]

Federer will probably be able to prove that he owns Roddick on grass, as usual.

Federer's current grass streak of 57-0 is a good indication that he owns everybody on grass, not just Roddick.

 

[veroniquem]

Federer's current grass streak of 57-0 is a good indication that he owns everybody on grass, not just Roddick.

You're right about previous years but we're trying to evaluate his level this year and it's hard to do right now because IMHO all the best players are in Queens (not in Halle)

 

[dh003i]

I would love for a convincing win by Fed if they meet, but I think that Nadal is just too much the anti-fed. Their games just match up so bad for Fed.

Since Fed is 2-0 vs. Rafa on grass, and 3-2 vs. Nadal on HC, I think it's more realistic to say Federer is the anti-Nadal everywhere but clay.

 

[wangs78]

Federer's current grass streak of 57-0 is a good indication that he owns everybody on grass, not just Roddick.

The 57-0 record doesn't mean all that much. Every match is a new one.

Fed is something like 24-3 in the last 3 FO's. Not too shabby, yet he lost to Nadal each time.

I think Fed will win, but I'm not betting the house.

 

[Chopin]

I don't think it matters because the odds of Federer making the final are a lot greater than Nadal making the final. I expect Roddick to beat him tomorrow on the fast queen club's grass.

 

[VikingSamurai]

Of course Roddick says that. Roger owns Roddick.

You know its funny. I am a fan of Fed, but I also like and respect Rafa.. I always laugh when people with their favourite players name in their "screen name" take things to the extreme. Kinda shows their age a bit..

I am not a fan of Roddicks game, or his on court antics. But he does have an opinion that I also respect. I guess if anyone would know what Fed will do, then I guess in all honesty, he would be the one to know.. Takes a good hearted man to say something nice about someone, even though he doesn't need to. It shows that he does respect Fed as a player and a person.

I am actually impressed with Andy for his openess on this subject. ANd its a breath of fresh air to see a player actually saying something nice for once..

 

[PCXL-Fan]

He is a jerk to the umpires and seems like a spoiled kid.

I think he's changed though, don't you agree. I think he's been humbled as well as matured a bit. Sure he may still have some of that cocky nebraskan attitude but I think it has mellowed a bit and he isn't as arrogant as he used to be.

I remember a time a tiny smile came to my face when Roddick existed a tournament (sorry Roddick fans), but now I think he's changed and I'd like to see him going deep into Wimbledon. We know he has the skill to go deep.

 

[cueboyzn]

You know its funny. I am a fan of Fed, but I also like and respect Rafa.. I always laugh when people with their favourite players name in their "screen name" take things to the extreme. Kinda shows their age a bit..

I am not a fan of Roddicks game, or his on court antics. But he does have an opinion that I also respect. I guess if anyone would know what Fed will do, then I guess in all honesty, he would be the one to know.. Takes a good hearted man to say something nice about someone, even though he doesn't need to. It shows that he does respect Fed as a player and a person.

I am actually impressed with Andy for his openess on this subject. ANd its a breath of fresh air to see a player actually saying something nice for once..

Hear Hear. I agree 100% it is rather refreshing to say the least.

 

[fednad]

So cussing out umpires isn't worth a warning? And it's better than time violations (instituted by Federer because a good stopwatch will disprove you) and cheating (also instituted by Federer) and you have the nerve to call anyone on this board a hater? Your comments prove who the real hater is. Every opportunity you get to diss Nadal, you take it. But you're the first one to call someone else a hater!

Who are you talking to?

 

[Nadal_Freak]

I'm gonna assume you've met him and he was mean to you?? Otherwise, do you really know he is a jerk?

the keyword is seems. Meaning you think he is a spoiled brat but you are not sure. Nice perspective.

Never met him but the seems comes from how abusive he is to the Umpires and he is rich so no need to act all pissy so much. He might be a nice person off the court but on the court he has these characteristics.

 

[War Safin!]

LONDON (AFP) - Andy Roddick believes Roger Federer's French Open humiliation against Rafael Nadal will only make him more determined to win Wimbledon.
"They're separate events. Playing the final on red clay against Nadal is not the same as playing on a grass court. It's just two entirely different things. If anything, it's going to annoy him to where he wants to prove everybody wrong," Roddick said.

Wrong. Grass and Clay are NOT two entirely different surfaces - not anymore.
So, he's wrong.


Nadal in 4.....

 

[veroniquem]

I don't think it matters because the odds of Federer making the final are a lot greater than Nadal making the final. I expect Roddick to beat him tomorrow on the fast queen club's grass.

Time to re-evaluate your expectations, isn't it?

 

[helloworld]

Of course Fed is the favourite at Wimbledon. He has won it 5 times in a row. That's more than Nadal at the FO. Does anyone think Nadal is not the favourite at the FO?