Five-time winner Roddick not panicking despite defeat to unfancied Sela in wimbledon warm-up
Five-time winner Roddick not panicking despite defeat to unfancied Sela in wimbledon warm-upAndy Roddick insists he won't press the panic button after the American's bid for a fifth Queen's title was brought to an abrupt halt by Israel's Dudi Sela yesterday.
Roddick has enjoyed more success than any of his peers at the pre-Wimbledon warm-up event in west London, but the world number seven was bundled out at the third round stage 6-4, 7-6 (10/8) by the inspired Sela.
Defeat at such an early stage of the tournament has deprived Roddick of valuable game time on grass ahead of the start of Wimbledon in 10 days time.
Roddick has unfinished business at Wimbledon after losing in the final to Roger Federer for the third time last year and he could have done with a confidence-boosting success at Queen's ahead of his latest assault on the All England Club.
But the 27-year-old, who was beaten 16-14 in the final set by Federer at Wimbledon, is adamant his experience of grass courts means there is no need to panic.
"A match at Queen's isn't going to ruin what I've done on this surface for the last eight years and how I've started off this year. I'm not panicking," Roddick remarked.
Roddick has already learned all there is to know about the unique demands of grass-court tennis, so there is no doubt he can thrive at Wimbledon.
Rafael Nadal edged into the quarter-finals at Queen's Club with a 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-4 win over Denis Istomin. Nadal, who had to call for an injury time-out at one set all, faces tests to determine the extent of a leg injury suffered. He admitted he wasn't sure how serious the injury was.
