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Roddick getting used to flying solo
Andy Roddick is getting used to being the sole bearer of American men's tennis. He arrived at Wimbeldon on the back of severe drought for the US men
Andy Roddick is getting used to being the sole standard bearer of American men's tennis.
Roddick's victory at the US Open in September 2003 was the last time an American man held aloft a grand slam trophy.
The second seed arrived at Wimbledon on the back of a seven-slam drought for the US men and despite there being nine American contenders in the men's draw, Roddick remains the only realistic title challenger.
"I wish it wasn't like that," said Roddick, who was runner-up to Roger Federer here last year. "Not only for the US, but those guys, they're my friends.
"Unfortunately, they've had a rough go of it recently. But you can't worry too much about stuff that you have no control over. I'm busy enough worrying about the stuff that I do have control over.
"It's disappointing. It puts the onus on me a little bit more. Most of all, I just feel bad for my friends, for what they're going through right now."
Apart from world number four Roddick, the rest of the American contenders at the grasscourt grand slam have barely set the world stage alight.
For more than a decade, the all-American smile was a trademark on finals' day at the grand slams as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang won one major title after another.
From 1989 the quartet chalked up 27 titles between them and ensured that the United States won at least one slam a season.
When Roddick triumphed at Flushing Meadows two years ago, it appeared the changing of the guard had taken place.
But the American juggernaut came to a shuddering halt in 2004 and for the first time in 15 years, the men went home empty-handed from all four grand slam tournaments.
After failing to break the barren run in either Melbourne or Paris this year, pressure is mounting on Roddick to end the drought, especially as it now appears Agassi looks like heading into retirement at the end of the season.
"There's not one person at this tournament who doesn't have pressure on him," said Roddick. "That's part of the whole thing. If I didn't want pressure, I'd go make sandwiches somewhere."
"I'm not going to sit here and cry about anything in my life. I just kind of try to work hard and do my best, and that's all I can do.
"It's part of the whole deal. I have two options: either to accept it or drop out and be 60 (in the world) so we have nobody.
"I'm going to contend with it and I'm going to try my best...just deal with it as best I can."
