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21:41 GMT, Friday, 3 July 2009 22:41 UK

Pundits' plaudits for Roddick win

By John McEnroe
Three-time Wimbledon champion

"He was strutting his stuff out there, that was impressive, really impressive"


Andy Roddick

Roddick was relishing the idea of being the underdog. He came out with a better game plan and I didn't really see a game plan from Murray.

I thought he was chipping a lot of his returns and it seemed to me that that wasn't going to work against Roddick.

He was unlucky to a certain degree, but even in the fourth set tie-break he was still letting Roddick dictate the play.

Roddick now has more options than he did before. That is going to help him - and he needs all the help he can get in the final.

He was strutting his stuff out there. It was impressive, really impressive.

Five or six years ago we were saying that Andy Roddick would win Wimbledon. Someone who serves that big, you would think he should.

But we didn't expect Roger Federer to get so good and Rafael Nadal to emerge. I believe Murray could and should win it, but that doesn't mean he is going to.


By John Lloyd
GB Davis Cup captain

It has been a tremendous run and, with his record against Andy Roddick, Andy Murray obviously thought he was going to win the match.

But Roddick is an experienced grass court player, and I thought he played a magnificent match.

606: DEBATE

" No excuses, Murray played his best today "


Jedi87

He didn't force the action too much, it was controlled aggression. He came into the net on points where he was favourite to win.

We have seen him too many times get nervous and start charging all over the place and get caught at half-court. If you play someone like Murray with that tactic you will be in trouble.

Roddick changed it around and I thought his composure was brilliant. He took in the crowd and used that to inspire himself more, it was just a wonderful performance.

He got around 75% of his first serves in today and they were going in the corners as well.

Andy Murray is one of the great returners but there wasn't much for him to work with today. He didn't get a chance to have a go at many second serves and even those were brilliant as well.

By Boris Becker
Three-time Wimbledon champion

Obviously, Murray will be disappointed with the outcome, but he shouldn't be disappointed with the tournament.

He got all the way to the semi-finals and he must admit he lost to the better player. Andy Roddick played the best match I have seen him play in a long time. He took Murray to his limits and he couldn't come through.

He is going to be disappointed until Monday but then he should put his head back up high. Any time soon he is going to be here at a Wimbledon final.

By Andrew Castle
BBC tennis commentator

Roddick has got this phenomenal tie-break record and it is the serve that does it for him. He loves a shoot-out.

I hope he recovers quickly because he has got to play Roger Federer in the final on Sunday. That is not a disappointing final.

Of course, a lot of us in Britain are disappointed for Andy Murray, and there has been this enormous build-up for him.

But we have a great final to look forward to. I have never seen Roddick play like this before and he is going to come out eyes bulging on Sunday.

John Lloyd, Boris Becker and Andrew Castle were talking on BBC Two's live Wimbledon coverage. John McEnroe was talking on BBC Two's Today at Wimbledon.




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Men's singles results (26 Jun 07 |  Results )
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Men's singles draw (23 Aug 08 |  Tennis )
Women's singles draw (22 Jun 07 |  Tennis )

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