WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Head bowed, Andy Roddick trudged off Centre Court, his purple Wimbledon towel dragging along the turf.
Roddick paused and tossed his blue-framed racket underhand. The eighth-seeded Roddick departed quickly Friday, beaten 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the third round by unseeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain. Lopez served spectacularly well, hitting 28 aces, and finally got the better of the 2003 U.S. Open champion after losing all seven previous matches they played.
That, in part, is why Roddick figured he’d make a deep run at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
It’s a tough loss,” said Roddick’s coach, Larry Stefanki. “He’s disappointed. “Unbelievable,” Lopez said. Murray plays Gasquet next.
Roddick is the highest-seeded man out of the tournament so far. Williams overpowered 76th-ranked Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain 6-0, 6-2 on Court 1.
Doesn’t matter,” Williams said. Sharapova trailed 4-1 early, then fell behind 4-2 in the tiebreaker, before taking the set’s last five points, closing it with a 108 mph service winner against 2008 Wimbledon junior champion Robson.
Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki also won a delayed second-round match, as did 2007 finalist Marion Bartoli. Defending champion Rafael Nadal’s match was among several in the third round stopped because of rain Friday evening.
Andy Roddick bowed his head and trudged off Centre Court on Friday in Wimbledon, England, his purple towel dragging along the turf.
Roddick paused and tossed his blue-framed racket. The eighth-seeded Roddick fell to unseeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in the third round.
Lopez served 28 aces and finally got the better of Roddick after losing all seven previous matches they played.
Roddick never got comfortable against the 44th-ranked Lopez, who frequently charged the net and had 57 winners.
“Unbelievable,” Lopez said.
Williams hasn’t won a major title since Wimbledon in 2008.
•Fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 win in the second round against her British opponent, left-hander Laura Robson.
Five-time champion Venus Williams, former title holder Maria Sharapova, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki and Britain’s No. 4 seedAndy Murray all advanced yesterday on another rain- stricken day in London.
“It’s a great win,” Lopez said in a televised courtside interview. Rain forced a stoppage in play at 5:39 p.m. local time yesterday, and outside matches were rescheduled for today shortly after 7 p.m. Centre Court play resumed with the roof closed, with fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka beating Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in a third-round match.
Serena Williams, a four-time champion, faces Russia’s Maria Kirilenko.
On Centre Court, Argentina’s David Nalbandian faces Federer.
Sharapova Wins
The Russian plays Czech Klara Zakopalova today.
Sharapova, the 2004 champion, beat Robson 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 on Court No. 1 at the All England Club. Shortly before Robson’s defeat, British No. 1 Elena Baltacha was beaten on Court 18 by China’s Peng Shuai, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. The Scot, a two-time semifinalist, will play Richard Gasquet next.
Wozniacki Defeats Razzano
Just like four-time winner and defending champion Serena Williams earlier in the week, Wozniacki’s match was scheduled on Court 2, a small show court a five-minute walk from the main Wimbledon complex.
Women’s Results
Venus Williams beat Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6- 0, 6-2.
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