Roddick not panicking despite early Queen's exit

Published>Thu, Jun 10 10 11:27 PM

Andy Roddick was not pressing the panic button after an early exit at Queen's Club on Thursday left the American with a little too much time on his hands.

The 28-year-old American was beaten 6-4 7-6 by Israel's Dudi Sela in the third round of the tournament he has won on four previous occasions, denying him some valuable grasscourt play as Wimbledon looms.

"I'm not super concerned about the way I'm hitting the ball, I'm not stressing out about any one part of my game too much," Roddick, beaten in three Wimbledon finals by Roger Federer, told reporters. "It's basically getting over my own impatience as opposed to worrying about anything about my game.

"I would much rather spend the time getting some matches in. I'm not that worried about it, but I definitely would rather kind of have (the practice sessions) count for something.

"I'm not worried about being able to play on a grass court. I know how to do that. One match at Queen's isn't going to ruin what I've done on this surface for the last eight years."

Roddick only had one break point in the match, on Sela's opening service game, but after failing to convert that he immediately lost his own serve and struggled to stay with an inspired opponent from then on.

The fourth seed had two set points to take the third round clash into a decider, but Sela saved both with some tremendous stroke play and then claimed a notable victory on his second match point with a full-length diving volley.

"I think I could have done some things differently, but I thought he played a pretty perfect match," was Roddick's typically honest assessement of his performance on an overcast day at the elite west London club.

"I've played worse at this tournament before and gotten through and won it. I thought he played a really good match. He outplayed me today."

Roddick ruled out a quick dash home to Texas and said he would not ask for a late entry into next week's Eastbourne event despite playing just two matches on grass this week.

"I'm not gonna go into a panic mode and start doing that stuff," the former world number one said, adding that his wife was flying in to join him this week.

"I'll try to get some practice in. I'll probably get more time on the track or in the gym.

"Maybe I'll figure out if there's some shows or a concert to kind of get away and take my mind off the fact that I'm not playing here."

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