King of Queen's Roddick still class act on grass

By Kevin Fylan
LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Roddick needed just 55 minutes to swat away Kristof Vliegen at Queen's Club on Tuesday and remind everyone what a class act he is on grass.
The American, four-times champion at Queen's, seamlessly make the adjustment from clay and swept past his Belgian opponent 6-1 6-4 in the second round.
"Coming from clay to grass is one of the happiest days of my year," Roddick told reporters. "I don't have to make a lot of adjustments to my game to play on this surface."
Roddick comes into the grasscourt season on the back of his best performance at Roland Garros, having made it into the second week before losing to Gael Monfils in the fourth round.
The 26-year-old left Paris complaining about poor visibility and the conditions were scarcely any better on a drizzly, overcast day in London.
It must have been the bright green grass that lifted Roddick's mood as he overwhelmed Vliegen, returning beautifully and passing the Belgian seemingly at will.
The second set was scrappier but Roddick's serve was never troubled and he eventually broke for 5-4, thanks to a bad volley from Vliegen, before serving out for the win.
"I just wanted to get it done before it had a chance to rain," smiled Roddick, the world number six.
He will next face either Australian Lleyton Hewitt, another four-times winner at Queen's and Wimbledon champion in 2002, or unseeded Portuguese Frederico Gil.
CLOSE CALLS
Roddick has never won Wimbledon, with two defeats in the final against Roger Federer the closest he has come.
"I'm playing a lot better now than in years past," Roddick said. "I've been getting deeper into tournaments more consistently. And I do love this surface."
Fellow Americans James Blake and Mardy Fish followed Roddick into the last 16. Sixth seed Blake saw off the Croat Ivan Ljubicic 6-2 7-6 and eighth seed Fish beat Michael Llodra of France 5-7 7-6 6-3.
On a good day for the U.S., Sam Querrey overcame South African Kevin Anderson 7-5 6-3 to join his compatriots.
Sebastien Grosjean's comeback from a shoulder injury was cut short when he was forced to retire trailing 6-2 2-1 to Juan Carlos Ferrero in a first-round match. Continued...
Source: Reuters