Game over for Roddick

Feliciano Lopez sends the Americans Wimbledon dreams crashing in straight sets.

Andy Roddicks dream of winning Wimbledon is on hold for another year after he was out-gunned by left-handed Spaniard Feliciano Lopez on Friday. With Rafael Nadal relegated to Court One for his third-round clash later against Gilles Muller,Lopez gleefully stole the limelight with a sensational 7-6 7-6 6-4 victory he described as his best on grass.

Big names were also tumbling across the All England Club in the womens draw with second seed Vera Zvonareva sent packing by Bulgarias Tsvetana Pironkova in a repeat of last years semi-final which Zvonareva won before losing to Serena Williams. Svetlana Kuznetsova also lost but fifth seed Maria Sharapova is still eyeing a repeat of her 2004 title here despite a scare against British wildcard Laura Robson.

Five-times champion Venus Williams made life easier for herself after her second-round epic against Kimiko Date-Krumm,dropping a mere two games against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez to move menacingly into the last 16. World number one Caroline Wozniacki is still a round behind after getting snagged by rain delays but the Dane made up for lost time by thrashing Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano 6-1 6-3 and committing just one unforced error in the match.

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Lopez was simply irresistible as he served and volleyed eighth seed Roddick to pieces. American Roddick has become a fixture at Wimbledon where his grass-scorching serve and all-action style have fired him to three runner-up finishes at the hands of Roger Federer.

He had no answer against the net-prowling Lopez who had lost all seven previous clashes with Roddick and who has never gone beyond the last eight here despite a style that appears purpose-built for grass. Roddick,whose most recent final was a marathon defeat by Federer in 2009,had no complaints.

No regrets

This years a lot easier to deal with than last year where I feel like I gave it away, the 28-year-old said,referring to last years fourth-round defeat by Yen-Hsun Lu. I got beat. He came out. He served about as well as someone has. He played an outstanding match.

Roddick,who chucked a racket into the crowd as left the court to a generous ovation,insisted he will be back fighting his corner in 12 months despite admitting he had not played well for a year.

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With Centre Court open to the elements again the sun occasionally burst through the clouds and Roddick responded with a string of early aces. In a match resembling an old-fashioned gunfight,Roddick blinked first to drop serve but fired back immediately to take the opener into a tiebreak.

Lopez played the smarter tennis to win the tiebreak and repeated the feat to win another one and leave Roddick on the brink. One break in the decider was enough for the Spaniard set up a last-16 meeting with Gael Monfils or Lukasz Kubot. To beat Andy in this court is very special,of course. I would say maybe the best (win at Wimbledon) probably, Lopez,who crashed 57 outright winners,said. I was surprised that I didnt miss anything. Overall I think I played an unbelievable match.