ESPN.com - Wimbledon 2001 - Roddick enjoys opening match
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Thursday, July 17
Roddick enjoys opening match

LONDON -- American teenager Andy Roddick marked his Wimbledon debut with a no-nonsense 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (0) victory against Swiss qualifier Ivo Heuberger on Monday.

Roddick, 18, hailed as the future of American tennis by compatriots Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, had too much power for his opponent in only his sixth tour-level match on grass.

Roddick broke serve in the opening game of the match and reeled off a series of crushing forehand winners that, combined with his giant serve, proved too much for Heuberger, ranked 137.

As dusk began to fall, Roddick went for the jugular, winning the third set tie-breaker 7-0.

"I was enjoying myself out there," Roddick said. "I lost my concentration a bit in the third set, but I was totally focused going into the breaker."

Roddick said he enjoyed the atmosphere on court 18, a show court overlooked by other areas.

"I can feel it, people are pretty excited, that's fun for me. I like a pretty hyped-up atmosphere," Roddick said.

He said he was enjoying his first taste of Wimbledon.

"It's great. To actually be here, to be competing is a good feeling."

In the second round, Roddick faces an intriguing battle with 11th-seeded Swede Thomas Johansson, winner of two grass tournaments in succession before Wimbledon.

"There's no doubt Thomas is playing great tennis at the moment. He's on a roll and I'm going to have to play great tennis to beat him," Roddick said.

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