WIMBLEDON, England - Andy Roddick is putting up numbers Pete Sampras could appreciate.
On the way to his Wimbledon quarterfinal debut, Roddick has won 63 of 65 service games, saving 11 of 13 break points. That's comparable to, or better than, Sampras' statistics each year while taking seven titles.
There's a lot to like about Roddick's game right now, but it's his serve that dazzles.
"That's my best shot," Roddick said, "and I definitely appreciate it."
With No. 1 seed Lleyton Hewitt and No. 2 Andre Agassi out, it's the first time in the Open era both of the top two seeded players failed to make the quarterfinals. It's also the first time no past Wimbledon champion is in the final eight since 1973, when a player boycott diluted the field.
In a fourth-round match completed Tuesday, Sebastien Grosjean hit 17 aces and beat French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3). Play was suspended because of darkness Monday night after the third set. The other men had Tuesday off.
So no matter who takes home the trophy Sunday, seven different players will have won the last seven majors. That's one short of the Open era record of eight, which has happened twice: from 1975-77 and 2000-02.
And Mark Philippoussis, the 1998 U.S. Open runner-up, is the only one of the eight to even have played in a Grand Slam final.
So that just ratchets up the anticipation that Tim Henman will become the first Englishman to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. He has been a semifinalist four of the past five years, losing to the eventual champion each time.
"I couldn't be happier to be in my position right now," Henman said. "But I know that if my level drops, if my performance drops, then, you know, I'll lose. But if I keep playing the way I am, keep doing the right things, I've got a good opportunity."
