Roddick Wins Title For 12 Years in a Row at Eastbourne

Andy Roddick made his final preparation for Wimbledon a successful one, capturing the title at the Eastbourne tune-up on Saturday with a straight-set win over Italy's Andreas Seppi.

To say 2012 has been a struggle for Roddick is an understatement,  his best previous results were quarterfinal appearances in San Jose and Delray Beach. The American was eliminated in the first round of the French Open and also lost his first match last week at the Queen's Club before taking a wild card entry into this Eastbourne event to get ready for Wimbledon, which starts next week.

A three-time runner-up at the All England Club, Roddick earned his 31st career title and first since last year in Memphis with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Seppi on Saturday. It also gave Roddick at least one title in 12 straight years to match Roger Federer's active streak. He also became the first American to reach the winner's circle in 2012.

"I wanted to keep alive winning one tournament a year for 12 years," said Roddick. "I know three or four people have done that. I need to remind myself of those numbers just to [remember] this is a what did you do last week type sport. So looking back on that, maybe I need to look at those a little bit more and realize that I've done this for a long time pretty well."

Roddick Speaks About Serena's Return

"Well, it's great that she's back," Roddick told reporters after beating Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4 in the third round of the Queen's Club tournament on Thursday.

"I mean, I think, no disrespect to any of the women that are playing right now, but I think women's tennis needs that dominating figure.

"She hasn't played for a year but I think she still is that personality and, you know, she's certainly going to probably be the top storyline going into Wimbledon."

Serena has four Wimbledon singles titles to her name, one less than sister Venus who is also returning at the Eastbourne warm-up event after being ruled out since the Australian Open with an abdominal injury.
Roddick said despite a chronic lack of match practice Serena is capable of claiming the Wimbledon title this year. The championships begin on June 20.

"I don't think it would shock anybody if she came through and won it again," Roddick said. "It's very smart of her to play a lead-up event, especially after being gone for a year."

Since cutting her foot on broken glass in Munich last year, an injury that required surgery to a lacerated tendon, and then suffering life-threatening blood clots in February, Serena's presence has been missed on the WTA Tour.

Her return will help raise its profile, Roddick said.

"I think I speak for most people in tennis whereas you want her in the game for so many reasons; not only because she wins and she's a great champion, but she brings pop culture to tennis," he said.