The biggest tantrum so far at Wimbledon was so excessive that even John McEnroe disapproved.
Maybe Andy Roddick didn't need the help, but Greg Rusedski's profanity-laced meltdown in the third set ended his comeback bid in their second-round slugfest Wednesday.
After Rusedski lost his cool, Roddick won the final five games to finish off the angry Englishman, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1), 7-5.
PHOTO: REUTERS
"He got pretty upset," Roddick said.
The blowup came when Rusedski led 5-2 in the third set. With Roddick serving at 30-15, Rusedski stopped playing a point when a fan erroneously shouted that a shot was out. Roddick won the point, and chair umpire Lars Graff let it stand, rather than replaying it.
"Ridiculous," Rusedski shouted at Graff during the ensuing changeover. He accused the umpire of allowing the fan to change the course of the match.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Rusedski couldn't regain his composure. In what had been a tight match, he won only five of the final 23 points beginning with the disputed ruling.
"He was playing well, and he let that just get under his skin," said McEnroe, a three-time Wimbledon champion who launched a few tirades himself at the All England Club. "It's an embarrassing way for him to walk off the court."
The BBC, which televised the match and picked up Rusedski's profanities on a courtside microphone, apologized to viewers.
"I lost it a little bit on that call," Rusedski said more than an hour after the defeat. "I apologize for my language. It was not necessary ... Your emotions can sometimes take control of you because you want it so badly."
Roddick took exception to the suggestion that Rusedski's unraveling was the sole reason for the lopsided final few games.
"That, and I had just about the best returns I've hit for two years," Roddick said. "I'd like to think I had something to do with it."
Roddick, seeded fifth but the favorite with London oddsmakers, advanced to the third round for the third year in a row. He'll try to reach the fourth round for the first time when he plays No. 25 Tommy Robredo, who beat American Brian Vahaly.
That match will be overshadowed by a towering encounter between 2.08m Ivo Karlovic, the tallest player in Wimbledon history, and 1.95m Max Mirnyi. Two days after upsetting defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, Karlovic beat fellow qualifier Paul Baccanello.
Another noteworthy third-round match will pit No. 4 Roger Federer against Mardy Fish. The unseeded Fish reached the third round for the first time by beating fellow American Jan-Michael Gambill 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
"He's dangerous," Federer said. "He's got a good serve, returns well and is good all-around. I've got to watch out."
Todd Martin eliminated three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-4.
Women's play
Two-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams overcame a slow start and erratic serving to beat Katarina Srebotnik 6-4, 6-1. She'll next play French Open semifinalist Nadia Petrova, and looming in the fourth round is a possible rematch with 18-year-old Vera Zvonareva, who upset Williams in the fourth round at Roland Garros.
"I'm definitely feeling good about my game," said Williams, seeded fourth. "I feel good about myself at all times."
Also advancing were No. 2 Kim Clijsters, No. 5 Lindsay Davenport and No. 7 Chanda Rubin. No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova, fighting back tears after she blew a 5-2 lead in the third set, lost to Shinobu Asagoe 0-6, 6-4, 12-10.
The fifth-seeded Roddick avenged his loss to Rusedski at Wimbledon in 2002 thanks largely to some clutch shotmaking at the end of the first two sets.
"I was really happy with my performance," Roddick said. "He was serving great, and it was really high-level tennis."
They played for 73 minutes before there was a break point, but the match was about more than just serves. It became such a big-swinging shootout that during one rally Rusedski ducked behind the net to protect himself as Roddick wound up to put away an easy forehand. A perfectly placed backhand crosscourt winner closed out the first set for Roddick, who strutted off the court in jubilation. He played a flawless tiebreaker in the second set to take control of the match.
"It certainly would be helpful for the sport if he took that next step and won a Grand Slam," McEnroe said. "People can tell by the way I played, I'm a big proponent of personality and wearing your heart on your sleeve. That's why we're hoping Roddick, who does so, continues to come along."
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