Lopez puts paid to Roddick hopes

Three-time finalist Andy Roddick became the biggest men's singles casualty at Wimbledon so far as he crashed to a 7-6 (7/2) 7-6 (7/2) 6-4 defeat by Feliciano Lopez on Centre Court.

It looked a tricky assignment for the American, who had a tough battle with Lopez at Queen's Club earlier this month, but the comprehensive manner of the loss was still a shock for a player so at home on the lawns of SW19.

Unusually for a Spaniard, Lopez has a natural game for grass and is a two-time former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, and he produced a superb performance to beat Roddick for the first time in eight attempts. He made 57 winners and just seven unforced errors.

Lopez, nicknamed 'Deliciano' by Judy Murray, looked like he had blown his chance in the first set when he broke Roddick to serve for the first set only for the eighth seed to break straight back.

However, the tie-break was a one-sided affair in favour of the world number 44, who was finding returning the Roddick serve surprisingly straightforward.

Lopez was mercilessly targeting his opponent's backhand, and the strategy helped him create a set point to move two sets in front at 6-5 ahead against the Roddick serve. That was quickly snatched away but again the tie-break proved no problem for the Spaniard.

Roddick simply had no answer to Lopez, who was superior from the back of the court and at the net and also led the ace count with 28 compared to his opponent's 23.

The 29-year-old took a real stranglehold on the match in the third game of the third set, breaking the Roddick serve for the second time.

And from that point there was no way back for the American, who looked a shadow of the player that two years ago beat Andy Murray and then pushed Roger Federer all the way in the final.

A delighted Lopez said: "It's so important for me to win. I hadn't beaten him before and to win at Wimbledon is very special. I was a little bit nervous, it's always difficult to close out the match, so I'm so happy."