Wimbledon: Easy win for Andy Roddick over Rajeev Ram

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Andy Roddick got a standing ovation from the Court One crowd Monday before his 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 first-round win over fellow American Rajeev Ram, and he got another one afterward. Roddick, a three-time Wimbledon runner-up, has always been well-liked here, his running on-court chatter and his always-obvious desire a pleasure to the fans.

But after his five-set loss (16-14 in the fifth) to Roger Federer last year in the finals, Roddick seemed even more popular here. His path out of the court was crowded with well-wishers Monday. Calls of ‘Way to go, Andy’ and ‘Win it all, Andy’ were heard.

As for the matter of his first round, there was little drama. Roddick served big and moved well. He was never under pressure and will next play Frenchman Michaël Llodra, who beat American qualifier Jesse Witten Monday.

-- Diane Pucin, in Wimbledon, England