Wimbledon: Andy Roddick loses to 82nd-ranked Yen-Hsun Lu in five sets

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Andy Roddick, seeded fifth and seeming to feed off the positive energy thrown his way by Wimbledon fans so far -- be became a sentimental favorite after losing to Roger Federer 16-14 in the fifth set of last year’s final -- succumbed to big-serving Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei.

Lu, ranked 82nd in the world and unaccustomed to such moments, stunned Roddick with a 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 9-7 win Monday in the fourth round. Lu said that after losing the fourth-set tiebreak, ‘I couldn’t imagine this moment. After I lost the fourth set, I thought it was a better chance for him.’

Roddick actually won three more points (199-196) but could convert on only one of eight break-point chances in the match. Lu got himself only two break points, but on the second one, by making Roddick play a rally, he forced the American into an error.

With Sam Querrey’s 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 loss to fourth-seeded Andy Murray, the American men are no longer in the singles draw.

-- Diane Pucin