Wimbledon Men's Singles Final 2009

First, an apology: I wrote off, a couple of weeks ago in this blog, Lleyton Hewitt. I shouldn't have. The gritty Aussie, popularly dubbed 'the streetfighter', enjoyed a terrific Wimbledon. He beat fifth-seed Martin del Petro in the first week, before back-to-back five setters in the fourth round and quarter-finals. He fought back from two sets down to beat Radek Stepanek - a game that demonstrated the power of momentum on a tennis court, as Hewitt, who'd lost the second set 6-2, broke twice to lead the third set 4-0, and continued on the front foot to win the decider 6-2. Coupled with no shortage of ability was an extraordinary will to win. Perhaps stronger, a will not to lose.

Hewitt was defeated in the last eight though, by Andy Roddick - another man who I've repeatedly written off, out loud, in the past few years. We should hate the All-American after he knocked out the best challenger for a British Men's Singles title for 73 years (sorry Tim), but I can't help but admire him.

A-Rod reached World No.1 after winning the US Open - his only Grand Slam title - in 2003. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for Roddick, beaten by Roger Federer in 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finals, and dropping outside the top 10 after the 2006 Australian Open. A succession of injuries pegged him back further, before the fightback began. With the help of his wife Brooklyn and new coach from December 2008, Larry Stefanki, he rebuilt himself both physically and mentally. Today he plays in his third Wimbledon final.

The man with the biggest, and best, serve in the world, Roddick allowed himself to become two-dimensional after 2003, taking playing to your strengths a little too far. He didn't think enough. Big serve, big forehand. That looked like it was going to be enough in the 2004 final. Roddick served sublimely as he won the first set 6-4 and went a break up in the second. Then the rain came down. I don't know what Federer got up to during the rain break, but when he came back, he knew where Roddick's serve was going. The American is a player of habit, adjusting his baggy shirt between every point and bouncing the ball repeatedly between serves. Perhaps Roger cracked the code.

Largely thanks to Stefanki's influence, Roddick's game has become more rounded and sophisticated, without losing those two big weapons. His backhand has improved massively - no longer just a slice to stay in the point and wait for a forehand to come along - and he demonstrated a real comfort at the net in beating Andy Murray in the semi-final. But as much as the American got his game plan right, the Brit got it wrong. Murray made only 45% of first serves during the first set, to Roddick's impressive 75%. There's not a chance Federer will do the same. Murray also played really passively, deciding that the longer the points went on the better. Federer will want to take control of points. Roddick needs to keep up those serve percentages and continue to mix-up his game by approaching the net regularly. Murray did pass him repeatedly though, when he was given the option of cross-court or down the line by Roddick's approach shots. Why not approach down the middle, giving very little angle for the pass?

Everyone was talking about Murray and his chances in the final on Friday, the Centre Court crowd showing their partisan support for the Scot. Roddick has since revealed, with a chuckle, that he pretended shouts of 'Go on Andy!' were for him. Today, everyone's talking about Federer's 15th record-breaking slam title, and the Swiss is always hugely popular at SW19. But the underdog American will love it. I say: 'Go on Andy!' I reckon he owes us one.