Andy Roddick joining the BBC’s commentary team was the biggest thing that happened to Wimbledon on Wednesday.
– Wimbledon: Murray to face Federer in Wimbledon semi-finals
– Wimbledon: Djokovic eases into seventh Wimbledon semi-final
– Gallery: The top-ten greatest Wimbledon upsets in history
The American retired ex-world No 1 has been a huge hit covering other sports for Fox but finally made his tennis commentary debut for the BBC during the men’s quarter-finals on Wednesday.
His supremely insightful analysis, his ability to speak for pretty much hours and hours and his quick wit are just a few of Roddick’s great qualities that make him the perfect guy for this gig.
Please, @BBCSport, get Andy Roddick to do this every year. Most insightful tennis commentary I’ve ever heard.
— Mark (@quigonsmith) July 8, 2015
Some early gems from Roddick included his response to Sue Barker when asked if he had ever considered going gluten-free like Novak Djokovic. “Now that I’m retired, I try to eat extra gluten. I’m on a gluten-surplus,” said the 32-year-old.
When she was discussing Andy Murray’s meticulous warm-down routine after a match, he said: “I never understood how you can warm down, it’s cool down.”
And when Barker quizzed him about the splash David Beckham – who was watching with his son Romeo on Centre Court – made in the United States, Roddick responded: “I think he makes a splash everywhere he goes… His bone structure alone…”
Beckham was one of an impressive group of A-list visitors to the tennis yesterday with Prince William and Kate, Billie Jean King, Rod Laver, Gary Lineker, Paula Radcliffe, and Ellie Goulding all getting the Centre Court treatment.
Actor Bradley Cooper was in Roger Federer’s box accompanying Mirka Federer on Court 1, while another Hollywood star Josh Hartnett was on Centre Court for Novak Djokovic’s match with Marin Cilic. French footballer Nicolas Anelka sat next to Mansour Bahrami to watch Stan Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet on Court 1.
Roddick and Laver were a dream combination on BBC Radio 5 Live for a bit, along with Pat Cash, and the highlight was Laver referring to Murray’s opponent Vasek Pospisil, ‘Popsicle’, throughout his commentary.
The Canadian’s last name does lend itself to some funny variations but the best use of it has got to be the hash-tag created by his doubles partner Jack Sock who has been tweeting #AnythingIsPospisil throughout his buddy’s sensation run to the quarter-finals here.
Besides the glam visitors listed above, one tennis fan stood out in the stands as he shaved his head and face to the shape of the patterns on a tennis ball. That takes dedication to a whole other level.
Tennis ball head guy at Wimbledon is top 5 favorite things I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/3oVKvuWWZ7
— Alex Hattenhauer (@AHattenhauer) July 8, 2015
