ANDY RODDICK loves Wimbledon because he has the knowledge - thanks to his cabbie pal.

The world No 6, preparing for the championships which start on Monday, is best mates with a taxi driver he met by chance.


Stephen Little was even invited to Texas in April for Roddick's high-profile wedding with model Brooklyn Decker.





SPECIAL DAY ... Andy Roddick and his bride Brooke at their wedding, with cabbie Stephen Little and his wife Pat


Roddick, 26, who hopes to be fit despite suffering an ankle injury at Queen's Club, said: "It is a friendship which came by chance.


"He picked me and my coach up one time when we were looking to go to a restaurant. Next time, as we had his card, we gave him a ring.


"From there, six years on, he has helped us whenever we have called him. He helps us out with odd jobs at Wimbledon.


"He comes over to the States to visit. He came to the wedding. When he first drove me to the restaurant, he knew a minimal amount about tennis. I was young and had not been around for that long.


"The other week, he picked me up from the train station in London when I arrived from Paris on the Eurostar.


"It was nice to see him. I spent some of the time in a hotel but will now be going to a house in Wimbledon. I love the tournament because everything about it is different.


"It is so prestigious. There is a dress code for a start, which you don't get at other tournaments.


"You see the fans queueing up overnight and having barbecues. It's more like a festival. There are some nice pubs in the village and maybe, after the tournament, I will go there and have a drink.


"But hopefully, before that, I will have a good Wimbledon. It will also be great that we have a roof on Centre Court.


"While it won't affect that many players, it is great for the fans.


"And at least you won't get Cliff Richard singing!"


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Roddick has twice reached the final, losing to Roger Federer in 2004 and 2005, although he suffered a shock second-round loss to Janko Tipsarevic last year.


He added: "I hope to be fit. It was disappointing to withdraw from my semi-final at Queen's against James Blake but at least I got three matches in. And at least I have been playing well recently."


Roddick has been impressed with the form of Andy Murray who, as expected, was yesterday named as the third men's seed. The former US Open champion said: "When I played at the Open in New York, the pressure was a little different.


"The year before I won the Open, Pete Sampras won it. Andy has to deal with history which I didn't.



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"As much pressure as there is, it can also help you. I watched him against Richard Gasquet to make the quarter-finals last year and felt the fans were helping him win.


"That was one of his breakout matches. Over the last 12 matches, he has been a different player.


"Also, as far as scheduling goes, his matches will get priority which is also a help. It's not easy to win a Grand Slam but it's just a matter of time before Andy wins one."


Roddick spent the week playing a new tennis computer game.


He said: "I played as myself and I lost to Lleyton Hewitt!"