WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -All the talk about the men's favorites at Wimbledon has been about the 'big three' of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Largely overlooked has been Andy Roddick. The two-time runner-up insists he's happy to fly under the radar.
"I don't know if I've ever been the one that everybody's talking about," Roddick said after beating Eduardo Schwank of Argentina 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the first round on Tuesday. "You know what? I don't really care."
Roddick, who lost to Federer in the 2004 and '05 finals, has the huge serve and forehand to challenge anyone on grass. But he has been slowed by a shoulder injury this season, missed the French Open and is seeded only No. 6 at Wimbledon.
Federer, meanwhile, is going for a sixth straight title. Nadal is coming off his fourth straight French Open championship and first grass-court title at Queen's. The third-ranked Djokovic is the Australian Open champion.
"The big three?" Roddick said when asked if he'd ever heard the term. "They've played pretty well, but it goes in waves. People are going to come in an out. I think Roger and Rafa and Novak have established themselves as the best players so far. There's no question about that."
"Now, as far as fun nicknames, headlines and whatever, I don't really care," he added. "Everyone's beatable. I've beaten the three of them. But if you're asking if it (angers) me at all, I don't really care. I just want to win tennis matches."
That's what Roddick did in fairly convincing style against a gritty Argentine making his Wimbledon debut at 22. Roddick served 17 aces and never faced a break point.
"I actually hit the ball probably better than the score indicates," Roddick said. "It seems like every game I was 30 on his serve and kind of cruising on mine. He would come up with something creative a lot of the times."
His next opponent is burly Janko Tipsarevic, who beat Thierry Ascione of France 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-2. Roddick beat the Serb in a tight four-setter here in the first round in 2006.
"He just hits a pure ball," Roddick said. "He's able to attack off both sides. Doesn't really play himself out of points. He serves pretty well for someone who is not super tall. If he's playing well, that's a lot to deal with."
Djokovic was due first up on Centre Court on Wednesday for a second-round matchup with former No. 1 Marat Safin, who has slipped to No. 75 and won successive matches only twice this year. Federer was to face big-serving Swede Robin Soderling, whom he has beaten in all six previous meetings.
In women's play, top-seeded Ana Ivanovic was paired on Court 1 against French veteran Nathalie Dechy, while two-time winner Serena Williams was scheduled to face Urszula Radwanska of Poland on Court 2 - the so-called "graveyard of champions" for its history of upsets.
Among those advancing to the second round on Tuesday - all in straight sets - were Nadal, defending women's champion Venus Williams, 2004 winner Maria Sharapova and second-seeded Jelena Jankovic.
While Sharapova made a fashion statement with a tuxedo-style outfit, Lindsay Davenport wore bandages extending from mid-thigh to mid-calf in her first match at Wimbledon since 2005.
The 1999 champion, competing in her 13th Wimbledon at age 32, hobbled with a sore right knee and overcame Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
Back on the women's tour after a hiatus to have her first child, Davenport showed she still possesses the grass-court game to beat anyone - even on one leg.
"I wouldn't come here if I didn't think I would do really well," she said.
