Roddick's focus will be on serve

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
WIMBLEDON, England -- Brad Gibert, hired to rejuvenate Andy Roddick's game, has already had an impact on his pupil's style. Roddick played his opening match at Wimbledon Monday without his customary visor. He wore a tennis cap instead.
"He said I looked too much like Freddie Couples with my visor," Roddick said. "I couldn't take that. I had to ditch it."
More crucial Wednesday, when Roddick exchanges laser serves with Greg Rusedski, will be what goes on inside Roddick's head, not on top of it.
Roddick, the No. 5 seed, looked smooth and efficient in a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Davide Sanguinetti of Italy. He struck a 141-mph serve, 8 mph off the record he shares with Rusedski, and landed 67 percent of his first serves.
He won his seventh straight match on grass, following his first title on grass at Queen's Club last week.
Tougher match
Rusedski, the Canadian-turned-Briton, had a tougher go on Court 1 immediately after Roddick's match. He defeated Germany's Alexander Waske 7-6 (8-6), 7-5, 7-6 (9-7), and got a standing ovation.
The two will meet in a second round match that is "worthy of quarterfinal" status, Roddick said. Roddick, 20, is eager to prove his stirring semifinal loss at the Australian Open was no fluke. Rusedski wants to prove he's still a contender at age 29, and that the foot, knee and back problems that sidelined him for nine months have healed.
Roddick lost to then-No. 23 Rusedski at Wimbledon last year in the third round. He beat Rusedski at Queen's last week.
"Andy has played a lot better than he did the last time I played him at Wimbledon," Rusedski said. "I'm excited about our rematch. I'm not going to give away all my secrets because I'm sure he's watching this right now with Brad Gilbert. They're very clever."
Similarities
Both players have excelled in the grass tournaments leading up to Wimbledon. Roddick beat Andre Agassi, Taylor Dent and Sebastien Grosjean as well as Rusedski at Queen's. Rusedski has played three straight weeks on grass, compiling a 7-1 record and winning the Nottingham title last week.
Both are big servers. Roddick said Monday he came by his serve almost by accident.
"I just got [angry] in practice one day and went to the half motion," he said. "I hit two serves, the rest is history."
He said Gilbert has motivated and stabilized him.
"He's definitely a spark," Roddick said.
Rusedski is making his 11th appearance at Wimbledon.
"It's going to come down to the person who takes those one or two breakpoints or those one or two points in a tie-breaker," he said.