NOTEBOOK \U.S. Open

Roddick OK with rowdy fans: Andy Roddick is all for raucous, rowdy tennis fans. Just as long as they’re quiet while a point is being played. The issue arose at the U.S. Open — where, as it is, spectators traditionally are louder than at Wimbledon or the French Open — because the chair umpire warned a group of fans for being disruptive during James Blake’s loss to Mardy Fish. “It’s sports. You’re supposed to go after someone. There’s supposed to be tense moments. You’re supposed to yell,” the eighth-seeded Roddick said Sunday after beating No. 31 Andreas Seppi 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (4) to reach the fourth round. “All of a sudden, if there’s a net and rackets involved, you can’t do that?” Like other Americans at the American Grand Slam tournament, Roddick generally receives strong support at Flushing Meadows, and he’s been known to play to the crowds — even high-fiving a fan after a point. But he acknowledges there are limits. “If someone tosses a ball up and you yell, then I think that’s a direct distraction. If it’s between points, yeah, they can do whatever they want,” he said. “I think as long as you’re respectful of the rules of the game, have a ball.” Why is it important that there’s silence during play? “We use all of our senses. ... We’re trying to see a ball moving at 100-and-whatever miles an hour,” the 2003 U.S. Open champion said. “As long as it’s in the framework of being respectful, then I’m all for it. You can do a handstand if you want.” Roddick, of course, has been known to make a racket, too. Well, break a racket. He smashed one during his second-round victory over Ernests Gulbis Friday night, completely mangling it. As he put it: “If I complain about anybody carrying on during a match, I’d be bordering on hypocrisy.” And Roddick sees no reason for tennis to have a code of conduct saying players should be warned — and, eventually, penalized — for racket abuse. “If a guy wants to break a bat in the dugout, he doesn’t get warned. It’s not hurting anyone,” he said. “If it’s affecting your opponent, then that’s probably disrespectful, then keep it out of there. But it’s my racket, not anybody else’s.”

Mr. Lux not lax: To many, being the top tennis player in their country’s history would be quite a thrill. To Gilles Muller, there’s a qualifier. “I mean, that’s not my goal, to be the best in Luxembourg,” he said. Muller became the first man or woman from his nation to reach the fourth round at a Grand Slam, rallying past No. 18 Nicolas Almagro 6-7 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 7-5 Sunday at the U.S. Open. In his previous match, he rallied from two sets down for the first time in his career and beat Tommy Haas 2-6, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-3. The win over Haas made Muller the first man from Luxembourg to get into the third round at a Slam. He was first to reach the second round, too. Then again, he’s the only man from his country to play in a major event. “I’m the first one actually to do everything,” he said.

Associated Press