Roddick out early again

NEW YORK -- History seems to be whispering to Andy Roddick that a second major tournament title is just not in the cards. Roddick's annual U.S. Open letdown this time came at the hands of Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic, another early exit for the 2003 champion just at the stroke of midnight Wednesday.

Tipsarevic's 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory qualified as an upset, similar to the crushing disappointment Tipsarevic delivered Roddick in the second round of Wimbledon two years ago.

Yet Roddick refused to attribute the latest major downer to a mild case of mononucleosis that recently cut into his training, and he insisted that nothing should have been made of his third-set bickering with a lineswoman over a foot-fault call.

"Zero impact on the match," Roddick said.

Instead, Roddick, seeded ninth, tipped the figurative cap to Tipsarevic's 66 winners versus 30 errors.

"It's a lot more frustrating," Roddick said, "when you're the one messing up time after time, as opposed to someone else coming up with the goods. Kudos to him. He played great. Obviously, it's not a lot of fun for me. I kept telling myself, 'You know, this has to have an expiration date on it.' Unfortunately, I needed another set for that."

In 26 previous Grand Slam events, Tipsarevic advanced as far as the fourth round only twice.