LOOKING IN ON: WIMBLEDON

James Borg

Friday, June 29, 2007 | 7:24 a.m.

LONDON - A week of woeful weather hasn't dampened the hopes of the two players who pose a threat to current champion Roger Federer: Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal.

John McEnroe, who rode into town with his usual flourish, says Federer may have his work cut out this year: "Sooner or later he is going to lose. He's had more flat days this year. He's lost to guys who play with a lot of effort and energy. Maybe he's gotten bored a little bit."

Sounds like what happened to Bjorn Borg going for six in a row against a certain J.P. McEnroe.

Roddick - who's been dominated by Federer at Wimbledon - seems quietly confident. He won a fourth grass court title at Queen's Club earlier this month. And he seems to have inherited a more pumped-up, never-say-die approach from new coach Jimmy Connors. (Jimbo, a former singles champ - 1974, 1982 - and an honorary member of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, also is doing TV commentary.) If he can instill a little of the gladiatorial spirit in Roddick ("You gotta leave your guts out there on the court; you leave a winner, or you leave on a stretcher") then we might see a U.S. men's champion this year.

Nadal, who just won a third title on the clay at Roland Garros, is trying to become the first man since Borg in 1980 to win back-to-back French Open and Wimbledon titles.

Federer also wants to "do a Borg" this year by winning his fifth straight Wimbledon title. Borg won his fifth in 1980 by beating McEnroe in a 34-point tie-breaker. Pete Sampras had the chance to equal it in 2001, but he was beaten by Federer.

This year Roddick has disposed of fellow American Justin Gimelstob and Thai player Danai Udomchoke. Nadal, who last year ousted Wimbledon darling Andre Agassi during his retirement year, again reduc ed the American contingent by beating Mardy Fish in the first round.

Following the Americans

James Blake barked at critics of U.S. tennis. "Two guys seeded in the top 10 here," said Blake, who is seeded No. 9 . ( Roddick is No. 3. ) "Best doubles team in the world - and winners at Wimledon last year - and we're probably the favorite right now to win Davis Cup." On the court, Blake did his part by beating Russian Igor Andreev and Romanian Andrei Pavel to move into the third round.

Over in women's singles, Venus and Serena Williams, both short on grass-court practice this year, advanced to the third round with a few scares along the way. The big news seems to be their 22-carat gold tennis rackets (inlaid in the frame). Serena Williams seems confident: "I believe I'm definitely the best player in the world. If I'm playing well, it's hard for anyone to beat me. It's not even a belief, it's more of a fact."

Need for speed

So far this week, Americans ranked 1-2 atop the leader board for service speed with Roddick (140 mph) and Fish (138 mph) in men's singles and Serena Williams (121 mph) and Venus Williams (119 mph) in women's singles.