Notebook

Blake says he needs attitude adjustment

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- James Blake admits he needs to get his head sorted out.

The 26th-seeded American lost in the second round Thursday at Wimbledon to Sargis Sargsian 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-2. Blake said he didn't play to his ability because he couldn't cope with having to overcome an early deficit.

"I'm pretty disappointed in the way that I played, the way I got down on myself too quickly," Blake said. "I'm down a set and a break or something and my head's constantly looking at my shoes and my shoulders are slumped.

"It's a pattern that needs to be broken."

Blake said he needed to be able to pretend he was always a set and a break up in a match.

"I need to find a way to just trick myself into thinking that's the case all the time, and I need every single game, no matter what the score is.

"At 23-years-old, it's pathetic that it comes down to just something that a 15-year-old should be able to figure out. It's really simple and I'm disappointed that that's possibly the reason I'm not ranked higher or I'm not as good a player as I could be."

Blake, who was rated the No. 1 college player while at Harvard University in the 1990s, didn't think a psychologist would be the answer.

"No definitely not," he said. "I think they might screw me up more than I could screw myself up."

British deficit

Jelena Dokic has a theory as to why British tennis players don't have as much success as their Continental counterparts.

"I think the European girls are much more hungry," the 11th-seeded Dokic said. "I was very hungry to make it. That was the only thing on my mind. That's what I was pushing for.

"Maybe they're just not hungry enough. Maybe they're not pushed enough. I think the players that have less opportunities are usually the ones that get through because they are so hungry."

This year, all five British women lost in the first round. It's the first time that the country didn't have a single female representative in the second round since the Open era began in 1968. The last local women's winner was Virginia Wade in 1977.

Dokic, 20, was born in Belgrade but began her tennis career after her family moved to Australia in 1994. In 2001, she changed her nationality back to Yugoslavia, now known as Serbia-Montenegro.

She beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi 6-1, 6-3 Thursday to make the third round.

Top personality

When Serena Williams eyes the ATP Tour, she makes a point to watch Andy Roddick.

"Andy Roddick has an amazing personality," Williams said. "I'm not one to watch men's tennis, but I get excited when I see him playing because he's exciting to watch.

"His antics on the court, you know, he fights, he says 'Come on,' he screams, does wild stuff. I think it all boils down to personalities."

Williams won her second-round singles against Els Callens 6-4, 6-4 Thursday, then 30 minutes later was back on the court with sister Venus for a first-round doubles.

"It's definitely been a long day," Williams said. "But it's a good workout. I'm in very good shape now. I'm not tired. I'm running for long points. I don't get tired at all so it's good."

The doubles match against Corina Morariu and Rennae Stubbs was even at 7-6 (7), 2-6, 3-3 when play was suspended because of darkness.

A series of slam-bam rallies earned the players a standing ovation as they departed.

Morariu is back on the tour after recovering from a life-threatening battle with leukemia.

"She's the epitome of a fighter," Serena Williams said. "They're playing I think above their means, and I think they're playing really well."

Takin' it easy

Tough conditions at Wimbledon? Hardly.

A relaxed Jennifer Capriati described the atmosphere in the women's dressing room at Wimbledon. It sounds more like a luxury spa.

"I'm in the top-seeded locker room, so it's very nice," she said. "It's not like your average locker room. You know, there's nice couches. You have teas, little biscuits and stuff like that.

"It's a nice place to be so I don't mind going in there."

Capriati, however, complained about getting tickets from the All England Club after winning her second-round match over Swiss Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian, 6-2, 6-1.

"There's so much history behind it (Wimbledon) and they try to maybe make it a more classy event," she said. "But it's pretty hard still to get tickets, even for the players. They're not too nice about that."

What fine?

Greg Rusedski was fined US$2,500 for screaming out a string of profanities in his second-round loss to Andy Roddick.

John McEnroe, for one, thought it was too small.

"You cannot be serious. I'd be in jail for that," McEnroe said.

"I've had bigger fines here as well. I hate to admit."

Rusedski stopped playing a point on Wednesday when a fan erroneously shouted that a shot was out. Roddick won the point and chair umpire Lars Graff let it stand rather than replaying it.

Roddick was serving at 30-15 and leading by two sets to love at the time.

The BBC, which televised the match and picked up Rusedski's comments on a courtside microphone, apologized to viewers for his profanities. Beginning with the controversial point, Rusedski won only five of the final 23 points, losing 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1), 7-5.

Wimbledon referee Alan Mills said Graff was correct in allowing the play to continue.

"Crowd noise 'out' calls from spectators and other similar distractions are not considered a hindrance and the point should stand as played," Mills said.

Mills was citing Section P of the International Tennis Federation Officials' handbook.

Olympic Wimbledon

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge is expected to be in the Royal Box for the men's final on July 6.

London officials bidding for the 2012 Olympics have suggested Wimbledon might be the venue for tennis. Paris, which is also bidding for the games, has proposed the clay courts at Roland Garros as a cite.

Wimbledon may be a better publicity tool than an actual venue for the Olympics.

The problems? Wimbledon is across town from East London, where the main venues are to be built. That's 15 miles (25 km) through some of the world's most congested streets.

Second, the All England Club is private and closed to the public. Finally, Wimbledon officials have suggested a large price tag for using the facilities.

Cheap date?

If you are looking for a cheap date, don't come to Wimbledon.

First of all, tickets on Centre Court range from 28 pounds (US$45) to 72 pounds (US$115).

Then there's the food.

A pint of beer is 3 pounds (US$5), a smoked salmon salad with shrimp is 14.95 pounds (US$ 24) and a cheeseburger and fries runs 5.50 pounds (US$9).

Ahh yes, then there is the matter of waiting. Many of the 40,000 fans who get in daily stand in line for 3 1/2 hours waiting for the gates to open. Hundreds even camp out overnight on Church Rd. -- bordering the club -- to buy a ticket.

 

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