Andy Roddick v Tommy Robredo

Second set: Roddick 1 - 2 Robredo* (Roddick won the first)

Great tennis from Robredo. It's champagne stuff. He affords himself a little smile. Roddick shakes his cap-covered head.

Second set: Roddick* 1 - 1 Robredo (Roddick won the first)

A very comfortable service game from Roddick which was over alomst before this writer saw it.

Second set: Roddick 0 - 1 Robredo* (Roddick won the first)

Come on Rebredo! Some of this man's drop shots are out of this world. The crowd are loving it. He also performed some silky keepy-ups with a tennis ball between sets. I like the cut of the man's jib.

"How about a picture of Roddick holding an iron, saying 'Guilty' in a speech bubble to give us: 'Ruling with an iron (A-)Rod'," says Nick Hughes. Photoshoppers, I leave this in your capable hands.

First set tie break: Roddick 7 - 6 Robredo

Roddick races to a 6-3 lead, giving himself three set points. Robredo saves the first with a textbook serve and volley (page 63, fig3 in the manual), but ends up playing the ball into the net to give the American a rather lucky set lead.

Bob O'Hara makes a good point in reponse to Richard Embray's opening gambit on appraisals. "If Richard isn't in charge of the finances, then he should realise that you can't say "appraisal" without saying "raise". If he is in charge of the finances, then he should sack the guy and give himself a raise."

First set: Roddick 6 - 6 Robredo*

Robredo wobbles and goes 0-30 down. But he's a plucky fellow, so he is, and pulls it back to 40-30. This is a very different game to the serve-fest Roddick played against Rusedski. Tie-break time.

"For today's pun-caption, get someone to send in a photo of Andy Roddick's head superimposed onto a velociraptor or similar. Then you can call it 'Dino-Rod'," offers Tom Chivers. Hmm.

First set: Roddick* 6 - 5 Robredo

That lob obviously rubbed up A Rod the wrong way, so to speak. He wins the game to love.

"I'd recommend starting appraisals with the phrase 'And you are?'" says John. "It's best not to appear too interested in the appraisees career, problems or life in general - they'll only start complaining."

First set: Roddick 5 - 5 Robredo*

Robredo is more than holding his own out there - and he is surprising Roddick with his repertoire of shots. Robredo makes a chump of his opponent with a beautifully judged lob which Roddick thinks about and then leaves. Rock on Tommy!

"Why should you never buy a stupid dwarf?" asks Nick Hughes. "Because it's not big and it's not clever."

First set: Roddick* 5 - 4 Robredo

Robredo is getting to everything, but Roddick never loses the advantage in each rally and wins the game.

"I am Richard Embray's proposed victim for this afternoon's meetings," writes Tom Bowtell. "Do any of your readers have any suggestions as to how I can excuse away writing to the Guardian's online coverage so much? I've only got till three to save my neck."

First set: Roddick 4 - 4 Robredo*

Robredo is getting 74% of his first serves in. I know because I'm keeping records with multi-coloured pens and a calculator at the same time as writing this gubbins. Not surprising, then, that he wins this game too. He is also very good at getting around the court, engaging Roddick in tiring rallies.

Re appraisals. "As a veteran of many, can I suggest that you enter the room laughing maniacally - it always puts the appraisee on the back foot and allows you to get away with virtually anything," says Ed.

First set: Roddick* 4 - 3 Robredo

The Spaniard is cleverly taking all the pace off Roddick's serve, forcing A Rod to play some over expansive follow-ups. At one stage, Robredo even swaps hands to play a left-handed shot. But the match stays with serve.

Meanwhile Scrichapan is leading Nadal in the first set over on Court 1.

First set: Roddick 3 - 3 Robredo*

Robredo wins the game to 15. Roddick's ground strokes are looking more ropey than a Kentish Town drunk.

Our chilled reefer analyst Alex Banks is back: "Sony Ericsson T68is are nice. I think they have these fancy new polyphonic ring tones which makes your phone sound like a cheap casio keyboard from the early 80s."

First set: Roddick* 3 - 2 Robredo

Roddick makes short work of that service game, although he was helped bya slightly dodgy call which Robredo queries with a long, hard stare.

"I've got to chair an 'appraisal' meeting with one of my staff this afternoon," writes Richard Embray. "Do any of your readers have advice for me on how to appear authoratitve? So far all I've been told is: 'you can't say "appraisal" without saying "praise".' "

And, after yesterday's "eye/thigh/pie of the tiger" pun-fest, do we have any offerings for today's players?

First set: Roddick 2 - 2 Robredo*

My word! Robredo is playing some audacious drop shots. He wins the game with a beauty which has Roddick unsuccessfully scampering to the net - very well judged.

Meanwhile, someone called Patrick has just emailed in with a "business proposal" he wanted to run past me. "I hope this mail will not come to you as a surprise," he begins. "I on behalf of my family decided to contact you because we are in dear need of your assistance. I got your contact through the International chamber of Commerce (I.C.C) I decided to contact you on the mutual business relationship. My name is Patrick Konan Bedie, the son of former president Henri Konan Bedie Of Cote d' Ivoires, who was unfortunately toppled in a military coup in Dec 24th 1999 by General Robert Guei. As at when the military junta struck and overthrew the elected government of my father, my entire family was driven into exile. During this period my parents lived in France while I lived with my siblings in Netherlands." It's a heart-rending tale, isn't it?

First set: Roddick* 2 - 1 Robredo

Robredo is doing enough to get the ball back and force the American into errors. He even manages to get a break point against the Roddick serve - almost unheard of. Roddick, who equalled Rusedski's 149mph service record on his way to winning at Queen's earlier this month, just about manages to close the game out though.

First set: Roddick 1 - 1 Robredo*

Great game which goes to umpteen deuces, but the Spaniard, who plays some lovely drop shots at the net, just manages to hold on. He looks like a cross between Michael Owen and Raul, incidentally.

First set: Roddick* 1 - 0 Robredo

Thank you to the lovely people at Orange Call Centre for phoning me at exactly the wrong time to sort out my free upgrade. Roddick made short work of that first service game, clocking up a 131mph loosener. I've got myself a Sony Ericsson T68i, in case you're interested. Is that good? I just said "yes, whatever" to get her off the phone.

Hastily cut-and-pasted preamble:

Bookmakers' favourite Andy Roddick, 20, having survived the powerful serve and acid tongue of Greg Rude-sedski in the second round, meets 21-year-old Spaniard Tommy Rebredo here. Roddick is on a roll having won the prestigious Stella Artois grasscourt tournament at Queen's earlier this month.

He is fifth seed but his odds are shorter than world No1 Andre Agassi's. Agassi plays his third-round match tomorrow. Robredo, a claycourt specialist in the true Spanish mould and seeded 25 here, could have a rough ride on Centre Court.