Are Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick Finding the Grass Groove?

Roger Federer might be the firm favourite to win the Wimbledon crown this year, closely followed by Andy Murray, but a certain American and Australian are looking like they have found their missing rhythm in the pristine SW19 grass.

Their movement isn't clobbered, it's free-flowing; the shots are seamless and effortless; and in Andy Roddick's case, his serves are booming as though they were missing and pining for the Wimbledon action from ages.

Both Lleyton Hewitt and Roddick return to the richly mowed lawns of London hoping to make a strike in their favour, trying to redeem themselves at a place where they faced both triumph as well as heartbreaking defeat.

For the former Wimbledon champion, who has enjoyed decent success so far this year, winning a clay court title at Houston, his performance at London could help him regain a footing in the ranking spots, bolstering not only his confidence but also his fans' confidence in him in the process.

As a player known for his grit and determined attitude, Hewitt's injury has managed to convert him into a meek and submissive player. Sometimes his play appears as though he has lost everything it takes to give a resounding and thumping performance, although he may not win each and every time.

His fans have taken a huge blow too. His injury was sort of incomprehensible, and though the slow rehabilitation process of rebuilding his career was pleasing news to hear, it was often hard for them to see their beloved in the lowest rung of a ladder trying hard to regroup, when he was perfectly placed and ensconced at the top at one point of time.

This year hopes once again banked on him; some which he justified exemplarily, while some he couldn't help but crash. Wimbledon, however, is a place where he relishes playing to the extreme, and given the way he cruised past his first round opponent, giving away just six games, the baritone of faith placed on him has been raised like a pole vaulter's barrier being upped.

His second round match promises to be interesting as he squares off against world No. 5 Juan Martin Del Potro, who, though his tennis-playing abilities definitely look promising, isn't someone known specifically for his grass court abilities. Hewitt will look forward to exploiting this chink in the Argentinean armour and presenting a sliver of the former Hewitt-ian self.

While Hewitt tries to break a leg of sorts, Andy Roddick seems to be doing his own version of a luck-inspiring jig, trying to break his Wimbledon finalist tag.

Larry Stefanki's protégé, who recently upturned his French Open record to a certain extent, looks like he is going to make everyone award him yet another round of applause and appreciation with his performance at Wimbledon.

The two-time Wimbledon finalist has always presented a good show on grass, though coming up short each and every time before the very best contender on the surface.

To Roddick's advantage, his recent improved form, which hasn't gone unnoticed and which has enabled him a good rate of success in the season, should help and accentuate his play in the grass this year, not to mention a removal of a mental block named "Federer," who doesn't feature in his side of the draw.

Murray, though, will pose a stiff problem, and Roddick will have to rely not only on his currently enhanced playmaking, but also on his earlier grass court successful endeavours in order to thwart the local favourite.

If this happens to be the case, if both Hewitt and Roddick end up fine-tuning their opponents, then they could possibly face each other in the semifinals. Meanwhile, in the other side of the draw, if Federer notches up yet another final berth, then the culmination of Wimbledon won't exactly look as bleak as it appeared to be in the absence of Rafa Nadal.