Roddick thrives on late-night US Open craziness

Andy Roddick thrives on the rowdy atmosphere of late-night matches at the US Open, and it's just as well after he finished off his first-round match shortly before 1 in the morning on Tuesday.

US fifth seed Andy Roddick advanced to the second round by defeating Germany's 84th-ranked Bjorn Phau 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, in a match at Arthur Ashe Stadium that began about 45 minutes before midnight.

An opening ceremony and a 2 1/2-hour victory by US women's third seed Venus Williams pushed Roddick's start time deeper into the night than most sports events dare to start, winning in 95 minutes and talking after 1 in the morning.

"Late-night tennis, that's part of the Open. It's what separates it a lot," Roddick said. "It's just something that has always been there in New York.

"The crazies that stay till 1 in the morning, there's something fun about that. It's just unique. You play in all sorts of atmospheres. There are not as many people, but the ones that are there sure are vocal/drunk."

Well-supported Roddick, whose only Grand Slam title came here in 2003, fired 13 aces and hit 81 per cent of his first serves in advancing to face 81st-rated Frenchman Marc Gicquel.

Roddick sees late nights as a US Open trademark just as tradition makes Wimbledon a special place to play.

"The thing that makes Wimbledon so cool is the tradition and the whites. I get into that when I'm there. I love it. I think it's great," Roddick said.

"I think the equivalent of that here is the night sessions and the craziness and the fact that it's a show and it's an event as well as a tennis tournament.

"The more things that we have that make our events unique, I think the better our sport is for it."

Roddick has an admiration for the hearty fans who watch all 14 hours of tennis on offer on a day like Monday.

"I guarantee half the people out there were probably here all day," Roddick said. "They have to be pretty passionate and really enjoy what they're seeing and the whole experience.

"It's 1 in the morning. I guarantee you they all have to work tomorrow. They certainly have to get up earlier than I do. It's kind of unique and pretty cool."

US Open officials plan to play a best-of-five men's match before a best-of-three women's match in a night session sometime during the Flushing Meadows fortnight and Roddick is in favor of sharing the sleep deprivation.

"It's tough sometimes. The worst part about finishing that late is just the recovery time," Roddick said.

"The only change that I would make, if all things are equal, we (men) would play first sometimes. I think that's reasonable... I think it makes sense at least sometimes."

Roddick was not in favor of dropping a match from the main stadium even after ceremonies that delay the usual start of play by an hour.

"You can't take that away," he said.