Another early exit for Roddick

WIMBLEDON, England -- Head bowed, Andy Roddick trudged off Centre Court, his purple Wimbledon towel dragging along the turf.

As the three-time runner-up at the All England Club headed for the exit, he passed some kids clamoring for an autograph from their front-row perch. Roddick paused and tossed his blue-framed racket underhand. Thanks to his latest earlier-than-anticipated Grand Slam loss, he won't be needing it next week.

The eighth-seeded Roddick departed quickly Friday, beaten 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the third round by unseeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain. Lopez served spectacularly, hitting 28 aces, and finally got the better of the 2003 U.S. Open champion after losing all seven previous matches they played.

Roddick turns 29 in August, and he was asked whether, as the years go by, one particularly depressing thought creeps into his mind: He might never win Wimbledon.

"Well, sure. You're human. I mean, of course it does," he replied. Then, speaking directly to the reporter, Roddick added: "You know, you may never get your favorite job, either -- no offense to your current employer."

Because of rain, many matches were suspended. Top-seeded Rafael Nadal won the first set against Gilles Muller, a match to be completed Saturday. Fourth-seeded Andy Murray was able to finish his match, beating Ivan Ljubicic. 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4).

In women's play, second-seeded Vera Zvonareva, the runner-up at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2010, was eliminated by No. 32 Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, 6-2, 6-3.

Pironkova will play Venus Williams, who advanced with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. Maria Sharapova trailed 4-1 in the first set but rebounded to reach the third round with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over 17-year-old Laura Robson of England.