American hopes are in good hands

ANDY RODDICK is confident he has left American hopes of Wimbledon glory in the best possible hands.

Brian Baker and Mardy Fish carry the Stars and Stripes into the last 16 of the men's singles along after Roddick bowed out to David Ferrer.

Neither man was expected to still be standing by the second Monday for differing reasons but both are, outlasting the likes of Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych.

For Baker, his near- anonymity and inexperience are why he was not expected to survive the first week, while for Fish illness was the concern.

Fish missed the French Open after complaining of heart palpitations – he watched it on TV while strapped into a heart monitor.

Baker's tale of woe is a longer one, with the 27-year-old having fought through a six-year injury nightmare to regain a place on the main tour.

Baker will face Philipp Kohlschreiber and Fish will go up against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga today.