Roddick mocks Djokovic's ailments

Novak Djokovic is known for his hilarious impersonations of other tennis stars, but the Serbian jokester is also developing a reputation for what some see as his acting when it comes to his own health.

Andy Roddick made the most anticipated quarterfinal of the tournament Thursday between himself and Djokovic the spiciest one as well by suggesting that Djokovic's theatrics are as impressive as his groundstrokes.

When a reporter started to ask Roddick about Djokovic's laundry list of ailments, starting with a right ankle injury, the eighth-seeded American interrupted by joking, "Isn't it both of them?"

"And a back and a hip?" Roddick added, after crushing Fernando Gonzalez in the fourth round on Tuesday night. "And a cramp?"

Roddick couldn't help himself and didn't stop there. He interrupted another question about Djokovic by blurting out, "Bird flu." And then when told that the third-seeded Djokovic has a long list of illnesses, Roddick cracked, "Anthrax. SARS. Common cough and cold."

"If it's there, it's there," Roddick clarified. "There's just a lot. You know, he's either quick to call a trainer or he's the most courageous guy of all time. I think it's up for you guys to decide."

So much for tennis etiquette.

Djokovic, meanwhile, skipped his practice session Wednesday and opted for rest at his hotel, but his spokesperson said that Djokovic will wait until he steps onto the court to respond.

"Novak speaks on-court and has no comment on this today," said Benito Perez-Barbadillo. "The only thing to say is that it will be a difficult match against a great player like Roddick. Novak will try his best as usual."

Regardless of what is said and no matter how many times Djokovic calls for the trainer, his quarterfinal showdown with Roddick has the makings of the best match of the tournament. Roddick is playing his finest tennis in quite some time, including his 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 demolition of the 11th-seeded Gonzalez. Healthy and confident, Roddick has lost just one set in his four victories thus far and is looking to crash the Nadal-Federer Grand Slam party. Those two have played in the French and Wimbledon finals and are looking to make it a third straight Slam final showdown. Roddick hasn't played in a Grand Slam final since the 2006 U.S. Open, when he lost to Federer.

Djokovic, this year's Australian Open champ, is hoping to make it back to the U.S. Open final for the second straight year, but his road thus far has been strenuous. Djokovic needed five sets to overcome 15th-seeded Tommy Robredo in the fourth round after grinding out a four-set win over 30th-seeded Marin Cilic in the third round.

Against Robredo, Djokovic called for a trainer to examine his injured right hip and right ankle. Robredo accused Djokovic of stalling during the 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory.

"If you're not fit enough, then don't play," Robredo said. "But after every time he was asking for a trainer, he was running like hell and he was making the shot, but he does what he does a lot of times."

"So did I trust him? No," Robredo continued. "I think he took his time because he did it because he was a little bit more tired and that's a part of his game."

While both Djokovic and Roddick have similar games with huge serves and big groundstrokes, the two are about as different as they come when it comes to the pace at which they like to play. Roddick, who is 1-1 lifetime against Djokovic, plays as if always in a rush to get somewhere. Djokovic is notorious for taking his sweet time. When the two were on the court together during this year's kids' day before the tournament, both poked good-natured fun at each other with impersonations of each other's serve. Djokovic impersonated Roddick's herky-jerky rushed service routine while Roddick made fun of Djokovic's habit of bouncing the ball a dozen times, or often much more, before pivotal serves.

Whether Djokovic's on-court ailments are embellished or real, only he knows.

"He's the favorite and it seems like every Grand Slam, he's having these long, drawn-out kind of battles and he can't go anymore and all these things," Roddick said. "And I'm not really going to worry about all that. The story lines are the story lines. I just want to stick to it and play well."