Graphic: Andy Roddick's power serve

The look was intended to put the inquisitor firmly in his place but ended up almost affirming the question. Andy Roddick had been asked if this era of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal was a bit demoralising for players at his level. “What’s a player at my level?” came the retort, although three distinct memories for the American proved that he knew the answer.

His first recollection takes him back four years to the place just behind Wimbledon’s Centre Court where the players disappear from the public’s view after winning or losing. Roddick had just been beaten by Federer for the second successive time in the men’s final. Swiss dominance had been emphatic. Roddick’s frustration boiled over. “Just what have I got to do to beat this guy?” he wailed, crunching his racket against a wall. “He’s just too damn good.”

The second memory is probably even more stark. This time the setting was the Australian Open semi-final early in 2007. Roddick found himself totally powerless to stop Federer winning through to his seventh consecutive Grand Slam final.

Federer’s performance in that 6-4 6-0 6-2 win touched new levels of brilliance. The second set in particular was probably the greatest he has played. Roddick’s inability this time saw him hurl his racket, which accidentally hit a courtside photographer. He apologised and received a warning. But for the compassion of the umpire, he would have been automatically disqualified.

As Federer said afterwards: “It was just one of those days — for him to forget and me to remember.” The problem was, Roddick couldn’t forget. His disillusionment with the sport worsened when he hit an all-time low a year ago, suffering his earliest Wimbledon exit, in the second round — which led to his third reminder of his place in the scheme of things.

Roddick quickly headed back across the Atlantic, stowed away his racket bag and headed to the home of his fiancee Brooklyn Decker’s parents in North Carolina to celebrate Independence Day.

Flying back home to Austin, Texas, he landed just in time to see the Nadal/Federer final enter its final set. “I didn’t want to watch because it’s tough wishing you were there,” he said. “Especially given the mental state I was in at that point, it hurt. But then I kind of got dragged to a television set in the lounge, and that was it. There was no chance of me getting out of the airport before it was finished.”

No player who has spent most of this century in the world’s top 10, has amassed close to $16m in prize-money and possesses the fastest serve recorded in the history of the game, 155mph, should nurture an inferiority complex against one of his peers but when it comes to Roddick contemplating Federer, such thoughts are difficult to avoid.

The pair have been confronting each other since 2001 and before today had played 20 times; for both men, the other is his most regular opponent. This will be their fourth meeting at Wimbledon and the third in a final. Throughout the series Federer has lost only twice; on the Centre Court grass Roddick has won only one set. “I’ve never been one to begrudge anyone their success or be jealous of someone else’s success,” said Roddick, who will be attempting to win the second major title of his career today after becoming US Open champion in 2003. He will also be trying to prevent Federer breaking Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles. “Obviously you can’t really say enough to signify what Roger’s career has been to this point. I’d just love to delay it for another Grand Slam,” he said.

There is no question that the American is a rejuvenated player this year since appointing Larry Stefanki as his coach and embarking on a fitness regime that has seen him moderate his diet and devote more time to resting after his labours, as well as putting in more hours on the running track, in the gym and on the practice court.

Stefanki is the man credited with giving John McEnroe a new lease of life towards the end of his career (although he is also viewed as the coach whose decision to tamper with Tim Henman’s service action may well have caused serious shoulder problems). Roddick is convinced, after a succession of high-profile mentors such as Brad Gilbert and Jimmy Connors, that he has the right man in his corner.

There is no debate about who will be the underdog today. Roddick, a keen student of sporting statistics, could reel off his opponent’s list of accomplishments if he weren’t trying to get himself into a power-positive mood for the 2pm start. He admitted: “I know how tough it is, but you know I’m excited about this one. I didn’t know if I was going to get to play a final at Wimbledon again. I’m certainly thankful to have that opportunity.”