When the Australian Open ends, the spotlight on Andy Roddick is likely to shift to another family member - the one who gets paid to wear teeny bikinis and is about to make her big screen debut.
Roddick's 23-year-old wife, Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Brooklyn Decker, is co-starring in her first feature film alongside seasoned actors Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston.
After winning his second-round match Wednesday, Roddick offered a sneak preview into the film, ''Just Go With It,'' which is due to be released next month in America.
''She's in some sort of love triangle with people named Sandler and Aniston. She had to make out with one of them,'' Roddick deadpanned in a courtside interview after beating Igor Kunitsyn of Russia 7-6 (7), 6-2, 6-3.
''So, we're excited about it,'' Roddick added. ''Not the making out with Sandler part.''
On Wednesday, however, the applause was reserved for Roddick, who saved two set points in the first set tiebreaker and served out the match with back-to-back aces. The big-serving American fired a total of 17 aces in the match against his 99th-ranked opponent.
The win ushered eighth-seeded Roddick into the third round of the Australian Open for the ninth straight year. He is a four-time semifinalist in Melbourne, most recently in 2009.
The 28-year-old Roddick was the last American man to win a Grand Slam at the 2003 U.S. Open and commented Wednesday that, as old as he is, he still can't remember the hey day of American tennis.
In the 1990s the U.S. boasted major champions such as Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang, but the American dominance has faded and given way to European stars, notably the top five in the world - Spain's Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer of Switzerland, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Sweden's Robin Soderling and Andy Murray of Britain.
''I would certainly like to see more Americans in the top 100,'' said Roddick, who is currently the only American in the top 10. ''You know, I always hear about the days when there were 40, 50 some odd Americans, Australians,'' in the top 100. ''But, again, that's never been the norm since I've been out here.''
Of the eight American men who started in Melbourne, Roddick is one of only four remaining. The 20th-seeded John Isner was playing later Wednesday and No. 100-ranked Michael Russell and No. 116-ranked Ryan Sweeting were playing second-round matches Thursday.
No. 16 Mardy Fish exited in the second round Wednesday, following the first-round losses of Sam Querrey, Ryan Harrison and Donald Young.
With the crop of young new Americans, Roddick has said he feels comfortable in the role of ''elder statesman,'' helping to mentor and dispensing advice when asked.
Roddick joked Wednesday that he was a ''dinosaur'' at the Australian Open, where he played his first men's singles draw in 2002, but that he feels confident in his game.
''I feel like I'm hitting the ball fine. I'm serving very well, kind of controlling the match with that right now. That's always a good thing for me,'' Roddick said.
Asked if he still felt the same excitement as when he first played in Melbourne, Roddick laughed.
''I don't know. I have a tough time remembering what my excitement level was in 2002,'' he said. ''No, I'm certainly still motivated. I love what I do.''
