The world number two displayed his flair on the slick surface by hurtling towards a second successive Stella Artois title at the weekend -- firing 153-mph (246.2-kph) record deliveries en route.

After collecting his third title of the year, the American has now turned his focus on to triumphing at the citadel of grasscourt tennis.

"I'd love to win Wimbledon, I've won the U.S. Open and I think all athletes want to do well in their own countries but you always want to win here," said the 21-year-old Roddick.

Twelve months ago Roddick arrived at the All England Club as the crown prince of American tennis, ready to take over the mantle held jointly by Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi for more than a decade.

However, his attempt to join the roll of honour ended in the semi-finals, where he was treated to a master class in grasscourt tennis by eventual champion Roger Federer.

As doubts about his ability to land a major continued, Roddick finally silenced his critics two months later with a winning run at Flushing Meadows.

Now a year older and with a U.S. Open trophy in his possession, the Florida resident admits he has more faith in his ability these days.

"I played really well at Wimbledon last year but maybe I didn't have the belief then that I do now, especially after having won one grand slam tournament," he said.

"I know I was playing really well last year but, looking back, it wasn't good enough to win. Before winning a slam, I had the fear of the unknown so winning one makes a big difference."

RECKLESS DYNAMO

His decision to hook up with Andre Agassi's former coach Brad Gilbert last June proved to be a masterstroke as the former top-10 player has managed to harness Roddick's immense power with greater court craft.

During their year-long partnership, Gilbert has overseen the A-Rod's transformation from a reckless dynamo into a mature grand slam champion.

"I'm still pretty young and I'm still learning...I'm always looking well to prove myself on a weekly basis, so if I lose a match now it doesn't shatter my confidence like it used to," said Roddick.

His game has improved in every department. Even his formidable serve has got better as he now mixes up the deliveries. This weapon will once again be key in determining his progress at Wimbledon.

While Gilbert can take the credit for drawing out the talent Roddick had promised since he arrived on the professional scene in 2000, the coach has a price to pay for success.

Roddick may be displaying his newly discovered maturity on court, but off it he remains the perennial prankster.

"This is very dumb and Brad's going to kill me for this but he lost a bet the other day," Roddick laughed as he rubbed his rugged beard.

"He always wears black, grey and white shirts so we've got to go and buy him a nice pink striped shirt and he's got to wear that."

So while Gilbert can look forward to adding some colour to the green background of the All England Club, Roddick will be bidding to become the seventh American to lift the Wimbledon men's singles title since tennis turned professional in 1968.

"Obviously it would be outstanding if I did win and I'd be so happy but it's not life or death out there," he said.

"I'm going to try my best when I go out there and give it my all and we'll see if that's good enough."