Andy Roddick (ur. 30 sierpnia 1982 w Omaha, Nebraska), tenisista amerykański.
Od 2000 tenisista zawodowy. Rok 2003 zakończył na pierwszym miejscu rankingu światowego, głównie dzięki znakomitej postawie w części amerykańskiej (na nawierzchniach betonowych) sezonu - wygrał turnieje z tzw. serii mistrzowskiej w Kanadzie i Cincinnati oraz - po raz pierwszy w karierze - wielkoszlemowy US Open (pokonując w finale Juana Carlosa Ferrero z Hiszpanii). W 2003 dotarł również do półfinałów dwóch innych turniejów wielkoszlemowych - Australian Open (porażka z Niemcem Schuettlerem; zapamiętany został jednak przede wszystkim z ćwierćfinałowego maratonu z Marokańczykiem Younessem El Aynaoui) i Wimbledonu (porażka z pózniejszym triumfatorem, Szwajcarem Federerem). W swoim drugim wielkoszlemowym finale - Wimbledon 2004 - ponownie przegrał z Federerem. Również Federerowi uległ w finale kolejnej edycji Wimbledonu. W 2006 roku wygrał turniej Masters Series na twardych kortach w Cincinnati pokonując w finale Juana Carlosa Ferrero(6:3, 6:4). We wrześniu 2006 roku dotarł do finału US Open gdzie przegrał w 4 setach z Rogerem Federerem.
Reprezentant USA w Pucharze Davisa; trenowany przez Johna Roddicka, a także Jimmy’ego Connorsa.
* Fakty
Miejsce zamieszkania: Austin, Texas, USA; Boca Raton, Floryda, USA
Pseudonim: A-Rod
Rodzina: matka Blanche, ojciec Jerry, bracia Lawrence i John
Waga: 86 kg (190 lbs)
Wzrost: 1m 87cm (6 ft 2 in)
Rakieta: Babolat Pure Drive Roddick Plus
Buty: Babolat (Team All Court)
Ubrania: Lacoste
Zawodowa kariera: od 2000r.
Andy dysponuje najszybszym serwem na świecie: rekord 250 km/h
Moj ulubiony zawodnik. Sympatyczny koles, przypomina mi z wygladu i poczucia humoru Stifflera z American Pie ;) Typowy, wyluzowany "hamburger".
Mial swoje 5 minut w karierze, nawet sporo osiagnal (Zwyciestwo w US Open 03, byl Nr. 1, wygranie Davis Cupa z reprezentacja USA, 4 Mastersy, lacznie 25 wygranych turniejow), jednak dla mnie dalej pozostaje nie do konca spelnionym zawodnikiem. Mogl wygrac w swojej karierze o wiele wiecej, jednak ostatecznie zawsze pozostawal w cieniu Rogera Federera. Sam Szwajcar na konferencji prasowej przed ich polfinalem AO 07, powiedzial z szelmowskim usmiechem: "To naprawde swietny zawodnik, moglby wygrac naprawde wiele turniejow... no, gdyby nie to ze zawsze przegrywal ze mna w finale"
Licze na to ze jeszcze da rade wygrac w swojej karierze jakis wielki turniej, choc niestety szanse na to coraz mniejsze...
Bizon napisał:
Moj ulubiony zawodnik. Sympatyczny koles, przypomina mi z wygladu i poczucia humoru Stifflera z American Pie ;) Typowy, wyluzowany "hamburger".
Haha, dokładnie. Tak myślałem, kogo On mi tak przypomina ;)
Roddicka pamiętam od samego początku Jego wielkiej kariery. Jak stawiał pierwsze kroki na Wimblu, gdzie w 2001 roku przegrał w 3 rundzie z pózniejszym mistrzem - Goranem Ivaniseviciem.
Faktycznie Jego pech leży na dwóch płaszczyznach:
1) Jego szczyt formy zbiegł się w czasie z Era dominacji Federera
2) Jego styl gry wybitnie leżał Szwajcarowi, a styl gry Rogera kompletnie nie pasował Andy'emu.
Nie wiem, który podpunkt jest gorszy, ale swego czasu jankesowi wróżono wielka karierę i w jakimś stopniu spełnil nadzieje Amerykanów wygrywając w 2003 US Open.
Nigdy nie był moim idolem, czy tez jakimś specjalnie przeze mnie lubianym graczem ale cenie Go bo mimo wszystko jest za co. Mimo sporych braków w wyszkoleniu potrafił osiągnąć tyle ile osiągnął bo potrafił wygrywać , a przynajmniej nie przegrywać z przygodnie spotkanymi kelnerami, czego dowodem jest Jego sukces w 2006 roku w Cincy i pózniej finał nowojorskiej imprezy.
Teraz to się zmienia i Andy zaczyna odczuwać trudy gry na dywanie, który sprawił, ze kontuzje stały się plagą światowego tenisa - amerykańskim betonie, nawierzchni typu HARD.
Album Pucharów ANDY'EGO RODDICKA
#1) Atlanta 2001
R32 Sluiter,Raemon (NED) 6-2 4-6 6-4
R16 Martin,Todd (USA) 7-5 6-2
Q Meligeni,Fernando (BRA) 6-4 6-4
S Koubek,Stefan (AUT) 6-2 6-2
W Malisse,Xavier (BEL) 6-2 6-4
#2) Houston 2001
R32 Sluiter, Raemon (NED) 6-3 6-4
R16 Gustafsson, Magnus (SWE) 6-2 6-4
Q Koubek, Stefan (AUT) 6-3 6-1
S Golmard, Jerome (FRA) 7-6(3) 7-6(2)
W Lee, Hyung-Taik (KOR) 7-5 6-3 
#3) Washington 2001
R64 Arthurs, Wayne (AUS) 6-3 5-7 7-6(4)
R32 Schrichaphan,Paradorn (THA) 7-6(2) 6-3
R16 Hrbaty,Dominik (SVK) 6-2 7-5
Q Rios,Marcelo (CHI) 6-3 6-4
S Chang,Michael (USA) 6-4 6-3
W Schalken,Sjeng (NED) 6-2 6-3
#4) Memphis 2002
R32 Burgsmuller, Lars (GER) 6-2 6-3
R16 Sa, Andre (BRA) 5-7 6-4 6-3
Q Sargsian, Sargis (ARM) 6-3 6-4
S Malisse, Xavier (BEL) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-3
W Blake, James (USA) 6-4 3-6 7-5 
#5) Houston 2002
R32 Russel,Michael (USA) 6-1 6-2
R16 Calatrava,Alex (ESP) 6-2 6-1
Q Blake,James (USA) 6-2 6-4
S Coria,Guillermo (ARG) 6-3 2-6 6-2
W Sampras,Pete (USA) 7-6(9) 6-3
#6) St Poelten 2003
R32 Martin, Alberto (ESP) 6-1 7-6(5)
R16 Kohlschreiber, Philipp (GER) 6-3 6-4
Q Krajicek, Richard (NED) 7-5 6-1
S Sanchez, David (ESP) 6-2 2-0 RET
W Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS) 6-3 6-2 
#7) Londyn/Queen's Club 2003
R64 bye
R32 De Voest, Rik (RSA) 6-3 6-2
R16 Rusedski,Greg (GBR) 6-3 4-6 6-4
Q Dent,Taylor (USA) 6-3 7-6(3)
S Agassi,Andre (USA) 6-1 6-7(5) 7-6(6)
W Grosjean,Sebastien (FRA) 6-3 6-3
#8) Indianapolis 2003
R64 Bye
R32 Saulnier, Cyril (FRA) 6-7(5) 6-3 7-6(4)
R16 Carraz, Gregory (FRA) 6-3 6-4
Q Malisse, Xavier (BEL) 6-4 6-1
S Schalken, Sjeng (NED) 6-3 6-2
W Srichaphan, Paradorn (THA) 7-6(2) 6-4 
#9) TMS Montreal 2003
R64 Malisse,Xavier (BEL) 3-6 6-0 6-2
R32 Chela,Juan Ignacio (ARG) 7-6(6) 6-2
R16 Grosejan,Sebastien (FRA) 6-3 6-3
Q Kucera,Karol (SVK) 7-6(5) 6-3
S Federer,Roger (SUI) 6-4 3-6 7-6(3)
W Nalbandian,David (ARG) 6-1 6-3
#10 Cincinnati 2003
R64 Verdasco, Fernando (ESP) 6-3 6-2
R32 Ljubicic, Ivan (CRO) 6-1 6-4
R16 Blake, James (USA) 7-6(2) 6-2
Q Zabaleta, Mariano (ARG) 6-1 6-2
S Mirnyi, Max (BLR) 7-6(5) 6-4
W Fish, Mardy (USA) 4-6 7-6(3) 7-6(4)
# 11) US OPEN 2003
R128 Henman,Tim (GBR) 6-3 7-6(2) 6-3
R64 Ljubicic,Ivan (CRO) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3 7-6(8)
R32 Saretta,Flavio (BRA) 6-1 6-3 6-3
R16 Malisse,Xavier (BEL) 6-3 6-4 7-6(5)
Q Schalken,Sjeng (NED) 6-4 6-2 6-3
S Nalbandian,David (ARG) 6-7(4) 3-6 7-6(7) 6-1 6-3
W Ferrero,Juan Carlos (ESP) 6-3 7-6(2) 6-3
Idzie Wam to chłopaki jak krew z nosa xDDD Jednak bez pomocy pewnej sympatycznej forumowiczki nie tak łatwo wypełnić pokoik z pucharami. ;)
Robertinho napisał:
Idzie Wam to chłopaki jak krew z nosa xDDD
Roddick tyle wygrał, że trudno jest to wszystko tutaj zamieścić w ciągu 4 dni :D :D :D
12) San Jose 2004
R32 Rochus, Christophe (BEL) 109 6-4 6-2
R16 Vliegen, Kristof (BEL) 158 6-2 6-3
Q Johansson, Joachim (SWE) 77 6-3 7-6(7)
S Kendrick, Robert (USA) 139 7-6(3) 6-2
W Fish, Mardy (USA) 21 7-6(13) 6-4 
13) Miami 2004
R128 Bye
R64 Beck, Karol (SVK) 6-2 6-4
R32 Bjorkman, Jonas (SWE) 6-4 3-6 6-3
R16 Canas, Guillermo (ARG) 6-3 6-3
Q Moya, Carlos (ESP) 5-7 6-2 7-5
S Spadea, Vincent (USA) 6-1 6-3
W Coria, Guillermo (ARG) 6-7(2) 6-3 6-1 RET
14) Queens 2004
R64 Bye
R32 Kucera, Karol (SVK) 7-6(4) 6-2
R16 Ancic, Mario (CRO) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4
Q Srichaphan, Paradorn (THA) 6-3 6-3
S Hewitt, Lleyton (AUS) 7-6(7) 6-3
W Grosjean, Sebastien (FRA) 7-6(4) 6-4 
15) Indianapolis 2004
R64 Bye
R32 Kratochvil, Michel (SUI) 6-4 2-6 6-4
R16 Ginepri, Robby (USA) 7-6(5) 6-4
Q Hrbaty, Dominik (SVK) 6-2 6-3
S Ljubicic, Ivan (CRO) 1-6 7-6(10) 7-6(3)
W Kiefer, Nicolas (GER) 6-2 6-3
16) San Jose 2005
R32 Goldstein, Paul (USA) 6-3 6-4
R16 Lee, Hyung-Taik (KOR) 6-3 3-6 6-2
Q Enqvist, Thomas (SWE) 3-6 7-6(6) 7-5
S Haas, Tommy (GER) 7-6(3) 6-3
W Saulnier, Cyril (FRA) 6-0 6-4
17) Houston 2005
R32 Boeker, Matias (USA) 6-2 6-3
R16 Ginepri, Robby (USA) 7-6(6) 6-4
Q Horna, Luis (PER) 6-4 6-1
S Melzer, Jurgen (AUT) 6-4 6-2
W Grosjean, Sebastien (FRA) 6-2 6-2 
18) Queens 2005
R64 Bye
R32 Philippoussis, Mark (AUS) 6-2 6-4
R16 Beck, Karol (SVK) 6-2 3-6 6-4
Q Grosjean, Sebastien (FRA) 6-4 7-6(5)
S Stepanek, Radek (CZE) 6-3 2-6 6-2
W Karlovic, Ivo (CRO) 7-6(7) 7-6(4) 
19) Washington 2005
R64 Bye
R32 Lapentti, Giovanni (ECU) 6-3 6-4
R16 Chela, Juan Ignacio (ARG) 6-4 6-7(4) 6-4
Q Karlovic, Ivo (CRO) 6-7(7) 7-5 6-4
S Srichaphan, Paradorn (THA) 7-6(4) 6-2
W Blake, James (USA) 7-5 6-3 
20) Lyon 2005
R32 Ascione, Thierry (FRA) 7-5 6-3
R16 Mahut, Nicolas (FRA) 7-6(5) 6-3
Q Ancic, Mario (CRO) 6-4 6-4
S Santoro, Fabrice (FRA) 6-4 7-6(5)
W Monfils, Gael (FRA) 6-3 6-2
21) Cincinnati 2006
R64 Bracciali, Daniele (ITA) 6-7(6) 7-6(4) 7-6(5)
R32 Vliegen, Kristof (BEL) 6-4 6-4
R16 Chela, Juan Ignacio (ARG) 6-3 6-4
Q Murray, Andy (GBR) 6-3 6-4
S Gonzalez, Fernando (CHI) 6-3 6-3
W Ferrero, Juan Carlos (ESP) 6-3 6-4
22) Queens 2007
R64 Bye
R32 Stepanek, Radek (CZE) 6-4 6-4
R16 Bogdanovic, Alex (GBR) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4
Q Cilic, Marin (CRO) 6-4 7-6(5)
S Tursunov, Dmitry (RUS) 6-4 7-5
W Mahut, Nicolas (FRA) 4-6 7-6(7) 7-6(2) 
23) Waszyngton 2007
R64 Bye
R32 Zib, Tomas (CZE) 6-4 6-2
R16 Stepanek, Radek (CZE) 6-3 1-6 7-5
Q Lee, Hyung-Taik (KOR) 7-6(6) 6-2
S Karlovic, Ivo (CRO) 7-6(7) 7-6(5)
W Isner, John (USA) 6-4 7-6(4) 
24) San Jose 2008
R32 Guccione, Chris (AUS) 6-3 6-7(3) 7-6(5)
R16 Nishikori, Kei (JPN) 6-2 6-4
Q Fish, Mardy (USA) 7-6(6) 1-6 7-5
S Garcia-Lopez, Guillermo (ESP) 7-6(2) 6-1
W Stepanek, Radek (CZE) 6-4 7-5 
25) Dubaj 2008 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
R32 Ferrero, Juan Carlos (ESP) 6-2 6-4
R16 Mathieu, Paul-Henri (FRA) 6-3 6-4
Q Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 7-6(5) 6-2 <3 <3 <3
S Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 7-6(5) 6-3 <3 <3 <3
W Lopez, Feliciano (ESP) 6-7(8) 6-4 6-2 
26) Pekin 2008
R32 Bye
R16 Evans, Brendan (USA) 6-4 6-3
Q Ferrero, Juan Carlos (ESP) 2-6 6-3 6-4
S Phau, Bjorn (GER) 6-2 6-7(4) 6-1
W Sela, Dudi (ISR) 6-4 6-7(6) 6-3 
CDN !
COA napisał:
CDN !
To jakiś żart ? :D
W niedziele edytuje tego posta xD
Nie wiem czy wiecie, ale były trener Fernando Gonzalesa, Larry Stefanki został właśnie trenerem Andy'ego. Ciekawe, czy uda się mu coś zmienić w grze Amerykanina na plus...
mam nadzieje ze nie zacznie grac znowu top spinem.....
Predzej zacznie czesciej grac serve & volley. Organizmu nie da sie oszukac, te kilka lat rabania z calej petardy serwisem daja o sobie znac, i by pograc jeszcze jakos w miare konkretnie stara sie zmienic taktyke gry, na mniej obciazajaca ramie, plecy, z ktorymi notorycznie mial ostatnio problemy.
Hmm, myślę, że z tej mąki może być całkiem niezły chlebek. ;) Potem może skrobnę coś więcej na ten temat. ;)
Stefanki autorytetem jest, to poza dyskusją. Twierdzę jednak, że niczego specjalnego ta współpraca nie przyniesie. Ostatni sezon był dla Roddicka bardzo słaby, jeżeli chodzi o wyniki w Turniejach wyższej rangi.
Moim zdaniem to był po prostu zły sezon, niż coś naprawdę wróżącego Rodowi koniec. Sądzę, że teraz Andy będzie w stanie powrócić na dawny poziom, czyli 1/4, czasami 1/2 turnieju WS, nic poza tym.
Dużo zależy też od tego, jak Amerykanin rozplanuje swój harmonogram startów. Czy wciąż będzie grał San Jose, Memphis (po co ?!), Dubaj 3 tygodnie pod rząd, by spuchnąć w IW, czy kalendarz ten ulegnie poprawie, z nastawieniem głównie na największe imprezy sezonu. Czas pokaże.
No właśnie, przesadził z grą wiosną i się posypał, ale generalnie jak dotąd mu ręka nie odpadła, to już nie odpadnie. On ma bardzo naturalną, dynamiczną we wszytskich fazach sekwencje serwisu i myśle, że będzie mógł mocna walić jeszcze bardzo długo. Choć za Gilberta serwował dużo lepiej, Brad mu dołożył jeszcze rotacje bioder i wtedy Andy serwował najlepiej, bił rekordy.
Connors coś tam grzebał, chciał żeby Rod serwował precyzyjniej, a to nie jego bajka i podanie siadło. Z całym szcunkiem dla Jimbo, ale on głównie motywował Andy'ego, w sensie warsztatu jest amatorem(choć i tak jest dziesieć razy lepszy niż pajac Wilander, który co rusz ośmiesza się w swym "eksperctwie") i tak naprawdę rozregulował grę Roda do reszty, on pod koniec już kompletnie nie wiedział, co ma grać.
Natomist Larry to jest człowiek z warsztatem i gigantycznym doświadczeniam. Przecież to co on zrobił z Gonza w pewnym momencie, to było mistrzostwo świata. Łupacz i bezbekhendzie zaczął grać po profesorsku, nie tracac przy tym swoich podstawowych atutów(lufy z fh, znaczy się :D ).
Co do Roda, to żadnego s&v(to jest naprawdę ostatni człowiek, który się do tego nadaje), żadnych liftów i slajsów, ma grać swoje, czyli łupać; pierwszy serwis 220 najmniej, najlepiej 230 i więcej, wszytsko co wraca kosić z fh(przecież kiedyś to uderzenie siało postrach, zwłaszcza odwrotny kros), do sieci tylko na pewniaka, ewentulanie raz na pół godziny jakiś ryzykowny atak. Przy podaniu rywala też raczej nie czekać na jego błąd w wymianie, tylko przyciskać i przejmować inicjatywe.
Stefanki mu podpowie pare rzeczy, podszlifuje bh, wpoi pare schematów rozegrania na wypadek, gdyby serwis nie siedział idealnie i może być naprawdę ciekawie. ;)
dokladnie zgadzam sie w 100% ,niech rod powroci do tego co bylo jego bardzo mocna bronia czyli ostro bitego fh.to jest natura gry andyego i jezeli do tego powroci to moze byc dobrze:):)
Stefanki w krótkim wywiadzie powiedział, że jeden z głównych problemów Andy'ego jest pasywny return 2 serwisu rywala, Roddick musi odbierać owe podanie dużo bardziej agresywnie.
Larry Stefanki, speaking to the Times Online, on working with Roddick next year: "I'm absolutely overjoyed. I haven't been this excited in a long time, especially knowing he's even more excited about getting started."
Stefanki indicated that Roddick's returns would be a main area of focus. "Andy, especially on second serve returns, needs to get more aggressive. Not necessarily going for everything, but not just sitting back and returning the ball."
http://www.tennis.com/news/ticker.aspx
Ciekawe, co z tego wyniknie.
Nic :] Ja pamiętam przed sezonem 2006, że Rod opowiadał, jak to wpadł na genialny pomysł, by wreszcie poprawić return. :lol: Returnowanie to jest bardzo specyficzna umiejętność, tego się nie można tak po prostu nauczyć, zwłaszcza w wieku 26 lat. Ale niech pracuje, nigdy nie zaszkodzi.
Dla tych co nie widzieli :
http://proshop.andyroddick.com/2009-wal … 4jhmbo6f16
Brzozik też ma swój kalendarz :P
DUN I LOVE napisał:
(...)Brzozik(...)
No wiesz :P
Wstyd mi :(
Co jak co ale Andy jest bardzo zabawny :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyEkw3Du3iM
Oglądałem chyba z 30 razy i ciągle mam łzy w oczach ze śmiechu :P
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Wstyd mi :(
Myślę, że powinieneś sam siebie zbanować. :P
DUN I LOVE napisał:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyEkw3Du3iM
hahaha
Była kiedyś taka komedia "Nic smiesznego" ...
Tak , a skoro już tak pobłądzilem to powiem szczerze że zmroził mnie news o panu Larrym Stefanki i Jego wspólpracy z A-Rodem , chcialbym oczywiscie naponiec że jestem bardzo ciekaw co z tego wyniknie , Rod do formy z okresu upalnego lata 2003 już nie wroci to pewne , aczkolwiek lepiej niz w latach 2006- 2008 pod okiem nowego coacha grać może .
Autentycznie wzruszylem się jak kilka m-cy temu czytając gdzies wspomnienia Fernanda z pracy Larrym Stefanki , Gonzo opowiadał o Nim jak o Bogu , chilijczyka urzekla przedewszystkim kultura osobista i to w jaki sposób się do niego zwracal na treningach . W wolnym tlumaczeniu brzmiało to mniej więcej tak : Czy mógłbyś mi podac tą piłeczke ? , stań prosze w tym miejscu itd. :angel: , aha i jak wynika ze zwierzeń Fernanda , Stefanki ponoć nawet opieprzal go z usmiechem na twarzy :D
Taki to już jest charyzmatyczny trener jest , bije od niego ciepło , jest wesoly , zawsze grzecznie sie zachowuje i co najwazniejsze nie uważa za stosownepouczać swojego podopiecznego nerwowymi gestami , a jeszcze wracając do Bombardera ( z okresu trenowanie z w\w cocachem ) to On lepszego meczu niż ten z AO 2006 ( Haas ) nigdy wcześniej nie zagrał , i juz pewnie nie zagra .
Szczerze wątpie by np poprowadził Roda do wielkoszlemowego finału , ale to chyba zalezy jaka droge panowie obiorą , no raczej wlasciwą pan Stefanki pewnie doskonale zdaje sobie sprawe że gra Roddicka powinna polegać na sile , a w żadnym wypadku na technice , bo mowiąc oględnie technicznie jest slabiutki .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKARV9HX1iA
Mało żeś widział Dawidzie, mało.
Grudzień 2008 ---> http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vw_M-gtQ … re=related
xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=DUIlCaVIv … re=related
+ Novak Djokovic.
Call the trainer xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD rotfl.
Roddick to przekoleś :) Super filmy... Najlepiej naśladował Serene hahah :p
Wywiad A-Roda po wygranej 2r AO
Q. In every which way tonight that was a thoroughly good performance. Would you agree with that?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I felt good from the first ball. Credit to him. He came out with a good game plan and he was just going to fire. I was leaving some forehands hanging to him and he was taking advantage.
But things didn't quite go my way in the first set. He came up with some good shots, and then I kind of just stayed the course and was able to make some adjustments to get through it.
Q. Do you worry at all that a guy who comes on like that isn't going to punch himself out or keep doing this all night?
ANDY RODDICK: You can't sit there and wonder. The thing that I got to do is make it as tough for him to keep up that level. If he's going to hit good shots, make him hit it off of deep balls and do it every point. Don't let him hit one and then miss two: You know, just make it as tough a possible. He's what I tried to do.
I got my teeth back into the match and was able to kind of make it a little bit of a war out there. You know, so it was good to get through that.
Q. He's now ranked 200, something like that. Where do you think a guy like him belongs actually?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't think Xavier would be the normal guy ranked 200. I don't think anybody views him as that.
I think health and motivation are going to be big things with him. If he comes and plays like he did here, he'll be back to where he's normally been and in the top 30.
Q. You gave him a pat on the back. What did you say to him?
ANDY RODDICK: I said, It's good to see you playing well again.
Q. Andy, you have a lot of respect for lots of athletes. Are you interested in the sport that's very popular in America, like motocross?
ANDY RODDICK: Motocross? You know what, I'd be bordering on ignorance if I talked about it. I don't really know a whole lot of what goes into it. I know the one thing ‑‑ I know who they are. The one thing I don't get is how you try that crap that they did the very first time. Like how do you decide, I'm going to go flip upside down six times in a row?
Yeah, that's ‑‑ whatever I think athletically, that's just gotta be ‑‑ it's got to be either crazy or genius, and I'm torn. But they can have it.
Q. You have Santoro next. Will you expect an easier ride given that he's the oldest guy in the draw?
ANDY RODDICK: No, oldest and probably craftiest. Probably the best set of hands. He came back and won in five tonight, and that's quite an effort.
You know, he's capable of making any match pretty tough.
Q. Is there something about a new you this year? You know, you got a new coach. You look slimmer and trimmer.
ANDY RODDICK: You look good, too.
Q. Thank you. And I'm neither, unfortunately.
ANDY RODDICK: Red is a good color. If you're out in the sun long enough your freckles might connect and then you might get a good tan.
Q. Do you feel a lot different about yourself coming into this year?
ANDY RODDICK: You know what, I didn't want to come into ‑‑ I feel like a big reason I got hurt last year is I didn't have a lot of preparation in the off‑season. Went from Davis Cup kind of straight in. I played well, but then come May my body and shoulder wore down a little bit.
Whatever happens this year, I didn't want it to be for lack of preparation or for lack of anything, any work left on the table during the off‑season.
You know, I don't know about a new me and all that. It's kind of the same deal. But I just had a six‑week period where you could focus on what you need to do on a daily basis, and you had all sorts of ‑‑ the meals were controlled and everything was controlled.
So, you know, that's a rarity that we get as top players in this game. I really tried to take advantage of it and kind of enjoyed it.
Q. What have you gotten from Larry so far, and how is working with him different from other coaches?
ANDY RODDICK: You know, they're all different. I don't know if I'm going to sit here and give a guy‑by‑guy breakdown. Larry is a worker, too. He likes getting out there. He says it's that much easier if you do it a thousand times in practice. His favorite trick is doing two‑on‑ones and he'll say, Two more and eight balls later you're still going.
It's frustrating, but at the same time, you know what the end goal is. I just enjoy it, because I think the most appealing thing about him when I was going through the process of choosing someone was the various styles he's worked with and the various personalities he's been able to work with. You know, he's on par with anybody, if not better.
Q. Did you feel if he could handle Marcelo Rios he can handle you?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I might be a little nicer.
Q. When you're playing a match against somebody that comes out really hard and fast and you might not be familiar with their game, is there ever a sense you might sacrifice a set to feel them out a bit to try and find their weaknesses?
ANDY RODDICK: No, no. I think anybody that tells you they sacrifice a set ever is full of whatever. You know, you don't really do that. I think you can try to figure it out and win a set also. I think you just kind of fight off their hot streaks and concentrate on getting through service games and just make them work for whatever they're getting.
Q. You've learned a lot from a lot of different coaches. Larry comes in. Is it you who are asking questions or him saying this is what I think you needed to?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I didn't want to. I said, Listen, I'm hiring you to be the boss. Whatever you tell me to do I'm going to do. I don't have a problem with that, and I haven't had a problem with that. I think he was a little bit surprised that I was ‑‑ and I said, It's your show. Just let me know what I need to do.
Q. Isn't there a trust level that needs to be built up, too?
ANDY RODDICK: I trust his resume, what he's been able to accomplish as a coach. If I was going to give someone the confidence to be my coach, I wasn't going to second‑guess that once we get in there.
Q. You could have played Kohlschreiber. Now you've got Fabrice who you beat pretty badly a couple months ago. Does it affect you in any way?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, no. It affects the way you go about playing the next match. Obviously they're not similar in anyway, shape, or form in the way they play. I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to the Kohlschreiber match. But at the same time I'm playing Fabrice, and it presents a different set of obstacles.
Pozwoliłem sobie pogrubić pewną część... xDDDDDD
Wywiad po 4r. AO
Q. The top seeds struggled today except you. How did you see your match?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know, I mean, we all got the same result. I didn't start off great, and then I thought the second and third sets were a lot better. Which is, I guess, the direction you want to go in.
Q. He's only won one set in ten meetings against you. What do you put your amazing dominance down to?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. You know, I don't know that I've had a bad day against him. I feel like I always come off the court having played pretty well. I'm sure the matchup is favorable. I can get my feet under me a little bit and go after some shots.
I've just played well against him most of the times we've played.
Q. Does his style of play suit your game, do you think?
ANDY RODDICK: I guess so. I've lost to players that play like him. I don't know. I guess it's tough to say it's not a good matchup after ten wins. You know, I think that I've just executed against him.
Q. Overall how did you assess your tournament to this point?
ANDY RODDICK: So far so good. I get to play another day.
Q. You changed coaches and trimmed down and did a number of things in the season. Does your tournament start now? Is this where the changes sort of measure?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I've been in the tournament for nine days now. This is ‑‑ you just try to get a step further each time. I'm not going to think about it in two parts. It's a whole tournament.
I just want to continue to stay alive each day. I did that today and I'll be looking to do it again in two days.
Q. And Marcos or Novak in the next round. Will you be studying that match?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I like the dynamic of me sitting in my room after dinner watching them as opposed to having to work tonight. I'll watch it.
Q. Can you break down the matchups?
ANDY RODDICK: For me or them?
Q. Either one of those.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, it's pretty similar. I think Novak is probably a little bit steadier where Marcos is a little bit more of a shot maker, maybe takes some more risks.
But they're both great players and both obviously extremely comfortable at this tournament.
They both have had their career tournaments here, so either way, I'll be up against it.
Q. For you is this a conversation match? Getting back into the conversation match?
ANDY RODDICK: Conversation?
Q. You talked about not being in the conversation. Is this match ‑‑
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, no, I was asked about it. I said I wasn't that concerned about it. No, I'm not playing for that. I'm not playing for anybody else to say something or write something. I think those days are done. I'm just looking to play well. I just want to go out there and play well and make someone work.
Q. How is the early relationship going with Larry? Feeling like you're gelling?
ANDY RODDICK: It's a lot easier when the two guys talk as much as we do. I'm not the quietest guy. I've known Larry for a long time. It's never been a case of us not ‑‑ it's not like it was with Jimmy where we hadn't spent time together before. We always stopped and had a chat when we saw each other.
I've actually gotten along with all the players that he's coached since I've been on tour, and practiced a bunch. It wasn't like we're kind of strangers.
Q. Have you been on center court this tournament yet?
ANDY RODDICK: First round, yeah.
Q. You think you'll get that on Tuesday?
ANDY RODDICK: I assume so. There's only four matches, two on each day. I think they would be hard pressed to put us out on Hisense.
Q. Did you get the message if they do?
ANDY RODDICK: If they do, they do. You know what, I'm coming into this tournament and I'm not one of the guys that have to make a priority in the schedule right now. I understand that.
The other guys have deserved that spot so, I'm not ‑‑ I certainly don't feel like I'm entitled to anything. I just have to go back to work wherever it is.
Q. I was just kidding.
ANDY RODDICK: Me too, then.
Q. Did you get a chance to see a bit of the end of the match?
ANDY RODDICK: I didn't see much. When I came back in it was two breaks in the fifth. I saw the first set and the beginning of the second and that's pretty much it.
Q. Comments on the first set?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, I was watching it extremely sparingly. I was getting ready for my match. Unfortunately for your column, that takes precedence over me watching Federer and Berdych.
Q. You guys all know that Berdych, if he has one of those days, he's pretty tricky, isn't he?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, the guy hits the ball a ton and he hardly looks like he's swinging and the ball's coming in heavy. He has weapons. If he comes out and swings, I mean, I think he's proven in the past. He has wins over pretty much everyone. He's certainly capable.
With him, I think it's just a matter of the consistency and doing it week to week.
Q. How about the pace of the courts here? Do you think they suit or don't suit you?
ANDY RODDICK: I can talk about the pace of court out there. I don't know. I don't know.
Q. There's a suggestion they're slower than they were.
ANDY RODDICK: They don't feel quick, that's for sure. That's kind of the nature of the way tennis has gone. You know, I've been saying it's become more and more about legs and running as opposed to kind of shot‑making and hitting the ball through the court.
That's pretty apparent, if you look at the Top 15, 20 in the rankings. So I'm not sure how this is still a surprising story.
Q. You were on Serena's website as one of her best all‑time wins. Can you clarify that for us?
ANDY RODDICK: Yes, I can, unfortunately. She always just gives me crap. Ask her about it. But she won't give me a rematch.
I saw her yesterday, and she walked on the court and started laughing because she knew I had probably seen it. I said, It wasn't fair. When we were ten, I had to literally run around in the shower to get wet. I was this big. She was bench pressing dump trucks already at that time. I told her that yesterday, and she got a good laugh. Any chance she gets she just does it to get under my skin, and she does it very successfully.
But, you know, however many some odd Wimbledon titles and they're like, What's your best match? I have a win over Andy Roddick. She forgets to mention that it was 1993.
Q. So a charity rematch might be in the cards?
ANDY RODDICK: I'd love to. Tell her to do it.
Q. She thinks now she's beaten everyone you've beaten.
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, yeah. She sat me down for five minutes yesterday and was going through her indirect wins. She was pretty excited. She didn't know I had two wins over Pete, so she was excited about that also. I wish I could deny it, but I would be lying if I tried to.
Q. Was it 6‑4 or 6‑1?
ANDY RODDICK: The score gets better for her also. She's good at not letting the truth get in the way of a good story sometimes. I think it was 6‑4.
Q. Explain your relationship with Legardère. Are you going to be training there?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, he has a lot of entities. I think a lot of people are focusing on the tennis side of it. He has 250 some odd companies, so you can choose one if you want. I'm impressed by what he's done over in France. I'm not training in France. I think you guys know better than that.
But I'm intrigued. He's gone at it almost like a Formula One team. I think it would be interesting to try something like that in the States. I don't know how farfetched that is, but he loves tennis. I think the more you get guys who are passionate about the game and can probably do something about it, the better.
Q. It's a commercial relationship at this point?
ANDY RODDICK: Yes.
Q. Is there any advantage of spending just over a week on the outside courts?
ANDY RODDICK: Any advantage, or...
Q. Or disadvantage?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. It's a court. It's still the same game and same dimensions. I don't know if there is much of an advantage or disadvantage. Maybe if I had never played on Rod Laver you would want to get in there before you played a quarterfinal.
But I've played there a ton, day, night. It should be fine.
Q. Do you have any history with Venus?
ANDY RODDICK: No. She was way too good. I couldn't even be on the same court. It's great. I always enjoy seeing them do well. For literally about two and a half, three years we had three courts in Florida, and it was me, Serena and Venus.
Q. Where was that?
ANDY RODDICK: In Delray Beach there. It was pretty cool. We just spent hours and hours out there just playing. We all have done pretty well, and all three of those little kids out there got to No. 1, which is pretty cool.
I'm just happy for them. They're good girls. It's nice.
Q. The national tennis center?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. With Rick?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. Clay court, bad weather, bad wind? The day you played Serena.
ANDY RODDICK: All of the above. Yeah.
Q. How do you think Serena will feel when you say she was lifting dump trucks?
ANDY RODDICK: I didn't say lifting, I said bench pressing, which is a testament to her strength. Don't twist it.
Q. Have you ever considered switching a racquet like Novak?
ANDY RODDICK: Probably not. I've been using my racquet for, you know, close to a decade now. I'm fine with it.
Q. What are the rewards of that kind of a change?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I've never done it.
Wywiad po wygranej w 1/4 :D
Q. Not a satisfactory condition out there, but were you better prepared for the conditions, do you think?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, maybe. I don't know. I felt pretty good out there. I wasn't really feeling too much.
To be honest, from watching the news and everything yesterday, I thought it might be a little bit worse out there. But I'm just happy to be through.
Q. What worked well for you today?
ANDY RODDICK: I was pretty happy with everything. You know, I was leaving returns a little bit short in the first set, and fixed that. You know, he played a great first set. I finished that set thinking that I hadn't really done much badly.
I just kind of stayed the course. I felt pretty good.
Q. Do you feel as though you're getting into position for shots, that little step quicker at the moment, and therefore able to do what you want to do rather than responding to what other players are doing?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I noticed it a lot on the first ball. When they hit a return, I'm able to stabilize on that one, or at least get there a second quicker and at least neutralize that one. I'm not getting hurt on that ball as much, which helps.
When I get going, I'm able to kind of move a little bit, and that's nice also.
Q. Could we expect to see an Andy Roddick diet book coming out soon?
ANDY RODDICK: No, no. I don't write well.
Q. What about the Larry Stefanki effect. Obviously you've had a big difference.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, getting in better shape was his impetus. He kind of put me up to it. I think we have similar minds. We both like going to work and have a lot of same interests. We're kind of on par as far as our energy levels. We don't like sitting around being bored.
So you can only judge it on what we've done so far. It's been really good so far.
Q. You'll work through this year with him, 2009?
ANDY RODDICK: We have a three‑year contract.
Q. When did you notice that Novak was starting to struggle?
ANDY RODDICK: I didn't. I was kind of just playing my side of the court and I didn't notice until the umpire said that they had someone coming out to see him.
Q. You seemed to be getting up from the changeover before the umpire called time. Are you trying to put a little bit of mental pressure on him?
ANDY RODDICK: No, if you go and pretty much watch every match that I've played, I'm not good at sitting still. I'm normally up pretty quick.
Q. What do you think of the rule that allows the opponent, any player, to have a massage when they feel a little bit off and delay match?
ANDY RODDICK: I would disagree with it for ‑‑ if it's for ‑‑ let me preface this so no one twists it. Everything Novak did today was well within his rights and the rules. It's simply about my opinion of a rule.
I don't think you should be able to ‑‑ if you want to get something on a switchover for cramping, I think that would be okay. Actually, one of the trainers came and talked to me afterwards, and he said his idea, but you have to get it put through a council, is if you're going to take that for cramping, an extended break, make it a rule that you have to do it before your own serve. I thought that was a pretty well‑thought‑out idea.
But as for physical condition, it's very easy to say, you know, it's one injury, but you can get rubbed for a cramp ‑‑ I looked over and I was confused, because I thought it was one injury per timeout, and I saw a calf, a neck, and an arm. But I guess cramping is one condition.
There's obviously some wiggle room, a little bit of gray area there. Hopefully we'll be able to do something about it. I think the one that you have to take it before your own serve, and if you don't want to do that then you concede the game until it is your serve, I think that's a good idea.
Q. Do you feel like there is a question mark of his physical durability?
ANDY RODDICK: He's gotten through tough matches. Today just wasn't his day physically, I guess.
Q. In the game after you came off the break you made three double faults. Was it just a rhythm thing?
ANDY RODDICK: It's tough. Never mind the fact that your adrenaline's pumping. If you go for a 30‑minute run and sit down on a couch for 12 minutes and you get up and try to run quick, you feel terrible.
It's no different than when you're trying to get a rhythm on your serve and nerves are playing a part. It's not easy to get up and play right away after that.
Q. How much of what you've achieved here so far is to do with the self‑control that you seem to be showing out there? Good or bad, it doesn't seem to matter to you. Your reaction is very level and noncombustible.
ANDY RODDICK: Noncombustible? I love you English dudes. I don't know. I don't know how to put percentage points on how well I'm playing or compared to being in a little bit better shape compared to being noncombustible.
But I think when you get the combination going, it bodes well.
Q. How much of how you're playing and when you're playing better is four to five years of work trying to improve certain things, and how much of it is the last two months?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I don't know. I wish ‑‑ again, I wish I could break it down to 50% here, 50% there. I'm sure it's a combination of things. I'm sure that there has been two good months with Larry, and having a good result isn't coincidental.
But I don't know. I don't know how to divide the two. With me, they're all kind of under one roof.
Q. You already looked very confident in Doha. And now, of course, again, and even more. Did you go to Doha knowing that because you had done all this work it was going to be a good year, or did it come with the first few matches?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I mean, there's ‑‑ you can be in great shape, but if you're not hitting the ball well it doesn't really matter. You have to give yourself an opportunity to kind of use it. I went into Doha excited and anxious. I felt prepared, but by no means did I automatically feel like I was entitled to playing well or anything of the sort.
The thing about our sport is you can constantly get knocked down. No one really cares about yesterday. You got to kind of prove yourself on a daily basis. So I try to come into this year knowing that and knowing that I've been ‑ still have been ‑ bumped down a couple of notches. Kind of just go at getting back there very workmanlike.
I didn't know if it was going to happen this fast, but I'm ready to keep at it.
Q. How did you feel about his decision to walk off?
ANDY RODDICK: Honestly, you know, at that point, you kind of ‑‑ obviously you know he's hurting. When you know he's hurting, all you want to do is just deliver that knockout blow.
You don't want to keep playing the game of wondering if he's going to do it or not or if he's close. Only he really knows. At that point, you don't want to see anybody go out, but I was happy that I was able to get the last break in there, the last blow. If anything, it just gives your piece of mind a little bit of a rest.
Q. You've been really consistent on the tour for a number of years. Been a long time since you've won a Grand Slam tournament. Has that kept you going, improving, really wanting to win another one?
ANDY RODDICK: Keeping going is a different thing. I'm 26 years old. What the hell else am I going to do with myself? Let's be honest. That's obviously the motivation behind it.
You know, I think the other thing is you just don't want to look back on the your career with regrets. As far as like an effort level or anything, I really haven't so far. I'd like to keep that intact.
Q. Talk about your next match. Set that up.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, obviously it's going to be really difficult either way. You're dealing with kind of an upstart that's extremely confident who you're going to see over the next year or two how good he's going to become.
Then you're dealing with a guy who's probably the greatest ever. It's intriguing either way. It really does me no real good to talk about it until I know. I'm happy to be having some dinner while they're playing tonight, though.
Q. You've had the experience of the monstrous early morning finishes here. How difficult is to finish a match at 2:00 or 3:00 and then have to come back and play less than 36 hours later?
ANDY RODDICK: It's hard. To be fair, it's very hard. And I've had to do it at the US Open probably more than anybody. You finish the match at 2:00 or 3:00, but if you want to take care of your body ‑‑ some people ‑‑ I'm not good at sleeping until 1:00 in the afternoon.
That night of sleep is suspect, at best. It's maybe three, four hours, and it limits what you can do the next day in practice. So it is very hard.
Q. Do you feel something should be done about that?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, my whole thing is ‑‑ my only suggestion would be ‑‑ and hopefully this will be well received ‑‑ if everything is equal all across the way, I feel like maybe the men should get the first match every once in a while during the first week of a Slam. If all things are equal, then I feel like the scheduling should be the same.
Q. I think 2003, '05, '07, and '09 you are in the semifinal here.
ANDY RODDICK: Uh‑huh.
Q. What do you think about it?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, that's extremely coincidental. Beyond that, I don't know what I got for you. I mean, if I ever play lotto, I'll be sure to bet on odd numbers.
Q. You've talked about facing Federer, and now it will be 18th time without playing matches on your own terms. Talk about playing matches on your terms and not on his terms. Talk about what exactly that would mean.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, you know, the thing about Roger, one of the things that makes him great, is he makes that very difficult. You know, I think it helps that I, you know, stopped a big streak against him last year in Miami. It's certainly not going to hurt at all.
I'm probably the least favored of anybody to make it to the semis here. I'm just going to keep going and keep my head down and keep working. I'm not going to get too excited. If it's him, great. Then you're going to have to deal with a lot of artillery, same with Del Potro. I'm just going to go about it and try to work through it.
Q. There is any phrase that Larry Stefanki keeps telling you that you never heard from Jimmy Connors?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, no.
Q. Something that surprised you?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I mean, they're different. Nothing in particular. Jimmy did a lot for me, and Larry has so far as well. I'm appreciative of both of them.
Q. Talk about Roger in the last year or so.
ANDY RODDICK: Last year? Maybe last decade.
Q. If it turns out being him, is this a better chance for you than it has been in the past few years?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I was really happy to see Roger win the US Open last year. If I'm being frank with you guys, he was a lot classier in that press conference with everyone here than I would have been if I was in that position.
He has nothing to prove. He's the greatest. He's created quite an animal for himself, where if someone wins a set they're questioning his form. The guy made two finals, a semi, and won a Slam last year and people are saying he's off form. I think he deserves a lot more respect than that.
Q. When somebody walks off like that, does it in any way kind of deprive you of your moment?
ANDY RODDICK: No. It is what it is. That's sports. That's what makes it fun. There's no script. I'm extremely satisfied with what I've done so far in this tournament. How you get there is details.
Q. Did it make any difference for you that in the beginning of the tournament you were sort of under the radar, that everybody was talking about lots of other players. For you, inside, when you approach a tournament, any difference at all?
ANDY RODDICK: No, because I agreed with pretty much the sentiment of everybody else. The four guys that you're talking about are the four guys that deserve to be talked about. I said that from my first press conference here. And they still have put up better results than me recently.
This doesn't put me in that category with them again yet. I certainly wasn't bitter about it. I felt like that's what I deserved.
When you're coming in and you're 6 and 7 and you're not 1 or 2 anymore, that's fair. That's how it works. If you're going to enjoy the spoils when you are there, you have to kind of be aware of when you're not.
Q. Seemed like even when you were way off the court he was pushing you off and coming in and you were hitting the ball harder. Was that deliberate, or is it just on the day that you're a little bit in the zone and you feel like you can hit whatever you want to hit?
ANDY RODDICK: No, it's a little bit easier to hit the ball when you can reach it.
Q. Tell us what Novak said to you at the very end when he shook your hand.
ANDY RODDICK: No, I said ‑‑ I didn't know what was going on, if it was an injury or cramps. He just said the heat was a little much and he was starting to cramp a little bit. I said, I'm sorry that you didn't get a proper chance to defend. I told him I had a lot of respect for him. That was pretty much it.
Q. Were you consulted about whether it was an afternoon or night match?
ANDY RODDICK: No.
O Sweet Lord in Heaven, O Architect Divine!
Get your eyes off Federer and listen to me whine.
All night yesterday, I couldn’t help but wonder
The merciless way I’ll be spanked down under
All night I dreamt of breadsticks and bagels
Bombing from the skies via cosmic travels
The signs were ominous, and I’m losing more pounds
Having thoughts of lewd massacre in my forthcoming round
Can you please do something if its not too late:
At least pretend you can help me change my fate
I thought he was losing touch, heading down the ranks
But yesterday’s centre-court murder was a shameless prank
Young Juan came shining on a streak of nine-matches
But a corpse left whining, recognisable only in patches
You say we are all your children; equal in your eyes,
Dude put your theory to practice; that would be nice!
Its me whose worked hard, grown faster and thinner
And I’m NOT prepared for a whipping on Laver’s Arena
I like my life and I’m playing my best tennis
Please try not repeating 2007’s AO menace
If I must believe you are no Universal Fraud
Spare my ass on the court and I WILL Praise the Lord!
Amen.
Wywiad przed turniejem w San Jose
BILL RAPP: Andy, thanks a lot for joining us today.
ANDY RODDICK: Sure thing.
BILL RAPP: Just wanted to ask you a you two part question. We have media on from both San Jose and Memphis, so I'll ask you a couple of questions. First of all, when you won here in '04, '05 and '08, thought maybe you could just think back to I remember your match against Mardy Fish in the final. Maybe talk about that or any matches that stuck in your mind?
ANDY RODDICK: You know, I've always kind of the finals have been great. I mean, I think any time you win a tournament, it's a really good feeling. But I think the memories I have are just getting to the first couple of rounds there.
It's always been circumstances, and sometimes I haven't had great form going in. So I remembered a lot of the times the tough three setters and it's the first or second round.
You know, you call those matches that you just kind of have to get through. And I think getting through some of those through the years in San Jose have allowed me to get wins there.
BILL RAPP: In Memphis, you won in 2002 and had a great match against Blake. Maybe talk about that week Memphis.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, gosh, it's scary to think it's getting to be nine times and ten times at tournaments now. But, I mean, I always enjoy coming back to Memphis. I've been a little unfortunate as far as getting hopefully, I can stay healthy there. I've had a little bit of a run of either getting hurt or sick or what not. So, hopefully, I just want to make it through the week healthy there.
Q. A lot has been made about you losing those 15 or so pounds during the off season. What exactly did you use to cut the weight, and how much has that helped you down there in Australia?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I don't think it was anything revolutionary. I think just discipline as far as diet went. You know, having kind of six weeks cut out where you could be disciplined and kind of program workouts and meals for an extended period of time. That definitely helped. It was probably as strict as I've been as far as dieting. We just went to work.
I don't think it was anything crazy or something that hasn't been done before. I think it was a lot of work put in on the track and at the courts. A lot of discipline as far as diet went. And actually just for a change having a six week window where I could kind of set forth a program for every day and every week.
You know, it was just a matter of doing the work from there and it helped a lot.
Q. Why did you feel it was necessary to carve out that time now? Just to start a new year and get back on track? What led into that?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, my coach told me to.
Q. Well with, that helps.
ANDY RODDICK: So that was kind of all I needed. I was really looking forward to it. I wasn't great physically from about, probably may on last year. I felt like I was, you know, when I got hurt, I felt like I was playing catch up, and I was probably too heavy the end of last year just because I was going straight from the training table to play, to entering tournaments, which is tough to do. But you kind of do your best. I was just looking forward to trying to get healthy again.
Q. I was going to ask basically what went into your decision to make the change in coaches late last year?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it wasn't really a change. I didn't have a coach from the Open on. I feel like a lot gets made of changing coaches, but if you look at pretty much every player with the exception of probably Rafa and James, everyone's kind of made changes before.
Basically, after the Open I wasn't going to rush the decision. I wanted to kind of see who was available at the end of the year. You know, Larry's track record speaks for itself. He was the first person that I kind of thought of. You know, I was lucky enough that he thought it would be a good fit.
Q. What struck you about his being the right fit? What does he bring?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, the thing that I was initially impressed with was, you know, if you look at the players he's worked with, first of all, a lot of them were pretty strong personalities, and he was able to have pretty good relationships with them.
Secondly, just the various types of players that he's worked with, you know. Sometimes you see a coach kind of gravitate towards the same style of play that's right they were or they've coached before. And he's gone from, you know, he's coached lefties, righties, net rushers, baseliners. So I kind of like that he didn't just take one style to a player, you know, all the time. He's kind of able to adjust to maybe see the game through his player's eyes a little bit more. And that was appealing to me.
Q. In this short amount of time that you've worked with him, what have you liked about the relationship and your game?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it's good. He has a really good positive energy. He likes to we're similar in that we like to get to work. We're not really big on just sitting around and waiting for something to happen. We kind of like to try to make it happen. You know, so far it's just been a really good working relationship.
Q. In your position or with tennis in general, just curious, after a loss and a major in your case, the Australian Open, especially when you get into a tournament like that, is it best to get like that in the court or is it sometimes preferred to step back for a bit just looking for a mental blow?
ANDY RODDICK: You know, you I think each one's unique. I don't think you can, you know, generalize every Grand Slam loss as the same. For me coming out of Australia, I felt pretty good. You know, I had played well in Doha, and I played well in Australia.
You know, Roger had a really good night against me. But there were a lot more positives than negatives for me coming out of Melbourne. So, you know, I'm excited to get back out there.
Q. When I say a lot more positives, is it just feeling good about your game? Is there anything specific?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, there's a lot. I mean, it had been two years since I made the semis of a slam, so. I felt great physically. I was healthy. I was able to kind of just be consistent over the course of, you know, the three weeks or a month in these tournaments, and that was a great sign moving forward for the rest of the year.
Q. I asked James about a rooting interest in fellow American players and maybe how much you pay attention to other Americans, especially when in tournaments maybe when they go against foreign players, is there that on is there something that you may pay attention to, especially maybe with buddies when they play non Americans?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I think whether, you know, if it's an American-American match up we're certainly intrigued as well. But yeah, there's definitely a camaraderie among the guys. And take, for instance, Amir Delic doing well in Australia. That was great to see. And a bunch of us were in the locker room watching that match. Obviously, you pay a lot more attention to the way your friends are playing as opposed to someone you don't really know, so, yes, I think that's natural.
Q. A follow up on who are your buddies on the tour? Who do you hang out with and watch matches with?
ANDY RODDICK: My probably a couple of my best friends are my Davis Cup teammates. James and Mardy, and the Bryan twins. You find yourself hanging out in the locker room. Normally the Americans are in all in one little area.
Being on tour is kind of like high school again. There are a bunch of cliques, and the countries normally stay obviously, if you speak a common language you're more likely to be friendly with that person. It's kind of like the same social circles. But obviously Bobby Reynolds, and Isner, and Delic, I think we all kind of cheer for each other and support each other.
Q. I'm not going to ask you to name names, but it will be a much more fun question. Is there anybody out there that nobody likes right now? That guy's a Jack ass, nobody wants to talk to him?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, you know, I don't know if it would be fair for me to answer that question because I haven't talked to everybody.
Q. A different line of questioning, because I don't want to get you in too much trouble. You played in a couple of matches last month at the Australian. How hot was it really to you on the court? And two, the officials are getting in a really tight spot on that conditioning rules, et cetera, on what's safe and what's not? How do you feel as a player when it's just too hot to play.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I like it, I feel like the Australian Open maybe more than any other tournament should be about preparation and how you have to prepare physically, it's one of the only slams when you only have a month before to train. I grew up in Florida and Texas so, I'm all for the hot conditions.
But, you know, if someone ran into a serious heat problem, I mean, I could certainly see where the tournament's accountable. But I think I'm pretty much always for leaving it as an outdoor tournament.
Q. Has there ever been an occasion when you've been on the court where you or an opponent or somebody playing on the court next to you as a junior, there was an incident and you really thought maybe there are circumstances where it's not safe to play?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, absolutely. In the summer in San Antonio, Texas, you used to see kids, 13 and 14, you know, pass out on the court. But I also think it's a lot different. I think a different set of rules or standards should apply for 13 year olds than grown men.
Q. As you mentioned a few moments ago you and James have taken opposite approaches to coaching in your career than he's worked with one guy and you preferred to have your more voices. To be sure his case is a little unusual. But I wonder if you can talk about how your approach has worked and the pros and cons versus having a consistent voice versus many.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean I don't think it was a conscious decision or anything I set out at 18 years old to have four different voices over the course of the career. I think Brian and James grew up together. It's someone he trusts, he knows, they have a long history.
That wasn't the case when I came on the tour in 18, 19 years old. It wasn't somebody that I'd been with for ten years. You know, but again I don't think it's something that you can generalize. There have been different reasons for me, probably, each time. So it's tough to kind of give a general statement about it, I guess.
Q. Have you valued having influences from different sources over the course of your career? Can you imagine having done what James has done and only having one coach?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, that would require me finding a coach that could have put up with me for nine years also. Yeah, I think there are pros and cons both ways. Obviously, continuity is a good thing, and there have certainly been times where I've been without someone or in transition and you're just kind of trying to make due.
But at the same time there's been a couple of times in my career where it's really jump started my playing just by having a fresh voice. So I can kind of look at it both ways. I certainly have been able to pick the brain of some of tennis's smartest people, so that's been a good thing.
Q. How long is the adjustment period generally when you really click with someone when they're new?
ANDY RODDICK: You know, it's, again, it's a case to case situation. You know, I've known Larry for a while. He's been on tour ever since I've been on tour. You know, we've done a hundred practices together when he's been with the other player and kind of joke around in the locker room.
So that scenario's a lot different than let's say Jimmy where we didn't know each other. I don't think we've spent ten minutes together in our lives. So that's obviously a little bit different. So, again, I think it's just a case to case thing.
Q. Looking ahead to the summer, did you decide not to play team tennis this year or is that still a possibility?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, it's a possibility. I, you know, I think a lot of it is going to depend on how much I play at the beginning of the year, and how well I do, he is, et cetera. I love team tennis. I like playing team tennis.
But I traditionally I played a pretty heavy summer schedule as well as far as tournaments, so I think once I get that schedule totally dialed in, I'll be able to make a better decision about team tennis.
Q. The Sacramento owner said that he was trying to trade for you. And what will the chances of you playing for the capitals?
ANDY RODDICK: I guess that would probably be a better question for him. You know, obviously, I know they have a pretty good tradition in team tennis. They've won a lot. I haven't played out are there, I don't think since maybe '01.
You know, so I think more so than I don't think it would affect my decision to play positively or negatively if I'm being honest. I just enjoy playing team tennis. I like the format. I kind of like the kind of vibe that it promotes. You know, so I don't know if I'm certainly open to on wherever I play.
Q. You've been teammates with the Bryan brothers for a long time. What kind of relationship do you have with them?
ANDY RODDICK: We've been I've been teammates with them for a long time, but I've known them since I was 8 years old, also. So we obviously have a lot of history. We're pretty good friends. It's always good to see them.
You know, I certainly don't think that we would all have a Davis Cup title if it wasn't for them, so we're certainly grateful for that. It's just great to see what they've been able to accomplish.
Q. I asked James about this yesterday, wanted to get your take. I was wondering if you were surprised at how emotional Roger was after the loss or is that something that you can relate to?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean, I think in sports you can certainly, you know, everyone can relate to being disappointed. I think the thing about, you know, kind of having to stay on for an awards ceremony and from what I read, I think Roger touched on it. Kind of going after a match, taking a shower, stretching, that's kind of all part of your routine to kind of cool down and to kind of almost try to grab a sense of perspective and get away from everybody watching for a second.
You know, when you have to go straight into the awards ceremony, you know, it's not easy especially after losing a Grand Slam final. I've been on the other end of that with Roger a couple of times. So I don't think it's surprising or out of the ordinary.
Q. What are your memories from standing there at Wimbledon center court having gone through that? Does it seem sort of surreal looking back or do you even remember those moments?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, no. You certainly remember them. It's just that you're fighting between, okay, you did a great job and staying alive. You're playing in a Wimbledon final which is pretty great. But you obviously are disappointed. You're torn up. You don't exactly want to take loss that's Wimbledon final, that's for sure. So it is hard. It is hard.
Q. There was some photos of you at the super bowl. I imagine you probably saw the game, too. Arguably it's America's biggest, greatest sporting event. When you are in that environment sitting there, did anything, any comparisons to tennis go through your mind athletically or compared to the Open or Wimbledon?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, I don't know. I wasn't really in analyzation mode to be honest. But it certainly the thing about the super bowl, it's not a football game, it's an event as well. There's so much going on around it.
I feel like probably the majority of the people are as interested in the pregame concerts and the halftime show and the whole deal. I think they've done a really good job of marketing it to all demographics.
Q. Given your start to the year and your new coach and everything, what are your expectations for this year? Do you think you could possibly get a second Grand Slam here?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I hope so. You know, it's impossible to kind of predict. You know, you're I'm just going to go to work and play well. I think there's two ways of going. Either progressing forward or you're not. For the last two years or three years it's been not.
So I think I just want to start that progression forward. I feel like I made a pretty good start at that in Australia, and I'll look to build on it.
Q. You moved back into the top six after Australia. Can you talk about what you liked about your game in Australia?
ANDY RODDICK: A lot of my game was good. I think the biggest thing is I'm breaking in 30% of my return games so far this year through two tournaments. And that's a good number.
If I can break one out of every three returns, you know, return games, I'm going to give myself a shot in a lot of matches with my serve being my strength.
That stat kind of tells a story for a lot of things, you obviously have to return well, but you have to be moving well to play "D" on that first ball off a return. So that was encouraging.
Q. As you've come along as a professional, they've instituted the challenges. How do you feel about those? Are they good for the game? Have they been good for you?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean, it's, you know, it honestly depends on the day whether or not they're good for you. Yeah, I mean, you could probably come out about 50 50 on them, and some days good, some days bad.
But I think it's good for tennis overall. I think it creates pretty good theater. I think it holds the refs a lot more accountable and the players. You can't really complain much when it's right in front of you.
You know, I think the biggest thing is you don't really have matches that are decided on a bad call. Which is, at the end of the day as a player, is a lot easier to deal with.
Q. Do you prefer the current system over the old Cyclops system?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I think so. Well, Cyclops was only on serves, so yeah. I think if you're covering the whole court as opposed to just serves, you know, that's a bonus. Plus the Cyclops, that beep was just annoying.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
Aha, Andy zaczyna turniej we wtorek meczem z kwalifikantem.
# 27) Memphis 2009
R32 Steve Darcis 7-6 6-2
R16 Robby Ginepri 6-2 6-3
Q Sam Querrey 6-4 3-6 6-3
S Lleyton Hewitt 2-6 7-6 6-4
W Radek Stepanek 7-5 7-5
Przegoniliśmy Hewitta :D
Cdn !
Ja chciałem :D :D :D
Come on Andy, z taką grą jeszcze wiele tytułów przed nami, i to poważniejszych. Jestem kuźwa zbudowany :D
Raddcik napisał:
Przegoniliśmy Hewitta :D
Tak :) Roddick tym samym stał się nr3 na liście najbardziej utytułowanych, spośród czynnych graczy.
1. Federer - 57
2. Nadal - 32
3. Roddick - 27
4. Hewitt -26
5. Moya - 20
Aha i gratulacje za Memphis ;)
Stefanki mówi ze schudł,to zresztą gołym okiem widac,wczesniej ważył 88kg a ci z ATP zamiast mu odjąc co jego, to jeszcze mu kilosa dołożyli xDDDDDDDD
No dokladnie, widac ze zgubil pare kg i sylwetka przypomina bardziej mlodego chlopaka z 2003, niz tura sprzed kilku miesiecy. Maja pewnie bardzo nieaktualne dane, obecnie to pewnie wazy nie wiecej jak 83-84 kg.
W wywiadzie z AO:
"Q. Looks like you're back to the breadsticks. Are you carrying less weight?
ANDY RODDICK: A little bit less weight, yes.
Q. How much? You look trimmer.
ANDY RODDICK: Than what?
Q. I don't know. This time last year.
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. Probably about 15 from the start of the off‑season."
15 lbs to jakieś 7 kilogramów.
Od tego czasu pewnie z jakieś 2 kilo jeszcze zrzucił, a więc podejrzewam, że zamiast 89 miałobyć 79. :)
Andy Faces Horna and Rios in South America
Fans in South America will enjoy a tennis treat this week as Andy will take on Luis Horna and Marcelo Rios in back to back exhibitions.
On April 7th, Andy will take on Luis Horna in Peru at 8:00 pm local time. The next day, Andy will face Marcelo Rios in Chili 10:00 pm local time. Both exhibition matches will include press conferences, tennis clinics and sponsor meet and greets. Andy is excited to play in South American and meet fans he normally doesn’t get a chance to play for.
Wybrał sie do ameryki południowej zeby zagrac 2 pokazówki :zdziwiony:
Już lepiej by zrobił gdyby w Houston zagrał,przeciez MC jak zawsze omija szerokim łukiem :)
Ciekawe co on komu będzie na tej cegle chciał pokazać xDDDDDD
COA napisał:
Ciekawe co on komu będzie na tej cegle chciał pokazać xDDDDDD
Pewnie slajsy lub dropszoty (w siatkę) xDDDDD
Nowa wszywka będzie, zdaje się :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsifyM_72NI
Moda na śluby wśród tenisistów trwa :P
Po Fishu i Federerze czas na Roddicka :D
Roddick getting married next week
According to Deadspin tennis correspondent Dylan Satbleford - Andy Roddick will marry his fiancee Brooklyn Decker next weekend. The ceremony would take place in an undisclosed location in Austin, Texas. The list of guests includes fellow tennis players James Blake and Mardy Fish as well as Elton John. The pair announced their engagement just over a year ago.
Poor A-Rod, now that Roger Federer finally married Mirka, his wedding won't be such a big talking point. It seems like, Fed is ahead of Roddick in every department.. :P
hahaha
buahahahahahahahahahahahaha xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Poor A-Rod, now that Roger Federer finally married Mirka, his wedding won't be such a big talking point. It seems like, Fed is ahead of Roddick in every department.. :P
Za to zdanie gość ma 10/10 hahaha
Naturalnie, gratulacje Andy :)
Eee tam, dobrze własnie! Ja w przypadku ślubu mówię zawsze ciszej nad tą trumną. :P Biedny Rod, dość wyrywania nowych modelek, czas pod pantofelek. :D
Ta, every department powiadacie ? Popatrzcie na twarz i figurę Mirki, i nie wiem czy się będziecie tak śmiać -.-
Ja leje z samego faktu, że dobrowolnie skraca sobie młodość. :D Łoger niestety nie miał wyjscia. :P Że Mira to senny koszmar, dobrze wiemy i ja przynajmniej Fedowi serdecznie współczuję. :P Ale on przynajmniej już jest od lat zaprawiony w pantoflarstwie, a Rod miał klawe, kawalerskie życie; teraz dobre czasy się kończą. :D
I w ogóle to jest zadziwiające, że ci co im kibicuje się tak na potęgę żenią. Dopiero co Roda lubić zacząłem, a ten się legalizuje. :zdziwiony: Kto następny, Blake, Misza, a może Maryj? :P
Oczywiście najlepszego na nowej drodze życia Andy. :)
Hahaaha, brawo Andy. I w ogóle powodzenia na cegle :D:D:D
http://www.people.com/people/article...273332,00.html
Andy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker Tie the Knot
Andy Roddick married his fiancée, Brooklyn Decker, in a twilight ceremony at his Austin, Texas, home on Friday, PEOPLE has confirmed.
The tennis pro, 26, and the swimsuit model, 21, exchanged vows in an intimate candlelit ceremony before a group of close friends and family.
"They are absolutely perfect for each other," a family friend tells PEOPLE. "I think they knew that from the moment they met that they were perfect for each other."
At the ceremony, bridesmaids wore strapless, chocolate-colored gowns, and the setting was decorated with bright, tropical flowers. Guests – including tennis greats Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi – were also treated to a musical performance by Roddick's longtime friend, Sir Elton John.
The wedding was followed by dinner at Roddick's local country club.
Roddick and Decker, who started dating in 2007, announced their engagement in March 2008. The pair first met after Roddick asked his agent to track down a number for Decker, who appeared in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition.
Gratulacje :)
To jak, Wawrinka w 3r Rzymu ? :P
Tak jak w DC ?
Roddick planuje cos zagrac w tym roku na cegle ? Decyzja o wycofaniu sie z Rzymu mnie zdziwila, myslalem ze to bedzie jedyny turniej gdzie bedzie chcial sie oswic z clayem prze Roland Garros. Chyba ze RG tez oleje ? Macie jakies wiesci dotyczace planow Roddicka na ziemi ? Bo znajac tego kretyna to pojedzie przed French Open do Kitzbühel...
Na jego stronie jest tylko info o starcie w Queens, ale podejrzewam że samego RG nie odpuści, w Madrycie pewnie też zagra.
On The Road Again
May 4, 9:09pm GMT+5 by andyroddick.com
Coach Larry Stefanki landed in Austin Monday to train with Andy in preparation of his first clay tournament next week at the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open. The Masters Series in Madrid will also serve as Andy’s warm-up for the second Grand Slam of the season; Roland Garros. Andy has always been very outspoken about the challenges of clay. Knowing the slow surface is incredible physical Andy has hit the track in Austin since his honeymoon to stay in peak shape.
Andy’s trip abroad next week will kick off a spring road trip where he will be traveling for numerous weeks in a row. Currently Andy is slated to play Madrid, Roland Garros, Queens, Wimbledon, Indianapolis, Washington, Montreal, and Cincinnati before heading to Flushing Meadows for the US Open.
Come on Andy !!! Lej ich wszystkich !!!
Madrid Around the Corner
May 7, 8:08am GMT+5 by andyroddick.com
Madrid Around the Corner
Abra-kadabrah, ala-kazaam, make Andy fire on clay again!
‘La Caja Magica’, or the Magic Box, hosts the new Mutua Madrilenda Madrid Tennis Open in Spain from May 8 – 17, boasting the only Olympic-ready venue with three retractable-roof arena clay courts with capacity for 12,500, 3,500 and 2,500 people. As Andy and Team Roddick get ready for the “red season”, AR.com is here to prepare you, too.
From “Tennis Masters Madrid” in 2002 to the “Masters Series de Madrid” to the current title, the widely popular and ever growing clay Masters Series event is kicking off its eighth year. Our number one American played for five of the seven previous years, missing out in 2004 and 2008, and is excited to kick off his clay court season here for year number six. Andy has seen the second round a handful of times in Madrid, and is aiming to meet the third for the first time here. Last year, that goal was scorched after falling to clay native, Frenchman Gael Monfils in a close three sets.
In addition to the change in venue location and renovations, other major additions have been made. For instance, Andy was in Madrid eight months ago for this very tournament as it was previously held in October with all hard courts. Now, not only does it have both clay courts and retractable roofs, it is also hosting both the top ATP and WTA tour players as well as Doubles for the next ten days. With a Lenny Kravitz concert on the 8th to set the tone, the players will be “Calling All Angels” to keep them from flying away from this clay oasis too soon.
Roddick hopeful over ankle injury
Andy Roddick remains confident he will be fit for Wimbledon after retiring hurt during his AEGON Championship semi-final against fellow American James Blake.
Roddick twisted his ankle in the third game and although he tried to continue, he was forced to withdraw with the scores level at 4-4 in the opening set.
"I'm going to do everything I can to play at Wimbledon," said Roddick.
He added: "We're scheduled to get it looked at again on Sunday and do some scans on it and see where we're at, but initial tests showed the stability and strength was okay.
"We're looking at days, not weeks. My trainer and doctors don't think anything is torn.
"I was just going back after I hit the shot, and there's a difference in height between where the grass court ends and where the concrete goes, and I just unfortunately stepped at a bad angle.
"It kind of just twisted a little bit. Running straight ahead was all right but side to side was suspect.
"I was hoping I could walk it off and it would go away, but that wasn't the case. I don't like the feeling of walking out of a match at all.
"Obviously with the bigger picture in mind, I could only make it worse out there. I wasn't going to help my prospects at Wimbledon at all by going through the motions out there and moving at 20 or 30% of what I can."
Mam nadzieję, że da radę się wykurować, bo w dobie obecnej "Europeizacji" tenisa Roddick jest potrzebny dla Wimbla ;)
Roddick says he should be Wimbledon-fit despite ankle problem
Andy Roddick was prepared to make a late training start for Wimbledon beginning in a week after rolling his ankle at the weekend in his semi-final against James Blake at Queen's club.
The American remains optimistic about his chances of a quick recovery in time for Monday's start at the All England club.
"I'm not saying I'm going to be out six weeks or anything like that. We're looking at days, not weeks", said the one-time No. 1. "I'm going to do everything I can to play at Wimbledon".
Roddick underwent scans at the weekend but said that a preliminary exam from his trainer Doug Spreen and tournament doctors showed nothing torn when he stepped wrongly during his match and had to quit later after eight games..
"Initial tests showed the stability was okay, strength was okay. I was just going back after I hit the shot, and there's a difference in height between where the grass court ends and where the concrete goes. I just unfortunately stepped at a bad angle".
"It twisted a little bit. Running straight ahead I was all right; side to side was suspect".
Roddick said that if he can pull up fit, his chances at Wimbledon should not be compromised. "If I'm healthy, I don't think it (the injury) will affect it at all. I've gotten in three and a half matches, which is what you're looking for. I felt like I was hitting the ball fine, moving fine, serving really well".
http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20090 … le_problem
Mam nadzieje ze zagra,chociaz strasznie sie boje :[
Roddick will be OK for Wimbledon.
Two-time finalist Andy Roddick says the ankle he rolled at the weekend will be fine for the start of Wimbledon in a week. “It’ll be alright, certainly in time for Wimbledon,” the American told Britain’s Sky. “There’s nothing serious as far as long term so it was good news considering the situation.”
Roddick, who lost Wimbledon finals in 2004 and 2005 to Roger Federer, was forced to quit his Queen’s club semi-final against James Blake when he made a mis-step and turned his ankle.
The number six said he is taking anti-inflammatories and icing the injury, supervised by trainer Doug Spreen and doctors. He thinks he will be a 100 per cent in a few days.
“We only get two grasscourt tournaments a year so it was pretty disappointing to walk off in one of them but at the end of the day the priority is Wimbledon and I had to think about that, so I’ll be fine.”
:D
Raddcik napisał:
:D
Chyba 1000 słów nie wyraziłoby więcej niż powyższa rekcja na tę wiadomość :D
Przypuszczałem, że nic poważnego. Źle stanął w 3 gemie, a skreczował dopiero w 9, więc aż tak straszliwie połamać się nie mógł. Czysto zapobiegawcza decyzja o poddaniu meczu z JB ;)
;) Dobre wiesci.
<3
Roddick's a changed man
Andy Roddick is playing at Wimbledon for the ninth time — but for the first time as a married man and the first time under the coaching of Larry Stefanki. No one would argue that he is a changed man.
Andy Roddick has twice been a runner-up at Wimbledon but last year went out in the second round, his earliest exit point. "I was going into Wimbledon a little under-prepared," he admits. "I hadn't really played a whole lot and to be honest I haven't played my best tennis there the last couple of years. But this year I’m really excited , I’m playing a little bit better and moving a little bit better."
At 26 Roddick has clearly not given up the chase for a second Grand Slam title — he won the US Open in 2003 — or to build his challenge again at Wimbledon where he was runner-up to Roger Federer in 2004 and again the following year.
Larry Stefanki is a Californian who ranked as high as 35th in the world when he was on the tour for nine years. Since then his skills as a motivator and tactician have taken him into a coaching role with, among others, John McEnroe, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Tim Henman and now Roddick.
"When I hired him I just said that I'm not looking to run the show, that's your job, I'm here to follow orders," Roddick says, "and he said 'ok, well, lose 15 pounds'. So the process started , I don't think it was anything magic or revolutionary, it was just eating right, and the biggest thing was having six weeks of an off season to be really disciplined about it.
"It gives you a little bit of underlying confidence knowing that you have put in the work. I can play different ways now, scramble a little bit better, or I can play aggressive and everything just feels a little bit quicker."
Results prove Roddick was on target. He was a semi-finalist in the Australian Open, where he would always hope to do well, and the last 16 at the French Open, where he has been less successful. Results from other tournaments also reflected progress. These results came despite the distraction of his marriage this year to model Brooklyn Decker.
"The wedding took one day, but the whole time I was training. I trained the day afterwards. I feel physically I'm extremely well prepared," Roddick says.
Stefanki worked and watched, amending the programme as necessary. He says: "I think he's as capable as anyone to win on the grass and I’m talking Wimbledon. If he can serve with the variety that he's serving right now, I'm not just talking hitting fast balls all day long, putting himself in a position to move into the courts more, play on the baseline on the return of serve, attack a lot more, I think the window of opportunity is very big for him at Wimbledon.
"He lost second round at Wimbledon last year and that was horrible for him. He knows that window is there, he knows he's playing well and it's exciting for him and exciting for me to see if he maintains this aggressiveness and this approach.
"When we got together I tried to look on what he did not do well and what his deficiencies were compared to the other five guys ahead of him. I felt like his movement and footwork were a little bit on the lesser side than the guys ahead of him so I said 'Listen, if you want to get into that realm you're going to have to lose weight, become faster on your feet, do a lot of running, do a lot of two-on-ones, hit-move, hit-move, not just hit, watch and then try to run after the ball and get a breather'.
"I am a big believer that the game at this level is played from the waist down. It's all about footwork, balance, getting yourself in the right position and then basically cock the racket back and go."
I'm here to follow orders," Roddick says, "and he said 'ok, well, lose 15 pounds'
hahaha
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Q. How would you assess that performance? Is there any disappointment for you to get broken and lose a set, or you come out with a win and a win is a win?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, a win is a win. And, you know, a set ‑‑ it's happened twice now. The set I got broken I had numerous break chances and they got the one that they had, you know, so...
I knew I was getting the better of him. I knew I was getting a lot more looks at his serve than he was at mine. Probably played my best set by far in the fourth set.
Got through. You know, it was comfortable most of the time. You know, couple things here and there. But overall it was all right.
Q. Somebody was mentioning you and Lleyton both winning today. You've been sort of the standard bearers of your countries for seven or eight years. Do you feel like there's nobody behind you? I wonder how Lleyton feels about the same thing. You just keep rolling along and there's no successor.
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, I mean, you kind of made a statement in a question. But, you know, I'd love nothing more than for some, you know, young 17‑, 18‑year‑old to pop out and get in there in the top 15 or the top 10. But, you know, you can't really deal in hypotheticals.
Q. Do you feel a burden? It's an individual sport, but do you feel any sort of burden in sort of carrying the weight?
ANDY RODDICK: Not any more than I have for the rest of my career (laughter). I mean, it's not exactly a new position for me. You know, obviously you'd like it to be different, but that's not the way it is.
You know, this ain't Candy Land. We can't really make fantasy worlds up. You just kind of deal with it and move on.
Q. A question about your twitter account. What made you do that? Do you have fun? Do you update it yourself?
ANDY RODDICK: Yes, yes, and yes.
Q. Do you have fun updating it?
ANDY RODDICK: Yes. You know, it's a good time. It's something to do. You know, we have long days kind of just sitting around not doing a whole lot at the house a lot of time, so it's good to kind of get their responses. I enjoy it.
Q. So can you talk us through Rick Astley here?
ANDY RODDICK: What do you want me to say? I said I wasn't proud, but I'm not going to lie to anybody. I busted my wife on some of her crappy music. She brought up Rick Astley. I can't deny it. It's in my iPod. I bet it's in your iPod, too, so shut up (laughter).
Q. You can get arrested in this country for having Rick Astley on your iPod.
ANDY RODDICK: You can get arrested in my country for lying under oath, so...
Q. How did it come about, this passion for Rick Astley?
ANDY RODDICK: Okay, calm down. Just calm down.
Q. Your next opponent is an Austrian, Jurgen Melzer. Spoke to him before. He said you're good friends. Is it like that? Would you explain this friendship a little bit?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, I think a lot of it, you know. We've known each other probably 10 years now, going back to juniors. We kind of grew up together. You know, I think we enjoy each other's company a little bit.
Yeah, I mean, I think we've kind of developed a little bit of a friendship over the 10 years we've been on tour now.
Q. He's your opponent now. What do you think?
ANDY RODDICK: I think, to be professional, you leave that ‑‑ you leave kind of courtesy in the locker room when you go out on the court.
Q. Wimbledon hopefully will be two weeks for you. Is the two weeks all pressure, pressure, pressure, or in downtime can you have fun and enjoy yourself? Do you constantly feel under pressure?
ANDY RODDICK: A lot of it, every decision you make is based on the fact that you're here to play tennis. That adds a certain element. I mean, you like to get out and about a little bit maybe before the tournament starts. Maybe a couple times I'll try to take a drive and go into the city and have dinner.
But, you know, most of the time it's about trying to get through your matches.
Q. Does it help listening to Rick Astley?
ANDY RODDICK: I didn't hear that.
Q. You played Lleyton at Queen's. Have you been surprised with the result he had today? Could you see that result coming?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I mean, I don't think it's surprising. You know, Lleyton's ball stays very low on the court. He's certainly capable of playing very well on this surface. You know, especially against a guy who is 6'7", being able to keep the ball down is a big thing for him.
Q. Do you find some of the younger American players come to you for advice, pick your brain at all, even particularly playing at a place like this where you've had success?
ANDY RODDICK: No, no, not as much as I'd like. You know, I certainly feel with the majority of 'em I've kind of made myself available. You know, I'm not gonna force myself on anybody, for sure.
But, you know, sometimes. No, it's not regular.
Q. Jesse Levine is playing today, a qualifier. Do you know him at all?
ANDY RODDICK: Uh‑huh.
Q. Have you had contact with him? Has he asked you for any advice?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, I think he's doing a pretty good job here. We're both from Boca. I think we went to the same high school actually. He was younger. But, you know, I've definitely hit with him.
He's been on the Davis Cup practice partner. I like him a lot. He goes about it the right way. He's professional. He works hard. You know, you wish all the young guys kind of had his work ethic and professionalism. So I'd like to see him get through.
Q. What are your thoughts on Shaq being traded to Cleveland?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it works both ways. I mean, the Phoenix cuts dollars, and Cavs have a big man. I mean, it was pretty apparent during the playoffs with Dwight Howard that that was the part that was missing. Keep him healthy. I mean, I think him and Ilgauskas will be able to spell each other.
No one's going to have to carry the load of the minutes, so I think it's a great move for them.
Q. What do you think it will do to James and the Cavs for next year?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it's only going to help. Obviously there's going to be an adjustment period with a 7'3", 350 pounder in the middle. But having to deal with two physical specimens like that, I mean, it will take an adjustment period. It's only going to make their team better.
You have to make moves to win championships, and I think that's a solid move putting a guy like that down low.
Q. If I have that right, there are three guys from your high school still in the draw.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, yeah. Mardy went to Boca Prep also.
Q. So talk about what's in the water there.
ANDY RODDICK: Tennis academy is around the school.
Q. If they said to you years ago there are three left in the draw, what would you have said? Any idea that would happen?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I mean, we had ‑‑ I played three on my high school tennis team my junior year, so yeah, it was average. I don't know. You'd be obviously guessing, but you knew there was certainly talent. I mean, our school made up like half the seeds at Kalamazoo at junior nationals, so I guess it wouldn't be that surprising.
Q. Was your high school tennis team undefeated, or did you go down sometimes?
ANDY RODDICK: I actually think we lost because we'd always have to go over and like play the French Open. Our coach would get pissed.
Q. Friendships aside ahead of your next game, I think you have an 8‑0 lead, but you haven't met on grass. Do you think that might make a difference?
ANDY RODDICK: It makes a huge difference. I mean, obviously he's very comfortable. He's comfortable coming forward. He's gonna definitely try to impose himself on the match. So there's certainly a lot of things to be dealt with there.
Q. Talking about Jesse Levine, he's recently taken on a sport mental coach. I think it's the same one that Ivan Lendl used. A few years ago you had taken a look into bringing someone like that onto your group.
ANDY RODDICK: I did?
Q. You did.
ANDY RODDICK: No. I wouldn't want to do that to anybody.
Q. Truth be told, who was better in high school in basketball, you or Mardy?
ANDY RODDICK: Mardy. Well, on team. I would kick his ass one‑on‑one pretty much every time. I'm more physical.
Q. Go to the hoop?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I have a bigger ass. I can box out.
Q. You said you like going into London for dinner. I hear you enjoy going to The Ivy.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I've been there before. It's nice.
Q. Been there this year?
ANDY RODDICK: Once, yeah.
Q. Thoughts on the NBA draft, predictions?
ANDY RODDICK: What do you want to know?
Q. What do you think of the first pick?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, Griffin is going 1, then it's going to be interesting to see what Minnesota does. I think they have what, 5, 6, 18, 28.
Q. You don't follow it at all?
ANDY RODDICK: No, not much (smiling). Supposedly they're looking to trade 6 and 18. Yeah, so, it will be interesting. Something fun will happen.
Q. If you had to pick one NBA star to be a prospect on the tour, who would you go with?
ANDY RODDICK: Nobody. That would make my job harder.
Q. Any other favorite spots in London that you like?
ANDY RODDICK: Wherever Rick Astley is going.
Po meczu z Berdychem.
Q. Was it as straightforward as the scoreline would tell?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I guess. I mean, I guess I was kind of in control of it the whole way. I felt like I was getting looks more than he was.
Overall it was a pretty good performance over a guy who is, you know, definitely an in‑form player coming in.
Q. There's Lleyton now.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. What are your thoughts on him as an opponent?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, it doesn't get any easier from here. I mean, I have loads of respect for Lleyton, you know, what he's been able to accomplish. You know, everyone knows he's certainly capable of playing very, very, very well on this surface.
So, you know, it will be a tough one.
Q. Is there a feeling among your peers that he's really on his way back now?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't think anybody in the locker room would ever ‑ maybe at any point took Lleyton lightly, and especially on this surface. It certainly elevates him into one of the better players in this tournament.
You know, I've seen him play too much good tennis to have ever really let him drift too far from consciousness as far as, you know, the top guys go.
Q. What was the key to you turning the rivalry into your favor in 2005? Because he had a very good record going into Cincinnati then, and now you've won the last four straight.
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I mean, honestly, he definitely got the best of me for a little while there. I played him three straight times the year he finished 1 and it was my first year on tour. We kind of went back and forth. He got me in a big Aussie Open semifinal.
I don't know. I feel like we always had close matches. I just pulled a couple out. We had two great matches this year. I thought he played real well in Memphis and I was lucky to get through that one. We had a real good match in Queen's a couple weeks ago.
I wish I had one thing for you that turned it, but I'm not sure.
Q. How different is your sense of appreciation for advancing at this time with this maturity that you have versus several years ago here?
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, you know what, I don't think ‑‑ you know, this place and this setting has ever really been lost on me. I think I've always had a pretty good appreciation for it. Yeah, I think I enjoy the process more now. Maybe not even so much just the victories at the tournament, but the work, the practice, the day‑to‑day stuff. I probably enjoy that a lot more than I did before.
Q. The other day you said that it's tough to compare years, conditions are different, players are different, just about everything is different. How about your game? If you were to stack up your game today and your satisfaction with it versus years ago, where does rate?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, if you ask me today, I was pretty happy with everything.
Again, it's tough. You know, I don't really feel like sitting here and talking about now versus five years from now, because I don't know what relevance it has with this tournament.
I know that so far I'm happy with the way I've been going here. That's probably my concern.
Q. I understand you're quite friendly with Justin Timberlake and that he came to see you on Saturday.
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, I've never met him (laughter.)
Q. He likes you.
ANDY RODDICK: But let's not let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Q. Absolutely.
ANDY RODDICK: No, I mean, I'm a fan, obviously. Mardy actually was talking to him. I know he stayed for the match. That was pretty cool.
Q. No word from Rick?
ANDY RODDICK: No, not yet.
Q. Are you hoping to hear from Rick? He's aware of your passion for him and his music.
ANDY RODDICK: Who wouldn't be at this point? You guys have told everybody.
Q. Your call with Barack Obama after the match, what did he advise you of the Hewitt match coming up? (Laughter.)
ANDY RODDICK: Change is good (smiling).
Q. You probably weren't really that concerned about this, but did you feel they pulled the trigger a little bit early on the roof, considering it was pretty dry the last few hours?
ANDY RODDICK: Here is what I think about it: If it's raining, they have a pretty good little weather system forecast thingy down in the magic little office down there. They're always pretty good about giving updates.
I say if it is even sprinkling at the time and it looks ominous, let's say there's a 20 or 30% chance, if you have a roof, I think you use it.
You know, otherwise you're waiting around and what's the roof for?
Q. The tiebreak was your friend again today, huh?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. Are you feeling pretty confident when you get to that point in the set?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm always comfortable. I'm gonna lose some. Obviously it's a tiebreaker; it's a crapshoot. I've been serving ‑‑ if I keep serving the way I have been, you know, it's a lot tougher for guys to hit shots, you know, off of returns at 2‑All in a breaker than it is at 30‑15 or 40‑15 in a service game.
You know, I think I recognize that. But, you know, he double‑faulted once, and that was it.
Q. Could you describe what it's like to play against Hewitt, for those of us who never have.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean, it's a fight. You know, everything is a fight. Lleyton's not going to give you anything. You know, a lot of guys you can get on top of, you can get on top of their game, you can look for holes in it.
Lleyton doesn't really have a lot of holes. He's pretty solid off both sides. He volleys well. You're definitely not gonna get on top of him mentally. He's as sound there as anybody out there.
Q. He's got this huge knot of fans that are very, very noisy in their support for him. Can that be off‑putting for you? Is that a big weapon in his armory, or not?
ANDY RODDICK: No, that's fine. I've dealt with fans before. We've played away Davis Cup ties. I have no problem with the crowd getting rowdy, as long as the respect level is there. I have no issue with it at all.
Q. I know you're saying you don't want to go back and talk about evolution of game...
ANDY RODDICK: But...
Q. I'm gonna talk about game now. But if you look at Lleyton's game from 2001 to 2009 coming off the hip surgery, do you find he's a little bit different? He's not counterpunching as much now? A little bit more aggressive? Does he come in a little bit more?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, he's probably a little bit more aggressive. You know, he probably set the bar for the way a lot of these guys can move now. I mean, I think he made it, you know, where Courier probably took it in the mid '90s as far as working and making it physical, I think Lleyton maybe did that in the early part of this decade.
I think a lot of what you're seeing now is because of these guys watching him and seeing how effective legs can be. To counter that, he's probably had to get a little bit more aggressive.
Q. Speaking of earlier in this decade, is this starting to look a little bit like an AARP convention here in the draw with Haas, Ferrero, and Hewitt, all the old guys in there?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know about that. Yeah, I mean, I'm happy to see guys like Juan Carlos get through, and Tommy. I mean, they've battled some serious injuries. To kind of get back there and get back deep into a major is good to see.
Q. Do you personalize that at all? Are you heartened by the fact that you can see a comeback even from hip surgery and make a deep run?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, I feel great. The thing about my career is I haven't played a lot of long points. You know, if I keep myself healthy and I keep leg strength, and you, know, my arm I had a little bit of problem last year, but besides that it's felt really good.
You know, I don't have to go out there and grind every single day. I feel like as long as I stay professional and work hard, I should have the longevity I want.
Q. Did you do anything exciting on the rest day yesterday?
ANDY RODDICK: Did I do anything exciting? No.
Q. What did you do?
ANDY RODDICK: What did I do? I sat around my living room, watched terrible TV for a couple of hours. I'm trying to think. Actually, you know what I did, I went into the city and had dinner last night. That was lovely.
Q. Who do you think the two or three best movers in the game are now?
ANDY RODDICK: That's tough. There are so many. There's so many good movers. A lot of it's surface specific, you know. Monfils is an unbelievable mover on clay. But on grass, I don't know if that translates with the sliding and all of that.
Roger and Rafa are probably some of the best all‑around movers, regardless of surface. Murray moves great for his size. Ferrer moves great. I mean, the thing is, I could give you less names if you asked me who doesn't move well.
I think it's a necessity at this point. I hear a lot of people talking about juniors, and a lot of times my first question is, How are their legs? I feel that's an aspect that gets overlooked a lot.
Q. How is the grass playing? Speeding up as the tournament is going on?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, maybe a little bit. It's hot, you know, so I think that keeps it going a little bit. But it's a little bit different for me. I've played the majority of guys who just, you know, play pretty aggressively and hit through the court. My matches have felt pretty quick.
But I think a lot of is a result of who I've been playing.
I po ćwierćfinale :)
Q. We have a revival of the, New Balls Please generation here in Wimbledon. Is that because experience is very helpful especially on grass, or are there other reasons for that?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't think it's either/or. It's probably a combination. Now we're just old balls.
Q. You've won a lot of big matches over your career. Does this one rank up there recently in importance when you add it all up, the opponent, the stage, five sets?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, it certainly wasn't short on drama. I've never been real good at comparing matches, you know. I think they kind of all tell their own story.
But it was tough from a mental standpoint, because Lleyton wasn't going away and there were kind of a lot of ebbs and flows to the match. I'm just happy to be on the good side of it.
Q. What was the toughest portion of that match for you?
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, there were a lot. I mean, obviously not pulling out that second set breaker was huge. I mean, you realize that at that point you're odds on, and instead, you know, it's one point difference and you're in a battle.
Kind of recovering from the fourth. I thought he started playing a lot better there. And then obviously the fifth was a dogfight, too. I mean, you know, I had to come up with probably the best half volley I've ever hit in my life to save breakpoint.
It's tough to choose.
Q. Right at the end of the match it was pretty obvious that you were emotional. What exactly were you feeling at that moment there?
ANDY RODDICK: You know, it's a mixture of happiness, of relief. You know, in your mind you're kind of trying to stay the course for four hours, you know, constantly figuring out what you're gonna do. Your mind is just racing for four hours. So then it's relief, happiness, and almost kind of an instant shut down mode.
You know, but I was happy to be through.
Q. Have you got anything left in the tank for Andy Murray?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I should. I mean, I felt fine out there physically. I'm sure I'll pull up a little bit sore tomorrow, but that's to be expected. That's not a new condition.
Q. A lot was made after Monday's game about Andy Murray's recovery, that he's only 22. You have four years on him. Is that a significant time in tennis or are you still there or thereabouts at the same level as a 22 year old?
ANDY RODDICK: Physically?
Q. Yes. Is it a significant time factor, that four years, in your recovery compared to his?
ANDY RODDICK: Not yet. I'm sure when I'm 30 it will be. You know, you can look at it in years. Also matches played. I've played a lot more in my career. But, you know, I'm looking at it as far as a two day thing, not a years thing.
At this point I feel fit and I feel healthy. You know, I'm in better shape now than I was when I was 24. Shouldn't be too much of a factor.
Q. Lleyton Hewitt thinks you'll have to play a helluva match to beat Andy Murray, thinking you're very much the underdog in this game.
ANDY RODDICK: That's fine.
Q. Do you feel that way? Do you agree with that?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I'm not here to make predictions. That's you.
Q. You hit 43 aces in the match. You came up with huge serves. Impossible to point out which was the biggest. Can you talk about your serving, what role that played in the match.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, you know, obviously from a return standpoint, he's gonna do that better than I am most times in a match. You know, I kind of have to. I have to serve better to handle my service games.
Q. Were you consciously going for more?
ANDY RODDICK: No. You know, it's not rare for me to hit aces or hit the serve hard.
You know, again, I'm happy with my percentages. I've been above 70% the whole time. I feel like with my first serve, if I'm up there, you know, then I'll hold my fair share.
Q. Take us through the break game in the fifth set. Pretty incredible. Two fighters. Not certain which way the match is going to go.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I played a lot better in the fifth than I did probably, you know, from the second on. I returned a lot better. Even had looks early in the set. He came up with some good serves.
You know, but I kind of just went for my shots a little bit more. He hit one kind of bad forehand that let me get a look. You know, that was kind of it. At that point I don't know what separates it from one of the games where you're close and you don't break. You know, it's just a matter of points going the right way there.
Q. Did he surprise you? Because he seemed to get injured midway through the second set, but he kept going.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I noticed it in the fourth, the fourth set. But he actually had treatment for it I think the other day against Stepanek, as well, if I'm not mistaken.
If anything, I mean, props to him, because he made the adjustment. He wasn't retrieving as much. He started kind of stepping into the middle of the court, you know, almost playing freer. He was kind of bullying the ball around a little bit more.
You know, he certainly made a pretty smart adjustment there and gave me something else to deal with.
Q. Is there a more mentally tough opponent out there than Lleyton Hewitt?
ANDY RODDICK: He's certainly up there.
Q. You've had many games with Andy. Where would you put his return of serve, given it's such a massive part of your game, the serving option?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, it's tough. You know, obviously when you get to the top returners, it's tough to pick much between them. But he's certainly in the conversation among the best returners.
Q. If it should rain on Friday and the roof is required I'm sure you don't want to think about this but do you have any concerns about taking a few moments to get used to how the ball might behave, or the fact that Murray has had a chance to experience that?
ANDY RODDICK: Obviously, I'd kind of rather know what I was in for than have it be a surprise. But that's not really something I have too much control over. You know, you just deal with it the best you can.
Q. Andy said it's very humid in there and the court plays a bit slower. If they do have to use the roof, is that going to play against you Friday?
ANDY RODDICK: We'll see.
Q. You've had some trouble with Murray since you started playing. The rivalry has evolved. You played him eight times. Do you have to play your best, best, best? And has your game improved enough during this year when you face him to get him if he's playing at a high level?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, let's not Andy has been playing great. You know, he's certainly kind of come into his own as a player. I'm gonna go out and play a match. With my serve, I can give myself a chance, you know, in any match. I've been in this situation many times, you know.
Again, I'm not gonna predict anything. I'm gonna have to play well, and hopefully he would probably say the same. You know, so we'll get to it.
Q. You said when you came off the court that you felt like you've been out of the picture. Do you feel now with two slam semifinals that you are back in the picture?
ANDY RODDICK: Getting closer.
Q. Do you step on the court and think of yourself as the best server in tennis?
ANDY RODDICK: Karlovic is the best serve in tennis. There's not much I can do. You know, I'm giving up eight inches there. That's not a good matchup for me. Karlovic is the best server in tennis.
Q. We're unused to this kind of weather in this country. Is it fair to say you kind of grew up in this kind of stuff, your tennis education anyway?
ANDY RODDICK: No, this is cold from where I come from.
Q. So this really is nothing to you?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, I grew up in Florida and Texas. It gets offensively hot in both places. You know, I'm not too concerned about the heat, to be honest.
Q. What are you expecting from the crowd? What do you think the atmosphere is going to be like here playing against Andy Murray in a semi?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm looking forward to it obviously. We might be able to count the people for me on this hand. But I think it will certainly be something to remember. I think the crowd's gonna be electric. I think it's gonna be a great atmosphere, and one that I can certainly appreciate, even if it's not for me.
I'm just gonna pretend when they say, C'mon, Andy, that they mean me (smiling).
Q. Last year after your tough loss, you said it was like watching a Rolling Stone concert from the eighth row when you're used to seeing it from the first row. What row are you in now?
ANDY RODDICK: Getting closer. I can see what Mick Jagger is wearing now.
Q. Who do you think Rick Astley will be rooting for?
ANDY RODDICK: Hardcore journalism. We have a show called 20/20 back home where they ask questions like that. Just hardcore.
Q. What is your assessment of how Andy Murray has improved since this time last year?
ANDY RODDICK: I think this tournament did wonders for him last year. You know, especially the Gasquet match. Everyone knew I think everyone thought it was going to be a matter of time. He's certainly capable of hitting all the shots. It's just a matter of being able to do it day after day now.
You know, there's a certain comfort level where you go out there and it's like second nature. I think he's acquired that since last year here.
Q. Is it possible to grind with him and win?
ANDY RODDICK: You're gonna have to do some of it. You're gonna have to. You know, obviously I'm not gonna get into a match where we're both trying to poke the ball around on the court. That probably wouldn't work. But you're gonna have to do it at certain times, for sure.
Q. What are your thoughts on Roger now reaching the 21st straight semifinal?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, it's almost impossible. That's one of the most impressive stats that we'll see in tennis. 2004 at Roland Garros, correct, is the last time? I mean, that's impressive, to say the least.
Q. What do you think are the weaknesses of Andy Murray's game?
ANDY RODDICK: That's one of the things. He doesn't really have a lot of weaknesses, or any for that matter. He's improved his serve a lot. He returns well.
You know, but to be fair, once you get into the top part of the game, that's why a lot of the guys are up there.
Q. Are you an admirer of Murray? Do you like his style?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, listen, I know how hard this game is, so anybody who is near the top of it certainly has my respect. I mean, I know what goes into it and what it takes on a daily basis not just here in front of you all but, you know, when there's not a lot of fanfare, when you have to work.
So, certainly I have a lot of respect for that.
Q. What do you respect and admire most about the Williams sisters on the other side, the way they've dominated here?
ANDY RODDICK: It's tough for me to separate the girls I've known since I was nine. I just get real proud when I see 'em. I knew 'em when they were 10, 11 years old. To see the way they worked back then, you know, kind of seeing them reap the benefits now.
You know, I don't know how many times people have closed the door on 'em, they're still here and still kind of making Wimbledon theirs in a way. So it's pretty cool to see.
Q. How does your maturity play into a match like that? Do you feel almost a sense of calm at all?
ANDY RODDICK: I'll let you know when I have some.
Aha, trochę multimediów ^^
Bp i Serwis na mecz :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuGCKDeIsS0
I coś specjalnego dla debili, którzy mówią, że Roddick to drewno i umie tylko serwować.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR2ZSM7cLO0
COA napisał:
I coś specjalnego dla debili, którzy mówią, że Roddick to drewno i umie tylko serwować.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR2ZSM7cLO0
Jezus Maria, co to za piłka była ?! Po tym zagraniu miałem telefon w ręce i już chciałem dzwonić, ale pomyślałem, że nie masz nastroju do rozmowy :D
Podejrzewam, że mój dziki ryk po tej piłce zagłuszyłby sygnał telefonu xDDDDDDDD
Zatrudnienie Larry'ego Stefanki'ego można uznać za najlepszą decyzję Roda w karierze. Najpierw 1/4 Madrytu i set z Fedem na cegle, potem historyczna 4 runda RG, teraz po dwóch genialnych meczach finał Wimbledonu. Brawo panowie.
Tak sobie myślę, że gdyby po Gilbercie wziął go Stefanki to dziś byłby jeszcze bardziej utytułowanym tenisistą.
Oglądałem dzisiejszy meczi nie mogłem się nadziwić, że to tak gra Roddick.
Brawo!
Po półfinale :D
Q. Where does that rate amongst your performances in recent years?
ANDY RODDICK: In recent years, it's, I mean ‑‑ I think overall it's certainly up there. You know, playing a player of his rank, his caliber, you know, in kind of his atmosphere. He was certainly in form going into the match. I had to play my best tennis to win.
Q. It seems like a lot of streams came together to make the river today: fitness, the backhand working. Can you address that.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, you know, you don't go back to a Wimbledon final by accident. It certainly is a process. And it's probably been a longer process than I would have liked.
But, you know, I've enjoyed, you know, everything that has kind of gone into it.
Q. Want to talk about Larry's contribution to the success this week.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, sure. He's certainly, you know, is well‑studied. Kind of picks the right times to discuss stuff. You know, it's not always the same ‑‑ it doesn't feel monotonous. Not always the same time that he picks and chooses to talk about an upcoming match.
You know, I certainly got the sense that, you know, he believed that we could get back to this point. You know, that was large.
Q. In previous matches with Roger, how varied have your game plans been? He spoke earlier today that he felt as though almost every time he played you that you were trying different things, that it wasn't necessarily one approach. Can you describe how varied your approaches have been?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, they've been varied. You know, but I think maybe now more than ever I can vary it and maybe have some confidence playing out of my element a little bit. You know, today I was able to come in, I think it was 68 times. It wasn't, you know, kind of all in on a pair of twos. It was ‑‑ I felt like I was doing the right things and picking the right shots, so that's an encouraging sign.
Q. In the third set tiebreaker, there were 16 points; you came to net eight times. What enabled you to pull the trigger?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I don't think ‑‑ with the exception of coming in behind first serves, I don't think I was ‑‑ you know, with Andy, his passing shots are so good that a lot of times he almost, you know, invites you in.
You know, I think more so than the coming in, the thing that Larry was stressing was, you know, against Andy, if you do come in, you have to hit a good approach shot, otherwise the ball's gonna be passing you all day.
That's probably the thing that I did best today, was come in, but behind really good approach shots.
Q. A lot of good movement out there. Also a lot of calm amidst the storm. Talk about your feeling out there.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, you know, I'm just trying to stay the course. I'm just going about it. You know, I haven't really gotten too up or too down at any point in this event, or this year for that matter.
So, you know, I'm just gonna go try to do the same thing, just on to the next point.
Q. You said when you came off the court that you weren't sure, it's been a little while since you thought you'd make a Grand Slam final. Did you ever really seriously doubt that you would be back here?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, yeah, yeah. Last year after I played here, I mean, that was a hard, hard couple of weeks.
You know, Brook and I had a lot of talks on where I thought ‑‑ if I still thought I could play and at least be, you know, towards the top of the game. I definitely openly questioned it at that point. You know, then the rest of the year I was kind of hurt.
So this off‑season, we said, You know what, if you're not gonna be up there, let's at least not wonder. Let's prepare yourself and give yourself every opportunity.
You know, I did work real hard and, you know, was committed, and have been committed, you know, from everything to diet to sleep to everything. So, you know, I certainly gave myself every opportunity to succeed.
Q. Has this era of Roger and Nadal been a bit demoralizing for players at your level?
ANDY RODDICK: What's a player at my level?
Q. Fantastic, but they seem to pick it up. They've cleared the Grand Slam circuit for a few years.
ANDY RODDICK: No, 'cause, you know, a lot of times I've lost way before that.
I'm not ‑‑ I've never been one to begrudge anyone of their success or be jealous of someone else's success. You know, I have a lot of respect for what they've been able to do. You know, more often than not they haven't had to go through me to win any of those.
A lot of times they haven't had a direct effect on how I've been playing at the moment.
Q. The thing that most pleased you today was the level of restraint and focus that you were able to keep against a player like Murray, who sometimes draws lots of errors out of his opponents?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, I knew going in that getting all hyped up and up and down, especially in an atmosphere that probably wasn't gonna be super favorable to me, wasn't probably the way to go. And especially, you know, he was probably gonna have the edge as far as, you know, kind of the adrenaline and the emotion.
So I kind of just wanted to stay the course. I was fully aware that there might be ups and downs. You know, I just wanted to kind of keep the same face regardless.
Q. Am I correct in saying that a year ago you were just coming through an airport lounge and you saw the last set of the Federer/Nadal final; is that correct?
ANDY RODDICK: Hmm, yeah.
Q. Were you coming back from here?
ANDY RODDICK: Coming back from here? Dude, I didn't stick around for two weeks after I lost last year. I like London, but not...
I'm trying to think. I think I spent the 4th of July with Brooklyn's family, and I think we were coming back from North Carolina and landed and they were heading into the fifth set.
You know, I didn't want to watch, 'cause it's tough watching 'cause you wish you were there. Especially kind of the mental state I was in at that point, it hurt to watch.
And then, you know, I landed and it was the match that it was. You know, there was no chance of me getting out of the airport before it was finished.
Q. You're coming off two huge wins. What is going to be your approach for the next match against a tough competitor?
ANDY RODDICK: We haven't discussed it yet.
Q. Within yourself, what are your thoughts about the upcoming final?
ANDY RODDICK: We still haven't discussed it yet (smiling).
Q. You talked about your family. Roger is a married man, too. How much of a role does your family play in your success of this year?
ANDY RODDICK: You know, I don't know. I know that kind of being happy and not having any worries away from the court, in my mind it can only help things. You know, Brook has been a very calming influence, and someone that I can kind of confide in and not have to put up, you know, a super brave front in front of.
So it's been real good. And, you know, certainly makes the box better looking.
Q. In the third set you were down a triple breakpoint early. Looked like maybe it could get away from you. That set had a couple of ups and downs. Do you think that was a decisive moment there?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it could have been, yeah. I mean, you know, yeah. Any time you can kind of save it and keep it on serve is a good thing.
And, you know, you're probably not gonna get out of a Love‑40 hole too often against a guy who returns like him.
So that was definitely key to get through that.
Q. In your mind, how do you change as a person and as a player since you got the chance winning a Grand Slam last time three years ago in the US Open?
ANDY RODDICK: What was the beginning of that?
Q. In your own mind, how have you changed as a person and as a player since the last time you got a chance of winning a Grand Slam?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I mean, obviously a lot's changed personally since then. You know, but as far as ‑‑ I may have grown up a little bit as far as how I go about things.
But, you know, as far as me, you never really have to ask twice to see where I'm at at any given moment. You know, the meat and potatoes is probably still the same. But obviously, you know, kind of personally I've grown up a lot.
Q. Can you describe to us how much you want this title, how much it means to you?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I probably couldn't (smiling).
Q. Could you try?
ANDY RODDICK: No.
Q. What memories stay with you most from when you were in the finals here before?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. Maybe it's not one. I don't look back on them negatively at all, you know. I've never made any apologies for making a Grand Slam final before. I certainly don't look back on those like that.
I know how tough it is. But, you know, I'm excited about this one. I didn't know if I was gonna get to play a final of Wimbledon again. You know, I'm certainly thankful to have that opportunity.
Q. What is your take on what the next three or four years hold for Andy Murray?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean, he's going to break through and win one of these titles, and probably numerous ones. He's too good not to. In my mind it's a matter of time. It's not if, but when.
Q. Back to the conversation you had with your wife at the end of last year of whether you could play or not. What side did you take and what side did she take?
ANDY RODDICK: It was a year ago here. I was probably leaning towards not really playing that well. She didn't really know much about tennis, so she thought I was playing real great (laughter).
Q. And she convinced you?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, she thought I looked cute in the shorts.
Q. Remember the line about not wanting to shoot Bambi? Was it weird playing a guy who was such an overwhelming sentimental favorite? And how much did you kind of make taking the crowd out of it part of your game plan?
ANDY RODDICK: You know, it's a lot easier to deal with something when you kind of know how it's gonna be. You know, I went in, and if I would have acted like I was surprised by the crowd support for him or acted like ‑‑ you know, he's their guy. They should support him and they should be going crazy for him, and they did.
You know, that's something that I've been lucky enough to experience at the Open before. So, you know, you just try to take it with a grain of salt. I just tried to go about my business.
I think playing away Davis Cup ties definitely helps that situation. You know, every time we're away, it's the same deal.
Q. You're obviously focused on what you're trying to accomplish here, winning your first Wimbledon title and second Grand Slam. What sort of appreciation do you have for what your opponent is trying to do with getting his 15th and breaking that record of Pete's?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, obviously you can't really say enough to kind of signify what Roger's career has been to this point. I'd love to delay it for another Grand Slam.
Q. Does it help mentally that he finally lost the final here last year?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I don't think it matters as far as Sunday goes.
Q. The other day you said in terms of the Stones concert you had a better view of the action. Not up to the first row yet, or where are you in the seating pattern?
ANDY RODDICK: Trying to get backstage.
Q. Did you feel you had the edge in vitality out there?
ANDY RODDICK: In vitality? Like what? What does that mean?
Q. Well, you just seemed more ready for the whole thing.
ANDY RODDICK: More ready for the whole thing?
Q. Yes.
ANDY RODDICK: No. I haven't really thought about it much. You know, I think one thing that helps for being out here for a long time is I'm not gonna get real surprised by most situations. You know, I've been through most of 'em before, the good ones and the bad ones.
You know, it's not new for me. It's not a new emotion. I think that maybe that helps sometimes.
Q. What's given you the greatest satisfaction as far as how you're playing in this tournament?
ANDY RODDICK: I think just getting through. I mean, if I'm being honest, before today I was kind of getting ‑‑ just getting through matches, you know, playing some good patches but some very ordinary patches as well.
So being able to kind of navigate your way through a major tournament kind of feeling that way, you know, I guess that's a pretty good sign.
Q. What happened to you on the stairs as you were leaving?
ANDY RODDICK: On the stairs? Oh, yeah. I think I just kind of wanted a moment maybe for myself. You know, as soon as you finish up a match like that, thanking the crowd and acknowledging the crowd, then you get shoved into this little room with a camera in your face and you get asked a bunch of questions.
I didn't know anybody saw that on the stairs. It was just kind of me taking a second to kind of try to make myself maybe believe that I was actually going to locker room having done that.
Q. Can you envision yourself lifting that trophy on Sunday as the winner here?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, I've done that many times (laughter).
Q. When was the first time?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. We used to wake up and watch the old HBO Breakfast at Wimbledon. I'm sure I thought about it even then.
Q. You're obviously thrilled to be in the final. It means so much to you. How do you guard against being the happy‑to‑be‑there guy?
ANDY RODDICK: That's never really been my MO. You know, that won't be the case. You know, it's too close.
Q. You said it was important to know what to expect when you go out there. Have you any idea on Sunday what the crowd will react to, maybe you beating the British guy?
ANDY RODDICK: No, no. I hope not. But, you know, I think here maybe more so than anyplace outside of the States I've developed a little bit of rapport with the fans. Maybe you guys helping me by asking me a bunch of goofy questions and me giving a bunch of goofy answers.
But certainly, you know, Roger's earned their respect many, many, many times over. You know, hopefully they'll like both of us a little bit.
I jeszcze link do późniejszego wywiadu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA4iN2g_htI
'I felt like guy who shot Bambi' xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Swietny final w wykonaniu Roddicka, zabraklo naprawde bardzo niewiele. Czy wedlug was Amerykanin jest jeszcze w stanie wspiac sie na wyzyny swojej gry i wygrac turniej Wielkoszlemowy ?
Myślę, że będzie niezwykle trudno. Przy całym szacunku dla Andy'ego, bo zagrał dziś kapitalnie, ale ta dramaturgia to przede wszystkim "zasługa" ostrego heblowania Federera przez całe spotkanie. Nie umniejsza to sukcesu Amerykanina, bo wielu z tak grających Fedem seta nie wąchają, a Roddick był o krok od niesamowitego triumfu.
Na USO jednak dużo większym zagrożeniem będzie Murray, tam presja wywierana na Szkocie w porównaniu z Wimblem jest minimalna. Uważam, że bardzo trzeba uważać na Del Potro, prawdę mówiąc to dla mnie najpowazniejszy kandydat z młodych wilków do wygrania ostatniego Szlema w tym sezonie.
Roddick back to top form
There can be little consolation for Andy Roddick right now. A third final defeat to Roger Federer in the final of The Championships will leave a bitter taste as the American came so close to capturing his second Grand Slam championship title.
It was different to his 2004 and 2005 final appearances. The 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14 loss on Centre Court Sunday was not only a battle of will, but also skill.
Few had given him a hope two weeks ago at the start of The Championships fortnight, but against Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Murray and Federer the 26 year old proved why he is capable of adding another major title to the US Open title of six years ago.
He should not dwell on the four set points he squandered in the second set tie-break, which would have given him a two-sets-to-love lead over Federer. Rather he must celebrate his return to top form and build on the fact he has never played as well in his life. At the end, the standing ovation given him had never been more justified.
It could have been so different. Twelve months ago, Roddick flew back to Austin, Texas, after celebrating Independence Day only to land in time to watch the Rafael Nadal and Federer Wimbledon final enter the final set.
It hurt him to watch The Championships final and he was on the brink of quitting the sport before Brooklyn Decker, his wife of three months, intervened and inspired him to transform his career. A soul-searching conversation convinced him things had to change.
Roddick brought in Larry Stefanki, a coach credited for giving John McEnroe a new lease of life towards the end of his career, at the end of the 2008 season. The pair has since developed a solid relationship and Stefanki has taken credit for inspiring Roddick to lose 15 pounds in weight, and develop a new fitness regimen and diet.
Roddick has thrown off the moniker of a ‘one-trick pony’ by developing an impressive armoury to back up the most powerful serve the sport has ever seen. His backhand stands up to pressure and is a threat to the opposition; he has developed a subtle touch and now shrewdly advances to net where he strikes volleys with conviction and confidence.
With the North American hard-court swing on the horizon, the great fast-court player now has an opportunity to rebuild his confidence and aim to repeat his Wimbledon performance on one of his favourite surfaces.
At this year’s US Open, Roddick will start as a genuine title contender and a threat to Federer, Nadal, Murray and Novak Djokovic. New York is just the place for the former World No. 1 to seek redemption.
---
atpworldtour.com
Puchar Davisa: Roddick nie zagra przeciwko Chorwacji
Szósty obecnie tenisista świata - Andy Roddick, po przegranym finale wielkoszlemowego turnieju na trawiastych kortach w Wimbledonie (z pulą nagród 12,55 mln funtów), zrezygnował z występu w reprezentacji Stanów Zjednoczonych w Pucharze Davisa przeciwko Chorwacji. Ćwierćfinałowy pojedynek z udziałem tych zespołów zaplanowano na 10-12 lipca w Porecu, a rywalizacja będzie się toczyć na ziemnej nawierzchni w hali.
O swojej decyzji 26-letni Roddick poinformował w poniedziałek, a powodem jego absencji jest nadwerężenie mięśnia prawego uda. Dzień wcześniej stoczył najdłuższy pojedynek w finale imprezy zaliczanej do Wielkiego Szlema, w którym przegrał w piątym secie 14:16 ze Szwajcarem Rogerem Federerem.
Roddick występował w każdym z ostatnich osiemnastu spotkań Amerykanów w Pucharze Davisa, a w 2007 roku poprowadził ich do triumfu. Jego miejsce w ekipie USA zajmie Mardy Fish, który w Wimbledonie odpadł w trzeciej rundzie, a w rankingu ATP World Tour jest obecnie 23.
Oprócz Fisha w składzie znaleźli się także James Blake oraz debliści, bliźniacy Bob i Mike Bryanowie. Natomiast kapitan Chorwatów powołał na to spotkanie Marina Cilica, Ivo Karlovica, Roko Karanusica oraz Lovro Zovko.
Zwycięzca tego meczu zmierzy się we wrześniowym półfinale z lepszym zespołem w rywalizacji Czechów z Argentyną w Ostrawie.
Andy Roddick is tired of playing tennis
Andy Roddick has a “hip flexor” injury and will not play in the Davis Cup. In other words, Roger Federer broke Roddick’s heart into a million pieces and so his racket doesn’t want to be around tennis anymore! (Slightly altered and cleaned up quote from Forgetting Sarah Marshall). Anyway, here’s what the story says:
Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick withdrew Monday from the U.S. Davis Cup team’s quarterfinal at Croatia, citing a right hip flexor injury.
The U.S. Tennis Association announced that Roddick wouldn’t participate in this week’s Davis Cup matches because he was hurt during his loss a day earlier to Roger Federer at the All England Club — a match that finished 16-14 in the longest fifth set in Grand Slam final history.
Roddick slipped and tumbled to the grass in the eighth game of the fourth set Sunday.
He stayed down for a few moments, then rose, grimacing, and toweled off.
The 26-year-old American would go on to play for more than another 1½ hours, finally succumbing when Federer broke him for the first time all match in the 77th and last game.
After the match, Roddick was asked whether he hurt himself in that fall, and he replied, “No. It was OK.”
So apparently he hurt it sometime between the end of the crushing loss and Monday. Unless this was a Brooklyn Decker-related injury, we’re not buying it.
http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/ran … ng-tennis/
Jeszcze tu:
http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/jul/ … rash-tack/
Andy i jego bestia oglądają Davis Cup :P
Roddick Withdraws Due To Right Hip Flexor Injury
INDIANAPOLIS - Wimbledon runner-up and two-time Indianapolis Tennis Championship presented by Lilly champion Andy Roddick, 26, has announced his withdrawal from this year’s tournament. Roddick’s coach Larry Stefanki made the call Friday citing a right hip flexor injury that also kept him out of the US Davis Cup match against Croatia.
“We are obviously very disappointed that Andy will not be able to return to Indianapolis, but we support his decision 100 percent to put his health first. We know that some fans have planned their vacations and a night out with friends around Andy’s Tuesday night play and potential to earn his third title on finals weekend, so we can only imagine how disappointed they are also,” said Indianapolis Tennis Championships Tournament Director Kevin Martin.
“On a positive note, however, fans will still be able to see great tennis at the tournament this year and enjoy numerous fan friendly events throughout the week.
“This is one of those instances where our tournament must support the decision by Andy and his medical team to do what’s best for Andy and American tennis versus what’s best for Indianapolis. We will look forward to seeing Andy back on the hardcourts very soon and performing at the high level we saw him during Wimbeldon. We wish him a speedy recovery for this hip injury, and of course we hope to see him headlining for us at next year’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships.”
Roddick has a 19-3 career record in Indianapolis, winning the title title in 2003-04 and reaching the final in 2006.
“Really upset that I won’t be able to play in Indy this year,” Roddick said on his verified Twitter account. “I love the tournament up there, but I am not properly prepared at this point.”
The tournament is working hard at getting a 2010 commitment from Roddick, who has said in the past Indianapolis is one of his favourite stops on the ATP World Tour.
The Indianapolis Tennis Championships, the first tournament in the North American hard court season, will feature several ATP World Tour veterans, including 2007 champion Dmitry Tursunov, 2005 champion Robby Ginepri, Sam Querrey, Taylor Dent, Marcos Baghdatis and many others. This year’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships will be held July 18-26 at the Indianapolis Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI. Tickets for the Championships can be purchased online at tennisindy.com or by calling 800-622-LOVE.
The Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly is a world-class ATP World Tour event held annually in Indianapolis and is a part of the Olympus US Open Series. The event traces its roots back to 1921 and has hosted such notable players as Pete Sampras, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, and Andre Agassi. For more information, please visit www.tennisindy.com.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … draws.aspx
Dla odświeżenia tematu.
Roddick Tweets that he'll play at Legg Mason
WASHINGTON (AP) -Andy Roddick's first action since his loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final will come at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
Roddick wrote on his Twitter feed Tuesday: ``keep getting asked when my next tourney will be.... i will see all of u in washington in two weeks.''
The 2003 U.S. Open champion, who has a home in Austin, Texas, tumbled to the grass in the fourth set against Federer on July 5 at Wimbledon. Roddick went on to play for more than another 1 1/2 hours, finally losing 16-14 in the longest fifth set in Grand Slam final history.
Citing a right hip flexor injury, Roddick pulled out of the U.S. Davis Cup team's quarterfinal at Croatia, then this week's ATP event at Indianapolis.
The Washington hard-court tournament is Aug. 2-9.
Rod na twitterze :
"2 and a half on court ... 2 on the track... 9 holes calling my name now... hate wasting daylight :)"
:D
Mogę prosić o link do tego całego Twittera ? :P
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Mogę prosić o link do tego całego Twittera ? :P
http://www.andyroddick.com/
Po prawej stronie :D
Dzięki :D
Wczoraj tam byłem i szukałem. Nie mam pojęcia, jakim cudem umknęło to mojej uwadze :P
Rod na twitterze poleca film xDDDDDDd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua1zlLbaNtQ
Dzisiejszy Trening xDDD
trening marzenie :D
za Twitterem :
'(...) also, finally closing in on getting back on court in a tourney... DC tuesday night !'
:D
looks like i will play on wednesday now... one of the guys i might play is in a doubles final in hamburg so he wont play singles til tuesday
Roddick def. Becker 6-3 6-2 
Andy jaka cudowna czarna koszulka w krate :o
Wczorajszym, w zasadzie dzisiejszym zwycięstwem nad Querreyem Andy wygrał swój 500 mecz w karierze, dołączając do elitarnego grona 36 zawodników którym się to udało. Z aktywnych są nimi tylko Lleyton Hewitt, Carlos Moya i Roger Federer. Co ciekawe, w tej grupie jest na trzecim miejscu jeśli chodzi o najmniejszą liczbę porażek :)
Gratulacje Andy :)
Roddick def. Querrey 7-6(4) 6-4
500 :D:D
W moim odczcuciu Amerykanin to fenomen.
Człowiek, którego wielu uważa, za drewniaka, który opiera swoją grę tylko na podaniu i zabiciu fh, ma statystyki, o jakich wielu znakomitych tenisistów może tylko pomarzyć.
Można Roddickowi zarzucać, że nie posiada jakiś wybitnych technicznych zdolnośći, jednak statystyki nie kłamią, Andy plasuje się bardzo wysoko w hierarchii najlepszych tenisistów w Erze Open.
Andy posiada swoją grę i mimo wielu zarzutów od strony technicznej czy coś - jest to gra bardzo skuteczna i Jego tenis w ogólnym "rozrachunku" jest bardzo stabilny i "silny" - mając na uwadze siłę gry.
Ciezko sie z wami nie zgodzic, ale wciaz pozozstaje jedna rzecz, ktora mnie gryzie. Tylko jeden wygrany turniej WS. Swietnym zwienczeniem tak udanej kariery byloby zwyciestwo drugiego szlema, niech to nawet bedze po raz drugi US Open, nie musi to byc juz ten Wimbledon :D
Swietny pomysl Raddcik z tymi zdjeciami po kazdym meczu
Bizon napisał:
Ciezko sie z wami nie zgodzic, ale wciaz pozozstaje jedna rzecz, ktora mnie gryzie. Tylko jeden wygrany turniej WS. Swietnym zwienczeniem tak udanej kariery byloby zwyciestwo drugiego szlema, niech to nawet bedze po raz drugi US Open, nie musi to byc juz ten Wimbledon :D
US Open 2003 & 2009 - ładnie wygląda ? :P
Na tyle ladnie ze jestem w stanie w to uwierzyc :D
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … h-Win.aspx
Though Querrey was first to assume the lead in the match, his senior countryman finished the night as the winner, prevailing 7-6(4), 6-4 to become the fourth active player – and 36th overall in the Open Era – to be inducted into the elite 500 match wins club, joining Roger Federer (657), Carlos Moya (573) and Lleyton Hewitt (511).
Andy Roddick powiedział, nie napisał:
“It’s a pretty small number of players who have gotten there, an elite group,” said Roddick, the 15th American player in the Open Era to achieve the milestone. “I’ve done it with enough time [in my career] to add to it. It is validation of consistency in my career.”
Roddick To Headline 2010 Brisbane International
In a major coup, former No.1 and current No.5, Andy Roddick is the first star signing for the Brisbane International 2010.
Announced today at the Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane International Tournament Director Steve Ayles said he was delighted the top-ranked American and Grand Slam singles champion will headline this January.
“Roddick’s appearance is the ultimate endorsement of the event and the city,” Ayles said. “Following on from his exciting performance at Wimbledon, Roddick is the perfect player to headline the star-studded line-up. He will bring personality, style and dynamic tennis to Brisbane and I am sure he will be a crowd favourite with all spectators.
“Last year’s event was undoubtedly a huge success however we plan to top it in 2010. With the former No.1 and 2003 US Open champion locked in we are well on our way to producing another incredible event.
“Roddick is one of the greats on and off the court and I am sure he will love Brisbane as much as Brisbane will love him.”
Roddick said he is excited to be a part of the Brisbane International for the first time.
“I have heard great reports from other players on the circuit about the Brisbane International,” Roddick said. “I am looking forward to playing in Brisbane and experiencing what the city and the tournament has to offer.
“With a high quality field, some excellent weather and a great venue, it will be the perfect preparation for the Australian Open. I look forward to getting down there and trying to win my first Brisbane International and the first event of the year,” Roddick said.
Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, was stoked that Roddick will headline the Brisbane International in 2010.
"The Brisbane International is a world-class tournament in a world-class facility and a player of Andy Roddick's calibre and world standing adds significantly to our tournament," said Ms Bligh.
"Queenslanders love their sport and I know that everyone will be keen to support Andy while he is in Brisbane. I know I will be looking forward to his participation.”
Roddick has reached five Grand Slam finals, winning the US Open in 2003 and being a runner up at Wimbledon three times and the US Open once, losing to Roger Federer each time. He and Federer are the only players on the tennis circuit to have been ranked in the Association of Tennis Professionals top 10 at year-end from 2002 through 2008.
To date, Roddick has 27 career singles titles and has been a finalist on 16 additional occasions. Year to date the American has a win-loss record of 39-9 in singles (as of 3 August 2009).
He is known for his powerful serves and holds the fastest serve recorded in professional tennis, measured at 155 mph or 249.5 km/h.
Roddick has also been on the United States Davis Cup team for several years, and helped the US win the 2007 Davis Cup, the first time they had won since 1995.
Brisbane International 2010 series packages will go on sale from 7-11 October, with single sessions on sale on 14 October. Ground passes remain $9.90 with the qualifying event on Friday 1-2 January 2010 remaining free.
W jednym meczu więcej przełamań niż we wcześniejszych pięciu xDDDDDDD.
Fanów Roda może trochę niepokoić fakt, że doktorek odebrał Jankesowi 2 gemy serwisowe.
http://www.tennistv.com/page/TennisTV/T … 58,00.html
Wywiad po meczu 1/4 :P
Elton John To Star At Andy Roddick Foundation Gala
ATP World Tour No. 5 Andy Roddick will be joined at the fourth annual Andy Roddick Foundation Gala by music icon Elton John.
"I am ecstatic that Elton will be performing again in November, he is a musical genius and true philanthropist,” Roddick said. “Elton has been a large supporter of my Foundation, and a great friend. We are all thrilled to have him back in Austin for such a worthy cause.”
The benefit will take place on November 30, 2009 at the Hilton Austin, with Roddick hosting the evening’s festivities that will include an auction, dinner and an intimate concert with Elton John.
The fourth annual Charity Gala will benefit several organisations in Austin and central Texas, including The Settlement Home For Children, Austin Partners In Education, KIPP: Austin College Prep and Dell Children’s Medical Center Of Central Texas.
The Andy Roddick Foundation was founded in 2000 and has since raised over $10 million for various Southern Florida and Austin based children’s organizations.
atpworldtour.com
http://www.tennistv.com/page/TennisTV/T … 79,00.html
Wywiad po meczu 1/4 ^^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggiSW21nzRI
Sparing Roda z Gasquetem :D
Andy kończy dziś 27 lat ;)
Wszystkiego naj !!! 100 lat i przede wszystkim zdrowia :)
Wygraj w koncu tego wymarzonego Wimbla !!
nie udało się tym razem, uda sie za rok !! :)
No a w czasach teraźniejszych życze zwyciestwa w USO !
COA ! :)
COA mistrzu, najlepszego !
Zdrowia, dzieciaka, szlema :)
Przyłaczam sie również do życzeń
STO LAT Andy !
a w najbliższej przyszłości życzymy wygrania upragnionego US Open
czyli o powtórkę z roku 2003 :)
Najlepszego panie Roddick, sukcesów zawodowych jak i w życiu prywatnym ;)
Najlepszego byku ;)
Zdrowia i wygrania 2 szlema bo w przeciagu calej kariery zdecydowanie zasluzyles na wiecej jak jedno zwyciestwo Wielkoszlemowe.
Wszystkiego najlepszego COA :D
Osiągnięcia Roda w dniu 27 urodzin:
Ranking: 5 (najwyżej w karierze: 1)
Wygrane turnieje: 27
Przegrane Finały: 17
Turnieje WS: 1/4
Mastersy: 4/3
Zarobki: $16,818,084
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … erman.aspx
Roddick u Lettermana
RODDICK KEEPS MOVING FORWARD
Andy Roddick might have spent almost one decade in the spotlight, but the American remains enthusiastic about the sport, driven to improve and determined to land another Grand Slam title.
There had been many losses leading up to this one. A year earlier at the same place he’d suffered one that left him wondering at age 25 if the whole tennis life was worth it. But for Andy Roddick, no defeat was as distinctive as this year’s Wimbledon final. For four hours and 16 minutes he’d gone toe to toe with Roger Federer. He’d held four straight set points for a two sets to love lead, seeing the last evaporate when he missed a seemingly benign backhand volley. Not until he was serving at 14-15 in the fifth did Roddick buckle.
“It’s evolving how I’m feeling about it,” Roddick told me last month. “The first couple of days it was tough to look at objectively. There were easier losses to deal with. Having been that close, thinking how that changes the dynamic of my career if I win. But it’s not one of those things where I could beat myself up for not putting in the effort.”
Hours after the final, as Roddick sat in his home in the Wimbledon Village, his Davis Cup captain, Patrick McEnroe, dropped by. Well aware of how his older brother’s popularity had been aided by an epic loss to Bjorn Borg in the 1980 Wimbledon final, McEnroe says, “I told Andy he made more fans and earned himself more respect for that loss than he did with any win. The average fan saw from him the competitiveness I’ve seen from him so many times, for so many years. What the fans also saw was the maturity of his mind, of his body, of his spirit.”
If those qualities haven’t always been fully appreciated, surely they’ve always been present. Like most of us, Roddick takes two views of himself: eternal and dynamic. According to Roddick, “The meat-and-potatoes of me hasn’t changed. But aren’t most people more mature at 27 than 21?”
Roddick will turn 27 the day before the start of this year’s US Open. While he’s correct in assessing matters of emotional growth, what’s also true is that by age 21 most people aren’t millionaires, the best in the world at a childhood passion – and by dint of all that success, compelled to come of age in a fishbowl.
Says Roddick, “I’ve been portrayed as every kind of character. When I was young, I was the future great American, the polite kid from Nebraska. Then the crossover guy who was on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Then you’re a punk, then you’re a has-been, then the comeback, then irrelevant, then Joe Everyday.”
As McEnroe notes, “It’s a lot to be the number one American. To have come in after the greatest generation was going to be tough no matter what kind of player you were. But when you see Andy’s numbers and consistency over the years, it’s impressive.” Only Roddick and Roger Federer have held spots in the year-end Top 10 since 2002.
But there’s no question that the last few years have been a time of soul-searching. Having reached at least one Grand Slam semi every year since 2003, in ’08 the best Roddick could muster was a quarter-final showing at the US Open. Those efforts at the majors were but a symptom of a man aware he faced a crossroads.
In the fall of 2008, Roddick and his then-fiancée, model Brooklyn Decker, took a hard look at the state of this tennis – even contemplating the notion of retirement. Says Roddick, “At the end of ’08 it was a little bit frustrating. I was in and out of health and had some okay results, but not that great. I was closer to the outside of the Top 10 than on the inside. But I didn’t want be the guy out there just collecting paychecks. So you either play it safe – or try to make something happen. The latter won out.”
The biggest step was getting Larry Stefanki on-board as his coach. Says McEnroe, “Larry tells it to you right between the eyes: good, bad or indifferent. He puts it out there.”
Having worked with a variety of coaches, including Jimmy Connors, Brad Gilbert, Dean Goldfine, his brother John, Patrick McEnroe and Tarik Benhabiles, you’d think Roddick had heard enough coaching verbiage to fill a library.
But in retrospect, all prior to Stefanki was incremental; useful, yes – jarring, no. And Roddick at the end of ’08 was a man in search not just of new ideas, but of big ideas. “Emotionally it was tough,” says Roddick. “You’re battling how much of the results are based on not being healthy, or is it self-belief and have I lost a step? You love to take the side of health, but you’re trying to figure out what’s what.”
Never reluctant to offer a recommendation, Stefanki gave a blunt one to Roddick: lose 15 pounds. Certainly Roddick had always been fit, the result of his own strong work ethic, including frequent off-court workouts with Austin trainer Lance Hooten.
It wasn’t just that dropping weight helped make Roddick more nimble around the court. It was the very process of shedding the pounds and committing to both himself and Stefanki’s belief in him that instilled Roddick with a new kind of confidence – a belief that even past the likely halfway point of his career that he can make radical changes in the pursuit of excellence. Says Roddick, “The toughest days are when it’s 30 degrees outside and I’m on a football field, doing workouts with Lance and a bunch of other guys – baseball players, martial artists, football guys.” As Stefanki told Tennis Channel’s Steve Flink shortly after he started working with Roddick, “I have never seen a guy who is willing to work harder than Andy. If he keeps getting sounder, which I believe he will, good things are going to happen for him.”
Coming into this year’s US Open, Roddick feels he’s playing some of his most sustained, consistent, quality tennis. Says McEnroe, “He goes in with a legitimate shot. No one would have said that in January. But he’s played that way into the top four or five.”
In large part, Roddick’s maturity has most surfaced in his understanding of his game. Never fully comfortable as a flashy shotmaker, netrusher or highly-defensive player, Roddick has worked to alter his court positioning, to appropriately stand closer to the baseline and become what you might call an air-tight grinder with a big serve and a willingness to strike big when the opening is there, most often with his forehand but also on the backhand side. One of the key principles Connors learned from his mother and coach, Gloria, is relevant here: Smother them with footwork. To some degree Roddick’s application of this concept began during his 18 months with Connors, but this year such factors as improved movement and the relentless engagement of Stefanki have greatly accelerated his growth.
Another new element in Roddick’s life was his April marriage to Decker. “Not much has actually changed,” says Roddick. “We wanted to commit to each other. And we knew that career-wise, for both of us, the next four to five years were going to be about kicking butt where it needs to be kicked.”
The year Roddick turned nine, his parents gave him the birthday present of a trip to the 1991 US Open. Joking about the impish boy who snuck into the player’s lounge, Roddick now says, “I don’t have to sneak in anymore. But I wasn’t a kid who expected to be a pro, certainly not at that age. Now, of course, I completely understand the process, the importance of training, of nutrition – and a good idea of what I need to do to improve. That certainly hasn’t always been the case.”
He will continue to be the Andy Roddick the tennis world has known for a decade – driven, emotional, ready to verbally counterpunch if necessary. As an athlete he knows that history is largely written by the winners, in tennis particularly by those who rack up multiple Grand Slam titles. But even if his Wimbledon effort proved that in some way history can also be written by the losers, there’s much more he hopes to accomplish. “Trust me,” says Roddick, “I didn’t walk off Centre Court smiling. You ask yourself: sulk and feel sorry. Or you pick it up and move forward. Moving forward is just my nature.”
The Net Post: Andy Roddick would be popular US Open winner
Andy Roddick has had to deal with them relentlessly since the Wimbledon final - the gestures, eye contacts and handshakes that amount to messages of condolence. Even Roger Federer keeps getting asked if he feels sorry for Roddick having beaten him in the historic SW19 finale, as if anyone ever felt sorry for Federer when he was on the receiving end of any defeat, no matter how few and far between they were.
It has not taken Roddick that long to get back into the familiar routine, of engaging self deprecation - he was on the famed David Letterman Show on late night television last week and might one day be a candidate to have a show of his own, so clever is he in front of a camera. No one but he knows how much the Wimbledon final really hurt, we can only surmise, he has to live with it.
He would be a resoundingly popular winner of the US Open, six years after his victory here and the memorable press conference first liner about 'you can forget all that future of American tennis crap'. Though Sam Querrey, his fellow American, won the US Open Series as the most consistent performer through the past month of hard court earnestness in tricky conditions, Roddick reached the final in Washington, the semis of the Montreal Masters (losing both times to Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina) and his only blemish was a first round defeat to Querrey in Cincinnati.
But all roads, at this time, seems to wind their way back to the 16-14 final set defeat to Federer on another momentous July afternoon. "I feel like maybe a bigger story was made of it than what I was feeling," Roddick said on the eve of the Open, where he plays Bjorn Phau of Germany on the first Monday night session.
"There was never a point where I was going to just lay down afterwards or not come back and play hard or, you know, anything like that. If you look at the tournament as a whole, it was a very good event. I would have loved to have changed the last five minutes of it, but you look forward to another opportunity. The kind of the support I got from fans, from peers, from everybody, was pretty surprising in the best way possible and pretty humbling. For some reason I think that match hit home with a lot of people, and you know, maybe -- I didn't realise it. Obviously when you're in London, you realise that it's a big deal there and you kind of understand it, but I was really surprised when I had got back here as to how many people watched it and were affected by it. To be honest, that really helped the process.
"For the first two or three weeks afterwards I think it (my perspective) changed daily. But like anything, the more you distance yourself from it, you start remembering, the better things about it as opposed to the most disappointing things about it. You know, I promise you, I wish more than anything that I would have won that tournament, but at the same time, I'm still going to move on and keep going with the plan that we've set in place, because I feel like it is working."
Roddick's progress on the playing side has established his place back inside the world's top five and there is no doubt he represents a real threat to the top order. And America is ever more ready for a standard bearer. Recent surveys have indicated that, since 2001, there has only been sport in this sports-crazy land that has added participants. Golf? No, that is down 13 per cent; Basketball? That has flattened out. Baseball? Down. Tennis? Up an astonishing 43 per cent over the period and nine per cent from 2008-09. If that is not a signal of a sport in rude health, then what is?
That is something worth tweeting about, though Roddick, like everyone else in tennis these days, has been told to be on his guard. The integrity unit is watching for any misplaced words that might be construed as giving away too many facts that ought not to be given away. "I found the warning humorous," Roddick said. "I understand the precautions being taken as far as the anti-gambling laws and the inside information, but I feel like the last place you would put inside information is on a public site for everybody to see.
"Secondly, the part where it's like "we'll be monitoring, watch what you do besides tennis" I thought that was a little bit much. And the best part about it was I went to the US Open website and found a link to my Twitter page, and they have an iPhone app that connects you to their Twitter page, which I thought was amusing."
Somehow, whatever his mood, Andy Roddick always seem to be able to produce a last laugh.
10 pytań od fanów do Andy'ego :)
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0 … 48,00.html
All Access with Club Roddick
If you haven’t already, check out all the behind the scenes pictures from Andy’s 2009 US Open in Club Roddick! From practice at Flushing Meadows, throwing the first pitch at the Yankees game, taping The Late Show with David Letterman to the Taste of Tennis and more! Club Roddick is your behind the scenes, all access pass to Andy’s New York Adventure with exclusive photographs and updates as Andy takes over the Big Apple. If you are not a Club Roddick member yet, sign up today in the proshop or by following the link below. Remember your Club Roddick membership is a direct donation to The Andy Roddick Foundation!
http://proshop.andyroddick.com/club-roddick-c-6.html
Andy Roddick Interview: September 5th, 2009
Q. Heart a little broken right now?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. You know, it was a tough one to lose, especially after kind of coming back all that way.
Q. When you were down two sets, what did you do at that point to bring yourself back?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, I don’t know if I changed too much. I just executed a little bit better. He played a loose service game there in the fourth. But, you know, bottom line, for the entire match, is he played great in the breakers. He rolled the dice, came in. I made him play his last four volleys. Hit pretty good returns off his serves, hit decent first‑shot passes.
He played really good breakers. I don’t know that I missed a ball in either one of the breakers, except that last pass. But that was a tough ball anyway. So, you know, he played well when he had to.
Q. With all this variety to your game, does his style of play take you out of that?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, there’s a lot that’s out of your hands with the way he plays. I said it before, you can’t really teach 6′9″, especially coming down on a serve. You try to fight it off as much as you can. Sometimes you can, and sometimes it’s completely out of your hands.
Like the majority of matches that we play, it’s not really so much about if you execute, you’re gonna win. Sometimes you can play bad and win a match like that. Sometimes you can feel like you’re hitting the ball well, and that’s when you don’t want to see a guy like that floating in the draw.
Yeah, it doesn’t really allow you to kind of get into as many tennis points, I guess.
Q. What about his net play? Has that improved?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, I don’t think you can talk ‑‑ there’s no comparison to him now compared to last year. I think he’s being a lot more professional now. I think he’s doing the things he needs to be doing. I think his coach deserves a lot of that credit.
I mean, again, I made him hit a lot of volleys there in the tiebreaker, and he hit that one right on the baseline that was a great volley.
All you can try to do is fight off a first serve out there and make him hit some tough volleys. I thought I did that in the last breaker. I really felt like going into the breaker like I was going to win it.
Roddick coming to Brisbane :P
http://bit.ly/12ddLD
Ani go lubię ,ani nie lubię, po prostu dobry gracz ale jak dla mnie bez "tego czegoś"
z Ostatnich sześciu meczów singlowych Roddick przegrał aż 4 (!) Czy oznacza to początek końca Andy'ego ???
Raddcik napisał:
z Ostatnich sześciu meczów singlowych Roddick przegrał aż 4 (!) Czy oznacza to początek końca Andy'ego ???
Jak jeszcze parę razy przegra z zawodnikami z rankingiem Kubota to wszystko możliwe
Za twitterem "good news is i started serving good in practice today bad news is its 3 days too late" :lol:
Właśnie to przeczytałem i chciałem wklejać.
No cóż, zobaczymy co się stanie w Szanghaju.
Roddick renews attack on schedule
An exasperated Andy Roddick said the ATP men's tour must give players more time to rest during the season or risk shortening the careers of the "stars" of the sport.
The world number six lost to qualifier Lukasz Kubot in the first match of his title defence at the China Open last week and said then that the top players were playing too much tennis.
He renewed his attack at the Shanghai Masters while admitting the ultimate negotiating tool, a players' strike, was unlikely.
"I think it's ridiculous to think that you have a professional sport that doesn't have a legitimate off season to rest, get healthy, and then train," the 27-year-old said at his 16th tournament of the season.
World number one Roger Federer pulled out of Shanghai citing fatigue, while number three Andy Murray blamed a wrist injury for his absence from the inaugural tournament.
"I don't think that's all of one big coincidence, and I just hope that the shortsightedness doesn't affect the length of careers," he said. "I think in tennis you definitely want your stars around as long as possible."
The top 30 men's players are obliged to play the four two-week grand slam events and eight of the nine Masters Series tournaments.
In addition, their best four results in ATP 500 events and best two in lower level tournaments count towards their rankings, effectively meaning they must play at least 18 a year.
"We've been talking about this forever, and now we get slapped with mandatory tournaments," said the 2003 US Open champion.
"We don't really have a whole lot of choices in the matter, which I don't think is the right way to go about it."
Roddick thought the men could learn from the WTA women's tour, which reorganised its calendar for this season and reduced the number of mandatory events from 13 to 10.
The American expressed his frustration that the people with the power to change things were often the same people who ran the tournaments, which was "a little bit of a conflict of interest".
The players were unlikely to boycott an event, however, he said.
"I don't think any of us wants to (strike), because even more so than feeling a responsibility to the powers that be in tennis, we feel a responsibility to the fans," he said.
"We don't want to alienate our fans. It's a tough situation, and that's why I think that we've put up with it as long as we have."
Spain's Rafael Nadal agreed with the American that the playing year was too long.
"It's impossible to play from January 1 to December 5, no sport can do it," said the world number two. "I don't know what the solution is, but it must be changed and soon."
Czytałem ten artykuł również i po części się zgadzam, ale po części jego wypowiedzi wzbudziły moje obawy.... Dlaczego? Ponieważ np. po Roland Garrosie kilku czołowych tenisistów świata nie startowało w turniejach przygotowawczych do Wimbledonu, roddick natomiast w Londynie zagrał i był wówczas w formie... równie dobrze wtedy mógł pomarudzić na obecny rozkład ... Zgadzam sie z nim po części, bo to prawda co rzekł, ale niepokój budzi u mnie to że mówi te słowa w czasie kiedy forma zmalała... i w związku z tym powstaje pytanie czy sobie z tym poradził, czy też jest bardzo zdenerwowany tym co się dzieje od września...
moje wnioski w 100% będą pewne po jego jutrzejszym meczu z wawrinką. Jeśli wygra w dwóch setach i w całkiem dobrym stylu to uważam że się pozbierał. COA Andy!!
Ma rację, bezapelacyjnie.
No ale to jest temat na inną debatę. Wkrótce do tego wrócimy, bo przygotowuję debatę w GM na temat kalendarza ATP.
Najlepszego Andy ;)
Roddick retires in first-set knee injury drama
SHANGHAI (AFP) - A bad season continued Tuesday for Andy Roddick as the American was forced to retire after injuring his knee in a second-round match at the Shanghai Masters.
Swiss Stan Wawrinka advanced 3-4 after Roddick -- next in the qualifying queue for a place in the eight-man World Tour Finals in London in November -- hurt his knee at 40-all in the eighth game and immediately went to his chair.
The fourth seed was joined by ATP trainer Michael Novotny and a doctor, with Roddick stretched out on his stomach for treatment before giving up and shaking hands after 36 minutes on court.
"The pain is at the back of the (left) knee, and it's enough to make me stop a tennis match. My concern now is to find out what we are dealing with," said Roddick after leaving court.
"I'll go back to the States and get it looked at. I suppose I'm lucky regarding qualifying for (the World Tour Finals) as I do have a bit of a cushion. But my main concern is dealing with this."
The injury could be a serious blow to the former number one, who lost a third Wimbledon final in July to Roger Federer, exited the US Open in the third round and last week lost in the Beijing first round as defending champion.
Roddick was also forced to retire before Wimbledon at Queen's Club when he twisted an ankle in his semi-final against James Blake.
Roddick To Seek Knee Advice in U.S.
World No. 6 Andy Roddick will return to the United States immediately to seek medical advice on a left knee injury that forced his retirement from his opening match against Stanislas Wawrinka at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 Presented by Rolex on Tuesday.
The 2003 US Open champion was leading Wawrinka 4-3 in the first set when he felt pain in his left knee during a point. He immediately called ATP trainer Michal Novotny to the court and shortly after retired from the match.
Speaking about the injury in his post-match media conference, Roddick said that it was too soon to know the extent of the injury or what impact it would have on his immediate playing future.
“I don't really know what's going on in there,” Roddick said. “I'm not a doctor. I can't really self diagnose myself… I'm not going to have a lot of answers for you guys tonight, unfortunately.
“I just felt I pushed off, and then Michal came on court and did some tests and advised that it probably wasn't worth the risk until we know more. [The pain was] enough to make me stop a tennis match, which is going to be pretty significant. Beyond that, I don't know; that's not my profession.”
Roddick, who said the pain is in the back of his knee, has more than three weeks to recover before his next scheduled tournament at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris, beginning 8 November.
Despite the setback, Roddick remains on track to finish in the Top 10 of the South African Airways ATP Rankings for the eighth consecutive year. Roddick is next in line to qualify for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals beginning 22 November in London at the O2 arena.
I po polsku:
Roddick: za dużo tenisa
Szósta rakieta świata - Amerykanin Andy Roddick, którego przed tygodniem w turnieju w Pekinie pokonał Łukasz Kubot, narzeka, że tenisiści nie mają zimowej przerwy z prawdziwego zdarzenia między sezonami.
"To śmieszne, że w profesjonalnym sporcie nie ma prawdziwej przerwy, aby odpocząć, podreperować zdrowie i potrenować. Kończymy sezon 30 listopada po turnieju Masters w Londynie, a już 4 stycznia, dwa tygodnie przed Australian Open, musimy być gotowi do gry. I tak rok po roku" - skarży się Roddick, który uczestniczy w turnieju ATP w Szanghaju.
"Nie jest łatwo startować przez 11 miesięcy w roku. W moim przypadku trwa to już od dziesięciu lat" - podkreślił. Dodał, że nie dziwią go w tej sytuacji kontuzje Andy'ego Murraya i Rogera Federera czy kilkumiesięczna przerwa w środku sezonu Rafaela Nadala.
"Od dłuższego czasu staramy się, by usłyszano nasz głos, ale ostatecznie kończymy sezon znów odrobinę później" - powiedział tenisista z Teksasu.
onet.pl
Ja mam nadzieje że ta kontuzja nie okaże sie na tyle poważna, zeby wykluczyć Roda z turnieju w Paryżu, bo z Valencii się raczej wycofa...
Raddcik napisał:
Ja mam nadzieje że ta kontuzja nie okaże sie na tyle poważna, zeby wykluczyć Roda z turnieju w Paryżu, bo z Valencii się raczej wycofa...
Właśnie,w Paryżu może nałapać dużo punktów,które zapewniłyby mu grę w Londynie.
I tak ma ją prawie pewną.
Roddick ponoć udał się do USA na badania lekarskie, po których podejmie decyzję co do gry w Walencji.
Btw to słabszy okres w karierze Roda. Po raz pierwszy od 2002 roku nie zrobił przynajmniej 1/4 żadnego z 4 kolejnych startów:
Cincy: 3 runda
USO: 3 runda
Pekin: 1 runda
Szanghaj: 2 runda
Andy Injury Update
Andy suffered a left knee injury during his match on Tuesday night in Shanghai. He returned to NYC and had the knee examined but Dr David Dines and Dr. Josh Dines. He also received an MRI of the Left knee. Results of the MRI showed a mild sprain of his Medial Collateral Ligament of the Left Knee. No other injury to the knee was found on examination or MRI. The news was very good for Andy. No surgery will be needed and Andy is expected to make a 100% recovery. Andy will rest and recieve treatments and will be expected to start activity in 2 to 3 weeks.
http://www.andyroddick.com/2009/10/15/a … ry-update/
2/3 tygodnie czyli Walencje raczej odpuści, w Paryżu powinien już się pojawić :D
Pytanie może i nieaktualne,ale pojawi się krótko przed powrotem Roda,czyli pytanie o to jak wpłynie na grę Roda kontuzja?Moim zdaniem leczenie kontuzji pozwoli mu wypocząć i może pojawić się w Paryżu świeższy niż w ostatnim czasie,ale może leczenie kontuzji wpłynąć negatywnie,przez co Rod dopiero odnajdzie formę w przyszłym sezonie,ale to wszystko czas pokaże :)
Jeżeli będzie miał odpowiednio dużo czasu na treningi, to forma jest kwestią otwartą. Nie zależy ona przecież wyłącznie od zdrowia zawodnika. :)
RODDICK RECEIVES INJURY BOOST
ATP World Tour No. 6 Andy Roddick is expected to resume training in two to three weeks after positive results from an MRI scan on his left knee.
The American was forced to retire with the injury just seven games into his second-round clash with Stanislas Wawrinka at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 Presented by Rolex on Tuesday evening and immediately flew to New York for medical advice.
Roddick’s official web site reported that his left knee was examined by Dr. David Dines and Dr. Josh Dines and the MRI scan showed a mild sprain of his Medial Collateral Ligament.
With no other injury apparent on his knee, the 27 year old is expected to make a full recovery and will not need surgery. He will rest and receive treatment and is expected to return to activity in two to three weeks.
The Texas resident is in pole position to clinch one of the three remaining singles berths at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and is next scheduled to appear at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris, the final ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the season, beginning 8 November.
Jestem niemal na 100% przekonany, że Rod zrezygnuje z Walencji. Takie ryzyko to nie w Jego stylu.
W Bercy powinien zagrać,gdyż konkurencja nie śpi i miejsce w Londynie może się mu wymknąć,ale moim zdaniem się nie wymknie,Masters bez Roda to nie to samo
Spoiler:
Roddick Secures Berth At Barclays ATP World Tour Finals; New Tickets Available
Top American qualifies for prestigious circuit finale for seventh straight year
Final-release tickets made available for all sessions
London, United Kingdom – Top American Andy Roddick has qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, leaving two spots open in the elite eight-man field with four weeks remaining in the regular ATP World Tour season. World No. 6 Roddick will join Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro at the prestigious season finale, to be held from 22-29 November at The O2 in London.
Roddick has now earned a berth at the season finale for seven straight years – the second-longest active streak behind World No. 1 Federer, who secured his eighth consecutive invitation earlier this season. The 27-year-old American reached the event semi-finals in 2003 and ’04 when the event was held in Houston and in 2007 at Shanghai.
"The reaction I received from fans after the Wimbledon final was something I will never forget. I've always had great support in London and I'm looking forward to being back there in November. I'm sure it will be a fantastic event," said Roddick.
From today fans are able to secure the final tickets made available for all sessions of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 arena this November. These lower bowl tickets, which previously were held off sale for production purposes, can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Roddick is on course for an eighth straight Top 10 finish this season, highlighted by his third Wimbledon final in July, when he fell to Federer in the longest men’s Grand Slam singles final (16-14 fifth set). He opened 2009 with a runner-up showing at Doha and extended his title streak to a ninth straight year by clinching his 27th ATP World Tour title at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis. During the North American summer swing, he became the fourth active player to reach the 500 match wins plateau with his run to the final in Washington, D.C.
Despite suffering a left knee injury this past week in his opening match at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000, Roddick received positive results from an MRI scan and is expected to resume training in two to three weeks.
The battle for the final two singles berths at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is expected to come down to the BNP Paribas Masters, the ninth and final ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the season, with less than 1,000 South African Airways ATP Rankings points separating Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the No. 8 position from countryman Tommy Robredo at No. 15 in the year-to-date rankings. Last week’s Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 champion, Russian Nikolay Davydenko, is next in line to qualify and holds a 420-point lead over Verdasco.
The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the world’s biggest-ever indoor tennis event, will feature the world’s top eight singles players and eight doubles teams competing to be officially crowned 2009 ATP World Tour Champions. Each of the top eight players and doubles teams will be drawn to play a minimum of three round-robin matches to determine which four players and teams advance to the knockout semi-finals.
With a capacity of 250,000 and only a limited number of tickets remaining, The O2 is set to be a fantastic host for the eight-day singles and doubles tournament. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster or by calling 0844 847 2495 within the UK. Overseas customers should call +44 161 372 0025.
http://www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.c … lifies.asp
walcz Andy i nie zawiedź :D
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … story.aspx
2005 – Andy Roddick wins his 300th career ATP match victory, defeating Thierry Ascione of France 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon in Lyon, France.
Dokładnie 4 lata temu Andy Roddick odniósł swoje zwycięstwo nr300 w zawodowej karierze tenisisty. Stało się to w Lynie, po ograniu Thierry Ascione'a.
Kalendarz Roda na 2010 rok.
http://proshop.andyroddick.com/2010-and … 3qcqok3jb5
30.10 w historii tenisa.
2003 – Andy Roddick clinches the No. 1 ranking for the first time in his career when he defeats Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the Tennis Masters Series in Paris. Roddick’s win – coupled with Juan Carlos Ferrero’s 7-5, 7-5 loss to Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic – ensures the Roddick will move to the No. 1 ranking. "I like to be greedy, and I want to stay there for a long time," Roddick says. "When I was 12 years old, I was still trying to figure out how to tie my shoelaces. Being No. 1 was a long way off. It's not something I thought would happen."
Dokładnie 6 lat temu Andy Roddick zapewnił sobie pozycję nr1 w sezonie 2003. Stało się to po awansie do 1/4 turnieju Masters w Paryżu. My czekamy na Basel, a 6 lat temu kończyli już Paryż. :]
A i graty Andy :D
Roddick set to play in Mark Knowles Charity Invitational
AFTER teaming up to play together for the first time in doubles in China a couple weeks ago, Bahamian tennis ace Mark Knowles and top ranked American Andy Roddick will be reunited here.
Roddick, the former No.1 singles player in the world, has agreed to participate in the 9th Mark Knowles Charity Invitational December 3-5 in an exhibition at the National Tennis Center.
“It’s extremely exciting to have a former world number one and grand slam champion and someone as popular as Andy coming to the event,” said Knowles yesterday in an interview with The Tribune from his home in Dallas, Texas.
“It’s really a huge boost and it has added a lot of excitement. We are just waiting on his arrival because he has said he will be willing to participate in any event that we have on the schedule. That’s the type of person he is.”
http://www.andyroddick.com/2009/10/30/t … itational/
Tak K*rwa , graj głąbie cały grudzień pokazówki... a Później narzekasz że nie masz czasu na odpoczynek...
Halloween xDDDD
Dziś ważna rocznica dla A-Roda :)
2003 – Andy Roddick takes over as No. 1 player in the world for the first time in his career, replacing Juan Carlos Ferrero in the top ranking position. Roddick, the 22nd player to hold the ranking, holds the top spot for a total of 13 weeks before surrendering it to Roger Federer on Feb. 2, 2004.
atpworldtour.com
Forget Paris: Roddick Withdraws
Andy Roddick produced a career-best fourth round result at Roland Garros last spring, but he won't be making a return trip to Paris
next week.
The sixth-ranked Roddick has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Masters, which starts Sunday in Bercy, due to a knee injury that forced him to pull the plug on his opening match of last month's Shanghai Masters after playing seven games against Stanislas Wawrinka.
It marks the third time in the last four years Roddick has pulled out of Paris. He was a quarterfinalist at the tournament last fall and was a semifinalist in 2003 and 2005. Roddick has qualified for the season-ending ATP World Tour
Finals set for London's O2 Arena starting on November 22nd.
Jak on do tej pory się nie wyleczył, to ja jestem księdzem :]
Bez jaj za dwa tygodnie ! :|
Roddick nie zagra w Masters
Andy Roddick zdecydował się nie wystąpić w rozpoczynającym się w niedzielę turnieju Paris Masters - poinformowali organizatorzy. Numer sześć światowego rankingu przeszedł operację kolana miesiąc temu.
http://www.eurosport.pl/tenis/roddick-n … news.shtml
To Rod miał operację :| ?
Pierwsze słyszę...
Miesiąc temu !...
Dziwne ze nigdzie nie było o tym informacji ze miał operacje.
Coś mi tu nie gra..:rolleyes:
Raczej niemożliwe. Gdyby tak faktycznie było to raczej by to wypłynęło dawno temu, a sam Rod musiałby długo pauzować. Na pewno dłużej niż miesiąc :]
Za Twitterem
i have never been more excited to be able to jog slowly ....
:help2: jest aż tak źle, że dopiero teraz może trochę pobiegać...
A miał być sprawny w ciągu 2-3 tygodni...
Coś mi sie wydaję że z tego Londynu, nic nie będzie :[
No to chyba po sezonie... :(
Nie ogarniam tych wszystkich kominukatów, miało być kilka tygodni góra, a tu takie coś :|
Zaczynam się bać :(
Andy Roddick's Wimbledon run deserves Sportsman praise
Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year on Dec. 1. Here's one of the nominations for that honor by an SI writer.
Now this was The Greatest Match Ever: All England Club, Gentlemen's final, King Federer vs. The Everyman with the 145 mph serve. After the afternoon shadows had overtaken Centre Court, after the longest fifth set in the history of the tournament was over and the breathtaking four-hour, 16-minute epic had come to an end, Roger Federer put on the white jacket embroidered with the gold 15 like an emperor slipping on his cloak. Federer had won more Grand Slam singles titles than any player in history. Yet, the better story on that July afternoon belonged to the loser, because there had never been a loser that more deserved to win than Andy Roddick at Wimbledon.
There's nothing like a comeback, and no comeback in 2009 was more thrilling and more inspiring to watch than the rebirth of Roddick at the All England Club. In the semifinals, the player once armed only with a big forehand and a huge serve steamrolled Andy Murray on the Scot's turf with extended rallies and Edbergian volleys. And in the final, there was no way around it: Roddick outplayed Federer --- one successful backhand volley (he heartbreakingly shanked one wide on set point during a second set tiebreak), and the ending would have been different. Instead Roddick simply turned in the greatest performance ever by a losing finalist. He held his serve on 37 straight games until, at 14-15 in the fifth set's 95th minute, with the shadows creeping in, he could hold no more.
Tennis fans know his story well: Led by a new coach, Larry Stefanki, Roddick rededicated himself this year, dropped 15 pounds, improved his court coverage and retooled his backhand. His career as a Top 10 player on life support, he became relevant again with ridiculous hard work. But his other transformation was even more admirable: not so long ago Roddick was a punk --- brash and arrogant and rude on the court, the bad boy poster-child for the New Balls, Please generation. But marriage mellowed him; failure humbled him. The brat had become the gracious sportsman, and never was that more apparent than in the moments after the final when Roddick gave his moving speech in defeat. When asked by a BBC broadcaster if tennis can be a cruel sport, he looked up in the stands and answered, "No, I'm one of the lucky ones who has all you guys cheering for me." The Wimbledon crowd chanted his name. It was the coolest sports moment of the year.
Later that night after The Greatest Match Ever, John McEnroe told Roddick that he had won over more fans in defeat than he ever did in victory. He was right.
Wimbledon hero Andy Roddick relaxed in a new comfort zone
American returns to London lifted by his role in epic Wimbledon final against Roger Federer
On occasions, such as when his swimsuit-model wife uses her Twitter to disclose that he is a Rick Astley fan, or when his postman tells him that he lost this season's Wimbledon final because he was not changing his sweaty shirts often enough, it helps that Andy Roddick doesn't mind people poking fun at him.
"My mailman had it all figured out why I lost the Wimbledon final. He told me that I was sweating a lot more than Roger Federer was. I said, 'that's pretty normal, I sweat more than Roger', and he told me that my sweaty shirts were weighing me down on court, that I should have been changing my shirts more often during the match.
I stood there looking at him, and choked back some laughter just long enough to shut the door, and then I erupted," said the American, who lost a 16-14 fifth set to Federer on Centre Court this summer.
Has anyone ever played a better Wimbledon final and not finished the day holding up that Challenge Cup? Though Roddick is yet to add to his only grand slam title, the 2003 US Open, only the cruel could still describe him as a one-slam wonder.
Roddick's mailman is not the only one who has a strong view on the Wimbledon final, when the former world No 1 lost his serve just once, in the 77th game of a 77-game match.
Though Roddick's autumn has been complicated by a knee problem, and he missed this week's Paris Masters because of the injury, he is still hoping to return to London for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which starts in a week's time at the O2 Arena.
Outside SW19, it will be the biggest tennis tournament ever held in Britain, and Roddick, assuming he makes the trip, will plainly see how much the British tennis public appreciated his grass-court efforts four months ago.
Of the five grand slam finals Roddick has played in – two at the US Open, and three at Wimbledon – this year's title-match at the All England Club is the one that everyone wants to talk to him about. "I've had so many comments about that match. A lot of people seem to have been affected by it.
I've played in five slam finals now, and that was definitely the most dramatic and the one that people have wanted to talk about the most," he said.
"I still think about the match with Roger, of course, it's normal for me to do that, as that was probably the biggest match of my career, but when I think about it, it's not all negative, it's not all bad. I don't get too down.
"The support I got from the fans was great, and maybe a bit surprising as well. I had a great tournament, getting through to the final, and coming close to winning. I think I can be proud of what I achieved at Wimbledon."
The popular view in Britain of American athletes is that they are a self-satisfied, self-important lot, an impression partly created by the high-school movies showing the 'jocks' pushing people up against the lockers.
There is still something of the all-American 'jock' about Roddick, but he seems to be a calmer soul on and off the court these days, a change that you can attribute to his marriage in April to Brooklyn Decker, who has modelled for Sports Illustrated swimsuit magazine.
"I'm not very good at analysing tennis and marriage and how that works together, but I do know that if you're happy you're probably going to be playing better tennis. She understands that I have to work really hard on my tennis, as there's a certain shelf life for my playing career.
"She likes to write a few comments about me on Twitter. It's a way of her poking fun at me, but that's OK." With Decker, Roddick does "not have to put on a super-brave front".
What do a swimsuit model, a London black-cab driver, Elton John, and one of Tim Henman's former coaches have in common? That eclectic bunch are all in Roddick's support group.
Roddick befriended the taxi driver on a visit to London a few years ago, and they have stayed in touch. Elton John sang at Roddick's wedding.
Perhaps the most important instruction that Larry Stefanki, one of Henman's former coaches, has given Roddick during their time together has been for the player to slim down, to lose some weight.
This remodelled 'Roddick Lite' is much more mobile around the court, which has helped him, even if his game is still based around the ungodly power of his service arm – he holds the record for the fastest serve, at 155mph.
"I feel as though I've made some progress this season. Losing early at the US Open was disappointing, but I've had a pretty good year. I think my fitness has really improved under Larry, and I feel as though I have a lot more options on the court out there." Roddick predicted more "intensity" for Andy Murray in the London docklands.
"I think Andy handles all the attention pretty well. It can be so intense for him playing in Britain, with everyone following his every move. It won't be quite the same at the O2 Arena as it will be at Wimbledon but I'm sure there will be lot of scrutiny.
Andy is bound to be under the microscope again. It's OK, he'll deal with it."
The Daily Telegraph, interviewing Andy Roddick, indicates that the American is still hoping to play the London ATP Wourld Tour finals in two weeks' time.
120,000 $ to ładna suma. Jak będzie dał radę biegać to na pewno się do Londynu wybierze. Poza tym to jednak prestiżowa sprawa zagrać w takim czymś. Jutro losowani,e więc jak do tego czasu Andy się nie wycofa, to pewnie wybiegnie na swój pierwszy mecz w Londynie.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/no … -interview
Greatest competitor: Andy Roddick
Six years after he was world No 1, his epic Wimbledon final against Roger Federer proved the most popular return to form of the year
In the press conference after his Wimbledon final with Roger Federer in July, Andy Roddick was asked to describe the extraordinary events of the previous four hours, particularly the surreal fifth set in which he was forced to serve to stay in the championship nine times, before eventually losing the last of his cat's lives, and the set, 16-14. "Can you tell us what just happened out there, Andy?" Roddick's interlocutor wondered, as if, like the rest of us, he still wasn't quite sure himself.
Roddick considered the question for only a moment, before answering, simply, bleakly, "I lost."
Not since the "I do" of his marriage a couple of months earlier had Roddick asked two words to carry such a weight of emotional understatement. The greatest competitors (Connors, Becker, Borg) – among whom Roddick now must be counted – always talked of being spurred less by the joy of victory than by fear of defeat. Watching Roddick on court after that final, there was in his eyes not a flicker of satisfaction at having just played the greatest tennis of his life; he had only, in his own mind, come up short once again.
Time does not easily heal that hurt. When I ask the same question – what happened out there, Andy? – nearly five months later, his answer remains the same. "I lost. That's the fact of it for me," he says, on the phone from his home in Austin, Texas. "I mean, I can look back on the process of the tournament as a whole with some satisfaction, the semi, beating Andy Murray, but the final itself is tough for me to think about."
The most frustrating aspect of it all, I guess, must have been the role reversal that he and Federer underwent: for long periods of that match he outplayed, shot for shot, the greatest player ever to pick up a racket.
"It was odd," he agrees, "in that I felt like Roger was relying more on his serve, while I was doing better from the back of the court maybe, which is a little different to how it has gone in the past." He pauses. "But I still lost."
In July, a couple of weeks before his twins were born, I talked to Federer about how that match had felt from his side of the net, in particular the weirdness of that fifth set, in which neither player had seemed remotely likely to crack. "I had a feeling at changeovers that we would be there all summer long," Federer suggested, "that they would close the roof, people would sleep all night and wake up and me and Andy would still be there, beards growing, holding serve. Honestly, that went through my mind. I knew he was not going to make a mistake, and I didn't feel that I was…"
The enemy of tennis players is doubt. Did Roddick share that conviction?
"Well," he says, with a laugh, "it was certainly a different kind of match..." The moment that he goes over in his head, the might-have-been that he will live with for the rest of his life, occurred at break point, 12-12. Roddick played a return that he felt got caught a little in the wind as he hit it. "It turned a normal kind of shot for Roger into something much, much trickier." In that instant Roddick thought he might finally have Federer's number, but in a splinter of a second the champion somehow adjusted and got the ball back. The rest was history.
After the match Roddick's agent suggested to him that "he had lost a game but won the heart of his nation". Though he did not do as well as he had hoped at the US Open – he lost in the third round to the unseeded 6ft 9in John Isner, who played the match of his life – he concedes that the defeat at Wimbledon was a breakthrough for him with the American public. Roddick has always been in the unenviable position of following the golden age of Sampras and Agassi and Courier and Chang. For the past five years, he has had to shoulder America's expectations alone, pretty much in the manner of Henman or Murray. In the past that has sometimes looked like a burden, but this year he seemed to relish the role.
"Well," he suggests, "I grew up watching Agassi and Sampras and the rest, and I admired all of them. But for every downside of that pressure the upside has been that I have been the No 1 player in my country, which is pretty cool."
He has taken of late to Twittering about life on the tour. "It's a nice way of reaching out to fans and sharing what you want with them," he says. His messages give little insights into his training schedule, his obsession with his college football team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and his love for his English bulldog, named Billie Jean (after the tennis player). He prefers this direct interaction with the public in part because it bypasses the tennis press, which has not always been kind to him since he won the US Open (still his only grand slam title) and briefly became world No 1 in 2003.
It must have rankled a little with Roddick over the years that he has been thought of as a 155mph serve and not much else. "Yeah," he says, "I'm the most successful bad player ever. I used to hear a lot that all I could do was hit a serve, I couldn't volley, I can't hit a backhand, I don't return well, and then people would turn round and tell me I'm underachieving." He laughs. "Well, all I'd say is – you can't have it both ways. For a guy who can't hit a shot, I've done OK…"
This year, he has achieved that rare mid-career thing, a real step-up in his game. He puts it down partly to his new coach Larry Stefanki, but also to a refreshed desire that has seen him work harder than ever and lose nearly 10lbs from his previous fighting weight. "I work a lot more than I did when I got into the tour, I'm finding that I enjoy getting out on court early in the morning to practise as much as I enjoy matches," he says. "That's a new thing for me." This impetus comes down to wanting to find exactly how good he can be. Roddick wasn't always the most focused and committed player on the tour – a fact that has allowed him to stay balanced off-court. Still, at 27, he reckons he has "three, maybe four" good years left, and he doesn't want to end with regrets.
Another grand slam is, obviously, an ambition. It looks though, I suggest, much tougher than it has for a long time at the top of the men's game. Is that how it feels to him?
"Definitely," Roddick says. "I'm a far better player now than I was when I was No 1 in the world. You look at the guys who have come through, and they are a different kind of athlete. Murray is 6ft 3in, Del Potro is 6ft 6in, Nadal – an awful lot of power, so that's the way it is going."
Roddick got married in April to Brooklyn Decker, a model who first caught his eye in Sports Illustrated's annual swimwear issue – the ultimate mail-order bride (he had his agent fix up a date). Elton John, who has become a friend since he asked to meet Roddick for Interview magazine, played for them at the wedding ("which was kind of unbelievable"). Roddick is not sure that married life has brought an extra maturity to his game, though he certainly suggests that he is as happy as he has ever been, off court and on. He is certain, too, that there are no kids on the immediate horizon. He must have been cheered slightly, I say, by the news that his nemesis, Federer, had become the father of twins – does he imagine his rival's sleepless nights might give him the chance he has been waiting for?
Roddick laughs. "The thing with Roger is that he has created a monster for himself. If he only wins three out of four slams in a year, everyone says he's lost it, he is on the way out. I'm sure he will be around for a while yet."
I wonder if Roddick, who has now lost three Wimbledon finals to Federer, ever allows himself to think how his career might have gone if he had not been born at the same time as the Swiss.
He suggests that way madness lies. "It's a privilege to be out there in a final with him," he says. "One of these days I just have to find a way to win." There is, in this respect, I guess, always next year; Roddick is readier than he has ever been.
http://www.tsr.ch/tsr/index.html?siteSe … d=11503335
i Angielska wersja
Andy Roddick (ATP 6) withdrew from London Masters (22-29.11) knee Injury
17.11.2009 16:06
Andy Roddick (ATP 6) withdrew from the Masters in London scheduled for November 22 to 29. The American feels sufficient ly recovered from his injured left knee, according to the site of French sports daily L'Equipe. His absence allows the Swede Robin Soederling integrate the tournament and French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to become the first alternate.
:/
:( :( ale pech.
Niestety to bylo do przewidzenia. Uraz okazal sie zbyt powazny niz poczatkowo sadzono. W sumie lepiej ze sie wycofal niz mial ryzykowac zdrowiem, czy pojechac na turniej kompletnie nieprzygotowany i zabrac baty od kazdego. Wracaj do zdrowia i daj czadu w sezonie 2010 ;)
Twitter...
very bummed about not playing at masters. i am at about 75 percent with the knee, but haven't been able to hit yet.. hopefully i can, hopefully i can start hitting a little bit this week.. i expect to make a full recovery and will be ready for australia.. i will still be in london next week for a couple of days so hopefully i will see some of you then :)
Andy będzie w Londynie w roli kibica :D, Będzie gotów na Australię, nie będzie żadnych problemów :)
Bo ja myślę - w Brisbane masz gościu wygrać. A w AO przynajmniej połówka - COA mistrzu :]
Roddick shrugs off injury scare
Andy Roddick says he’s confident that he’ll recover from the injury that put him out of the ATP World Tour Finals in time to play Australian Open 2010.
The world No.6, who injured his left knee during a match against Stanislas Wawrinka at the Shanghai Masters in October, said he was disappointed to miss the season finale in London but confident of making a comeback for the start of next season.
“Very bummed about not playing at masters,” he tweeted to fans. “I am at about 75 percent with the knee but haven’t been able to hit yet. Hopefully I can start hitting a little bit this week. I expect to make a full recovery and will be ready for Australia.”
The top-ranked American on the ATP Tour, Roddick was the Australian Open junior champion in 2000 and Melbourne Park has been the scene of some key moments in his career.
In 2003, his breakthrough year at senior level, he won an epic five-hour quarterfinal against Younes El Aynaoui at the Australian Open.
The fifth set scoreline of 21 games to 19 took two-hours and 23-minutes to play out – making it, at that point, the longest Grand Slam fifth set in the open era. Weary after the late-night encounter with El Aynaoui, he lost in the semifinals to Rainer Schuettler 5-7 6-2 3-6 3-6.
Ranked No.1 in the world, Roddick surrendered the top spot to Roger Federer at Australian Open 2004, losing to Marat Safin in the quarterfinals while the Swiss won his inaugural title at Melbourne Park.
Ranked No.2 in the world, the A-Rod was again a semifinalist in 2005, this time losing a tense four-set encounter against Lleyton Hewitt, 6-3 6-7(3) 6-7(4) 1-6 to give the tournament its first home-town men’s singles finalist since Pat Cash in 1988.
In 2007, Roddick played a marathon first round match against Jo Wilfried Tsonga, losing the first set tiebreak 18-20 before running out a winner in four sets, going on to reach the semifinals for the third time in his career.
There he managed just six games against Federer in a three-set drubbing that brought their career head-to-head to 1-13 in Federer’s favour.
And in 2009 Roddick again reached the latter stages at Melbourne Park, outlasting world No.3 Novak Djokovic in a heat-effected quarterfinal before falling to Federer in straight sets for his sixteenth victory over the American in eighteen matches.
Roddick, who continued his track record of fighting out Grand Slam five-set thrillers in the Wimbledon 2009 final against Federer, will be making his ninth main draw appearance at the Australian Open in 2010 after kicking off his season at the Brisbane International from January 3.
The Last Time... With Andy Roddick
American Andy Roddick reveals to DEUCE the last time...
I cooked for myself or others?
This morning: breakfast. I made eggs. I started to cook probably a lot more in the last year or so. I'm not claiming to be any good but… I don't really do anything too great, but for a specialty I probably just put some vegetables together or something like that.
I flew economy class?
Five days ago (26th October). I was on Jet Blue from New York to Austin. I don't remember exactly when I stopped flying economy; it was probably around my second year on tour.
I met a childhood idol?
Mohammed Ali is the one person I haven't met that I would like to. The last person from my childhood, that was one of my favourites, that I met, was Michael Jordan last year. He was playing in a group behind us in golf and I left my putter on the green behind us accidentally on purpose and he grabbed it and I was sort of walking towards the green to retrieve it. So he recognised me and said "nice to meet you" and all the stuff, it was pretty cool.
"Pretty much the only time I ever wear a suit is to the formal Davis Cup dinners."
I shared a hotel room with another player?
Oh, that's got to be juniors!
I had to pay to hire a tennis court?
It had to be 10 years ago or something like that… Actually no, it's not, that's not true! When it rains here in Austin sometimes they have a very limited number of indoor courts, there's pretty much two in the city. So when we go there we're happy to pay for our hour just like everyone else, as long as they can sneak us in to actually get on them.
I dressed formally for a dinner?
Pretty much the only time I ever wear a suit is to the formal Davis Cup dinners, so I guess earlier this year.
I lost a bet?
It happens all the time! I think I lost a bet on a Fantasy Football game last week. I think it was $50 or something.
I sang karaoke / sang in front of an audience?
Car singing doesn't count right? (laughing) I don't know that I've ever sang in front of an audience… I did some karaoke, but I think it's been a couple of years. The Bryan brothers always try to get me to sing with their band, but I've retired from the Bryan Bros. Band.
I had to show ID/credential at a tournament?
Oh, all the time! At the US Open, all the time. And at Wimbledon, because they make you scan in all the time so you have to show up with a credential every time. I was behind Martina Navratilova, she had to show it and she's only won it like 48 times! We normally figure it out, but I lose my credential probably on a bi-weekly basis, along with the room key!
I slipped on my diet?
I slipped up a little bit after the US Open. I had a little bit of time off so I was not scared of Mexican food for a couple of weeks. For about 10 months (this year) I was fine and then the last two months have been a little dicey.
"I try to buy up basically presents in bulk so you get a nice present that should be worth three or four presents."
I played a practical joke in the locker room?
This is just mean, but it was the attendant in China. Every time you brushed up against the locker it would make some beeping noise and they would have to run down. One day, I was kind of laughing and I was doing it over and over again and the guy was running back and forth (laughing). People play jokes on me all the time, like putting something smelly in your locker… The worst culprits are the kids who work in the locker room in Cincinnati. I have had an ongoing prank for about five years so they always get me pretty good. It's not printable what they do, though!
I walked my dog?
Last night. I took Billie [after Billie Jean King] down to the end of the street and back, she has a place where she does her business. My buddy, Neil, takes care of her when I'm away. It's kind of like a community dog amongst my friends and Neil looks after her when I'm gone.
I forgot a family member/close friend's birthday?
I try to buy up presents in bulk so you get a nice present that should be worth three or four presents and then I request a free pass for the next time I forget! I'm good at getting them, but I figure if you get them something nice it buys you a couple of forgets.
Being recognised helped me?
Last night (Friday 30th October). We went to a Haunted House in Austin and the line had to be a couple of hours long and we were able to get in a little quicker. I get recognised just as much outside the States as I do at home. When you figure tennis is probably the second-biggest sport worldwide and it’s definitely not the second-biggest sport as far as American interests. It's probably pretty similar.
I heard a good joke?
Actually this morning from my friend, Dillon. Again, it's not printable
Roddick jutro podobno ma ogłosić jak będzie ubrany w sezonie 2010.
bye bye Lacoste ? :boisie: mam nadzieje ze nie.
Andy w Londynie :D Zdjęcia z wizyty na meczu Davydenko - Djokovic.
:)
Andy Roddick has confirmed that his knee injury from last month is healing somewhat ahead of schedule, with an on-court test set within days.
The notable absentee at this week's ATP World Tour Finals said he's optimistic of his complete recovery in quick time. "The injury, it's coming along well", last summer's Wimbledon finalist against Roger Federer said. "We're probably a little bit ahead of where we thought we would be".
Roddick hurt himself seven weeks ago during a match in Shanghai and went immediately home to Texas for treatment and rehab. He withdrew before the start in London after qualifying for the elite eight-man field, his place taken by Swede Robin Söderling.
"I've been able to run in a straight line, and hopefully next week I'll be able to get back out on the courts and practise", said the one-time world number one.
Roddick said that being onsite at the year-end championship only increases his regret at missing the wrap-up. "It's a different dynamic for me to be here but not playing. It was a lot easier to deal with for me not being at this tournament when I was home".
"But to be able to come here and see just the energy that's around it, just the great event that's being put on, I definitely am envious towards those guys out there, that they're able to play and participate in this event".
:D :D
:D:D:D:D
Źródełko tej nowiny : http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20091 … f_schedule
:D:D
Roddick renews sponsorship deal with Lacoste
LONDON (AP)—Andy Roddick has renewed his sponsorship deal with French apparel maker Lacoste.
The company said Tuesday that Roddick will stay with Lacoste for another four years.
The sixth-ranked Roddick was forced to withdraw ahead of this week’s ATP World Tour Finals in London with a left knee injury.
Roddick, who won the 2003 U.S. Open title, said he was “honored and happy” to stay with Lacoste.
He also said his injury was “coming along well.”
Tennis-Roddick targets London 2012 Olympics
LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - When injured American Andy Roddick was caught on camera watching the action at the ATP World Tour Finals, the applause that rang around the cavernous O2 Arena spoke volumes for his popularity in London.
No wonder the world number six is already setting his sights on the 2012 London Olympics when the tennis event will be staged at the All England Club, scene of Roddick's epic Wimbledon final against Roger Federer this year.
"I certainly look at that 2012 year, the prospect of playing an Olympic event on grass, it's very interesting for me," Roddick, who dropped out of the eight-man season finale because of a knee injury, told reporters.
"Certainly I feel like or at least I hope there will be many good memories still for me here in London."
Roddick lost to his Swiss nemesis Federer for the third time in a Wimbledon final in July, when he finally succumbed 16-14 in a mind-boggling fifth set, but in defeat he won the hearts of thousands of British fans for his gutsy display.
Judging by the reaction of the crowd inside the O2 when he gave a bashful wave on Monday, Roddick will be welcomed back next year with open arms although he admitted it was tough to be sitting on the sidelines watching the action unfold on a dazzling stadium court with 17,500 fans wedged in.
"To be able to come here and see just the energy that's around it, just the great event that's being put on, I definitely am envious towards those guys out there, that they're able to play and participate in this event," said Roddick after confirming a four-year contract extension with clothing sponsors Lacoste.
Twitter :
successful day... was able to hit some tennis balls, and nebraska won again
:D
Roddick heading to Australia in late December
Andy Roddick will pick up the pace of his return to tennis after his autumn knee injury.
The No. 7, who missed the last week's World Tour Finals, is targeting an earlier-than-normal start, playing Brisbane International during the first week of January for the first time.
"It's coming along well", Roddick said of the injury he suffered nearly two months ao in Shanghai.
Roddick will arrive spend New Year's Eve in Australia, another first for he home-loving American.
December 3, 2009 - Looking at the 2010 Andy Roddick
By Charles Bricker
Day 1 of the rest of Andy Roddick's career was in the books by sundown Wednesday, not quite two months since he badly hyper-extended his left knee in a second-round match against Stan Wawrinka at the Shanghai 1000.
Physically, he's 100 percent, and had no trouble moving in a series of two-on-one drills against coach Larry Stefanki and top-Indian player Somdev Devvarman, who came down to Austin, Texas, to fire balls at Andy and help get him ready for the start of the 2010 season.
There's a big difference, however, between his physical well-being and his touch and movement on the court. We're talking here about his footwork into his shots and his rhythm with the ball. No one in the Roddick camp is worried about that. Day by day, it will come.
Good buddy Mardy Fish, who has recovered from minor knee surgery, flew into Austin last night and he'll work into the training mix along with Devvarman, the two-time University of Virginia NCAA champion who in his first full ATP season finished at No. 127.
"Andy has no trouble running straight ahead or side to side," Stefanki said this afternoon. "There's no limping." And there appears to be no after-effects of the knee injury, which came out of nowhere on Oct. 12 and was bad enough to keep Roddick out of the World Tour Championships, won last week by Nikolay Davydenko in London.
The goal right now is to retrain Roddick's footwork and rhythm, and that shouldn't take too long. Two months off is a long time but it's not an eternity.
When he's ready to get drill specific, he's going to be putting a heavy emphasis on service returns, just as he did a year when he and Stefanki began this collaboration. Though Stefanki believes Roddick is a better returner than a year ago, the numbers aren't impressive. He has a lot of work to do on points when he's not serving.
* Roddick's first-serve return points: 26% for 53rd on the tour and well behind leader Andy Murray. In 2008, he was 28% for 35th.
* Roddick's second-serve return points: 49% for 35th, behind leader Rafael Nadal. In 2008, 48% for 32nd.
* Roddick's return games won: 19% for 48th, behind Nadal. In 2008, 20% for 33rd.
* Roddick's break-point conversions: 37% for 44th, behind Nadal. In 2008, 35% for 42nd.
Looking back at Roddick's 2009 season, his returning was better before Wimbledon. He was moving forward into the second serves, taking it early, returning with some risk with the mentality that it wasn't going to be lethal if he missed because he's rarely broken himself.
Roddick's prodigious serving (91 percent service games won), second only to Ivo Karlovic, means he can afford to be riskier with his returns, but he has to stay in that mentality and dump the chop and block returns that too often creep into his repetoire. Get a good look at a second serve and fire it back. That's the state of mind he wants to be in all the time, and he has to do it with more consistency.
"We did a lot of drilling on service returns in the last off-season and while we were on the road during the season," said Stefanki. "And I really believe his return is better. What Andy has to do is continue stay loose and relaxed on the returns, take it on the rise. When he has tension, he tends to play too safe. I want him not to think, 'This is my one opportunity to break in the set, so I've really got to take it.' He's going to have a lot of opportunities to break.
"His serve went off a little after Wimbledon, and I think that affected his returns. Yeah, I've looked at the same stats you've looked at and I don't think it's totally indicative of the year he had. At the same time, you have to look at those numbers," said Stefanki.
My view is that Roddick had his best season since 2005. He reached no less than the quarters of his first seven tournaments. He played 15 events, not counting Shanghai, where he was injured, and had one title, three runners-up, five semis, two quarters. That's 11 out of 15 deep into the draw. Only one title, but much more consistency than he's shown for awhile. And that performance at Wimbledon was the high point.
"I won't use the word 'great' to describe the year," said Stefanki. "But it was very, very good," even with the injury. "Rock solid."
Why has Roddick improved? Here are the salient points:
* Higher fitness level after some weight loss.
* Higher confidence in the longer rallies. He has never been as good as he is today grinding points, and that accounts in part for his best-ever round-of-16 finish at the French Open.
* Transition game. It's still a work in progress, but compare Roddick's work inside the service line today with even a year ago. He's a more solid volleyer. His footwork around the net is better. Most of all, his flow to the net from the backcourt is smarter, more technically sound. He's still nowhere near Pete Sampras, Patrick Rafter or Roger Federer territory in his flow to the net, but you have to admire his commitment to working on it, and that particularly factor in his game will only get better the more times he approaches.
Does all that translate into a second Grand Slam title in 2010? Of course not. It's no longer just Federer out there. It's Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and now Juan Martin Del Potro. But he will continue to be a factor at the three fast-court Slams because, unlike a lot of players who just sort of "play it out" in their late 20s, Roddick continues to learn.
Sezon 2009 w liczbach
Ranking: 7
Tytuły: 1 (Memphis)
Finały: 3 (Doha, Wimbledon, Waszyngton)
Bilans spotkań: 48-15
Zarobki: $2,302,719
AO - 1/2 Finału
RG - 4 Runda
WM - Finał
US - 3 Runda
Andy joins Sir Elton John at WTT Smash Hits
Andy will be callin’ Baton Rouge Tuesday night when he teams up with Tennis legend Billie Jean King and music superstar Sir Elton John are teaming up for their annual charity event—the 17th annual WTT Smash Hits on December 8, 2009, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge.
Billie Jean King and Elton John will each captain a team and be will joined by Andy, Serena Williams, Anna Kournikova, Tommy Haas, Lindsay Davenport, Liezel Huber, Jan-Michael Gambill, Chanda Rubin and Devin Britton who will form two teams and play the World TeamTennis format.
This year’s event, presented by the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation and hosted by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, will benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation and AIDS charities serving the Greater Baton Rouge area. Smash Hits has raised more than $9 million for EJAF and various local AIDS charities since 1993.
Reserved tickets are $30, $65 and $100, and are available by calling 800-960-8587 or online at http://ev10.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerc … r=&appCode
xDDDD
:D
No widać że w końcu się wziął za granie, chyba pora się ogarnąć bo ma finał w Doha i 1/2 AO do obrony.
Fed-Expresso napisał:
No widać że w końcu się wziął za granie, chyba pora się ogarnąć bo ma finał w Doha i 1/2 AO do obrony.
No nie zabardzo się wziął, w każdej formie pokazówki przegrał, nie wspominając że Haas mu dokopał :D
Ale najważniejsze że już gra i do stycznia powinien być już gotowy na 100%
Fed-Expresso napisał:
No widać że w końcu się wziął za granie, chyba pora się ogarnąć bo ma finał w Doha i 1/2 AO do obrony.
No baa, Roddick dba o ranking jak nikt w ATP :D
Fakt, po tym , jak się dziś dowiedziałem, że Rafa też ma wywalone na ranking i olewa treningi to już mnie nic nie zdziwi :P.
W takim T-shircie ma grać na AO? Mi się podoba :D A że o rank "dba" chłopak dba to wiadome od dawna :D
metjuAR napisał:
W takim T-shircie ma grać na AO?
Wątpie, zawsze na początek każdego sezonu ma nowy outfit :)
W dodatku przedłużył umowę z Lacoste, więc napewno coś tam dla niego szykują :D
ADVANTAGE ANDY RODDICK
Tennis star wraps an extraordinary year with ninth charity weekend.
For Andy Roddick 2009 has been a year of joy and triumph as well as challenge. He married model Brooklyn Decker, revitalized his game, put up an unforgettable – yet ultimately unsuccessful – fight in the Wimbledon final, lost in the third round of the U.S. Open and accepted the Heineken Star Award for his athletic and philanthropic achievements. He caps the year with another triumph: On Dec. 12 and 13, he and Decker host the Ninth Annual Andy Roddick Foundation Charity Weekend, which has raised more than $10 million for children’s charities. The guest list for the gala and tennis exhibition includes players Serena and Venus Williams, Andy Murray, Brenda Schultz-McCarthy, Shahar Peer and Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band.
We caught up with Roddick at home in Austin to ask about his foundation, his tennis, his marriage and Billie Jean.
C&S: Do you have a favorite story about the impact of your foundation?
AR: Many good stories, nearly all of them beginning with the smiles on children’s faces. One in particular that has stuck with me was receiving a thank-you note from a young student who was excited for the first day of school because it would be the first time he’d ever entered a classroom wearing new clothes and shoes. It did wonders for his self-esteem. Also, every e-mail from Safe Haven for Newborns stating that the foundation helped save another baby has me jumping for joy.
C&S: What was it about Brooklyn Decker that made her the one?
AR: I 'stalked' Brooklyn because she was so beautiful and informed about all sports. Curiosity got the best of me. I somehow managed a date and fell in love with a truly beautiful and intelligent woman. How lucky can one guy be?
C&S: Brooklyn has been credited with encouraging you to reinvigorate your game. True?
AR: To be successful, you need people to believe in you. Brooklyn is my biggest fan and the most positive person I know.
C&S: Can you describe your training?
AR: I’d describe my training regimen in five words: disciplined, arduous, stimulating, constant, exhausting.
C&S: If you could play any match over, which would it be?
AR: With so many matches over so many years, there have been many ups and a few downs. I really don’t want to play any of them over.
C&S: Whom do you most admire?
AR: There are many people I admire, and I’ve created a workout room that provides me inspiration. The walls have a wrap-around mural featuring many of them: Abraham Lincoln, Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, Lance Armstrong and my dear little friend Garrett Starr, who has spent six of his eight years fighting cancer.
C&S: With your success and fame at an early age, what has kept you grounded?
AR: I try to show respect for everyone.
C&S: What makes the holidays special to you?
AR: Being with family and seeing Christmas wonders through the eyes of J.C. and Ann Marie, my nephew and niece.
C&S: Will your English bulldog, Billie Jean, be spoiled with gifts?
AR: Billie Jean is spoiled every waking minute.
C&S: Any goals for 2010?
AR: Winning Wimbledon is at the top of my list.
http://cityandshore.com/in_the_city.html
No to dawaj po tego wimbla :D:D
Bohaterowie sezonu: Andy Roddick
Rok po zawstydzającym Wimbledonie Andy Roddick ponownie stanął w chwale na korcie centralnym najsłynniejszego turnieju świata. Po raz trzeci przegrał w finale z Rogerem Federerem, ale potwierdził, że należy do światowej czołówki.
Od sierpnia 2006 roku ten najlepszy amerykański zawodnik nie wypadł z dziesiątki rankingu, więc dlaczego mówimy o jego powrocie? Bo zdominowana przez Federera rywalizacja zawęża znaczenie słowa elita. Przynależy do niej ten, kto potrafi zmusić szwajcarskiego mistrza do wysiłku.
Był 5 lipca, dzień po amerykańskim święcie narodowym. Federer stał przed szansą na zostanie arcymistrzem Wielkiego Szlema, Roddick szukał drugiego wielkoszlemowego tytułu. Nigdzie, nawet w Nowym Jorku, nie grało mu się lepiej niż na londyńskiej trawie. Czterokrotnie triumfował w pobliskim Queen's, a w klubie All England na najsłynniejszej murawie świata trzykrotnie zatrzymywał go już Federer.
Zastopował go także tego lipcowego popołudnia sezonu minionego. Roddick walczył dzielnie - przez 77 gemów, przez 4 godziny i 16 minut. Ameryka kocha wprawdzie tylko zwycięzców, ale po epickiej porażce 14:16 w piątym secie A-Rod i tak nie mógł opędzić się od ofert telewizyjnych występów. Ten wimbledoński finał otworzył wrota obu jego bohaterom: Federerowi do miana najwybitniejszego tenisisty w historii, a Roddickowi do serc kibiców.
Jest być może największym wygranym roku, w którym de facto... niewiele wygrał. 27. w karierze tytuł w hali w Memphis był jedynym tytułem zgarniętym przez niego w tym niezapomnianym sezonie. Sezonie, który teoretycznie był najmniej obfity w całej jego karierze (w 2006 roku też wygrał jeden turniej - w Cincinnati - ale była to seria mistrzowska).
Co sprawiło, że numer jeden amerykańskiego tenisa znów elektryzował liczne grono swoich fanów? Trener Larry Stefanki? Małżonka Brooklyn? Stop. Ta błękitnooka blondynka, robiąca furorę topmodelka obserwująca mecze z trybun, też szybko skupiła watahę wielbicieli z operatorami telewizji w pierwszym szeregu.
Nie wypada nie wierzyć Roddickowi, że szybko usidlona (miała lat 21) żona dała mu pozytywnego kopa samymi stwierdzeniami, że "grasz świetnie" i "słodko wyglądasz w swoich szortach". W półfinale Wimbledonu przeciw Murrayowi, imiennikowi ze Szkocji, biegał Andy do siatki 68 razy, wciąż mając przeciw sobie londyńską publiczność.
Niestety, druga połowa sezonu przyniosła rozczarowanie. Nie dość, że Brook popisywała się w serwisie Twitter znacznie bardziej wymyślnymi pstryczkami (tak uzgodnili) w stronę współmałżonka (np. Andy moczył się w dzieciństwie i dlatego nigdy nie nocował u kolegów), to na dodatek przyplątała się kontuzja.
Lewe kolano zatrzymało go przed występem w Masters. Wcześniej, choć szkoda umniejszać osiągnięcie Łukasza Kubota (gładkie 6:4, 6:2 nad rekordzistą świata w prędkości serwisu), łamiący rakietę Roddick znacznie bardziej mógł rozpaczać po szybkim odpadnięciu (już w III rundzie) z "jego" US Open. To w nowojorskim parku Flushing Meadows zdobył w 2003 roku swój jedyny wielkoszlemowy tytuł.
:D
Od kiedy Rod i Panicz takie kumple :D ?!
American Andy Roddick reveals to DEUCE the last time...
I cooked for myself or others?
This morning: breakfast. I made eggs. I started to cook probably a lot more in the last year or so. I'm not claiming to be any good but… I don't really do anything too great, but for a specialty I probably just put some vegetables together or something like that.
I flew economy class?
Five days ago (26th October). I was on Jet Blue from New York to Austin. I don't remember exactly when I stopped flying economy; it was probably around my second year on tour.
I met a childhood idol?
Muhammad Ali is the one person I haven't met that I would like to. The last person from my childhood, that was one of my favourites, that I met, was Michael Jordan last year. He was playing in a group behind us in golf and I left my putter on the green behind us accidentally on purpose and he grabbed it and I was sort of walking towards the green to retrieve it. So he recognised me and said "nice to meet you" and all the stuff, it was pretty cool.
I shared a hotel room with another player?
Oh, that's got to be juniors!
I had to pay to hire a tennis court?
It had to be 10 years ago or something like that… Actually no, it's not, that's not true! When it rains here in Austin sometimes they have a very limited number of indoor courts, there's pretty much two in the city. So when we go there we're happy to pay for our hour just like everyone else, as long as they can sneak us in to actually get on them.
I dressed formally for a dinner?
Pretty much the only time I ever wear a suit is to the formal Davis Cup dinners, so I guess earlier this year.
I lost a bet?
It happens all the time! I think I lost a bet on a Fantasy Football game last week. I think it was $50 or something.
I sang karaoke / sang in front of an audience?
Car singing doesn't count right? (laughing) I don't know that I've ever sang in front of an audience… I did some karaoke, but I think it's been a couple of years. The Bryan brothers always try to get me to sing with their band, but I've retired from the Bryan Bros. Band.
I had to show ID/credential at a tournament?
Oh, all the time! At the US Open, all the time. And at Wimbledon, because they make you scan in all the time so you have to show up with a credential every time. I was behind Martina Navratilova, she had to show it and she's only won it like 48 times! We normally figure it out, but I lose my credential probably on a bi-weekly basis, along with the room key!
I slipped on my diet?
I slipped up a little bit after the US Open. I had a little bit of time off so I was not scared of Mexican food for a couple of weeks. For about 10 months (this year) I was fine and then the last two months have been a little dicey.
I played a practical joke in the locker room?
This is just mean, but it was the attendant in China. Every time you brushed up against the locker it would make some beeping noise and they would have to run down. One day, I was kind of laughing and I was doing it over and over again and the guy was running back and forth (laughing). People play jokes on me all the time, like putting something smelly in your locker… The worst culprits are the kids who work in the locker room in Cincinnati. I have had an ongoing prank for about five years so they always get me pretty good. It's not printable what they do, though!
I walked my dog?
Last night. I took Billie [after Billie Jean King] down to the end of the street and back, she has a place where she does her business. My buddy, Neil, takes care of her when I'm away. It's kind of like a community dog amongst my friends and Neil looks after her when I'm gone.
I forgot a family member/close friend's birthday?
I try to buy up presents in bulk so you get a nice present that should be worth three or four presents and then I request a free pass for the next time I forget! I'm good at getting them, but I figure if you get them something nice it buys you a couple of forgets.
Being recognised helped me?
Last night (Friday 30th October). We went to a Haunted House in Austin and the line had to be a couple of hours long and we were able to get in a little quicker. I get recognised just as much outside the States as I do at home. When you figure tennis is probably the second-biggest sport worldwide and it’s definitely not the second-biggest sport as far as American interests. It's probably pretty similar.
I heard a good joke?
Actually this morning from my friend, Dillon. Again, it's not printable…
http://www.tennischannel.com/news/NewsD … ewsid=6392
Jeden na jeden Steve'a Flinka z Larrym Stefanki ;)
Mądrze gada Larry, cel na sezon 2010 taki sam jak na poprzedni - SZLEM ! ;)
Is Roddick Ready To Win Another Major?
Andy Roddick is one of my favorites and as much as I wish he could get to No. 1 again, I don't think that's going to happen. However, that doesn't mean he can't win more slams - and that's good enough for me.
2010 could be a great year for Roddick. He showed at Wimbledon that he could make it to a final again and he was just a few short points away from another title. His best shot at a slam is obviously at Wimbledon, where if his serve is humming he always has a chance.
He could also have a shot at the Australian, if he had a great offseason, or the U.S. Open, where he's won his only slam. Obviously, the serve is Roddick's big weapon, but he has a big forehand and he has improved his backhand. If he could stay healthy and could keep working on other parts of his game - like mental toughness and his net game - Roddick could be a factor all season long.
I think Roddick is due to have a strong year and breakthrough and win a slam - like Wimbledon. He's not getting any younger and the time might be just right for him to add to his trophy case.
If he does that it will most certainly give him confidence and that could lead to an even better season. Hopefully, things will fall into place and Roddick can give U.S. men's tennis another jolt.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/3158 … ther-major
by Tommy Keeler
Ze strony ATP
Outfit Roddicka na Australian Open :
xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Team Roddick Down Under
As Andy announced on his Twitter yesterday, Team Roddick has arrived in Brisbane Australia to compete in his first tournament of 2010, the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament. Despite some misplaced luggage and snug polo replacements (check out Andy’s Twitter for more!), Team Roddick is ready to start training in the heat down under!
Earlier this season, Andy participated in the ATP Tiebreak Quiz where his tennis trivia was put to the test. Check out how the number one ranked American scored in this ATP insider video:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Medi … ddick.aspx
Roddick says knee is better -- but not perfect
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- Andy Roddick's left knee isn't perfect but he's hoping for a successful start to the 2010 tennis season at the Brisbane International.
Roddick had his first practice session Thursday at Pat Rafter Arena in preparation for next week's first tuneup tournament ahead of the Australian Open from Jan. 18-31.
The 27-year-old American missed the ATP World Tour Finals at London in November because of the knee ailment. He had one of his best years on tour this season, reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open and losing to Roger Federer 16-14 in the fifth set of the Wimbledon final.
He is the No 1 men's seed at the Brisbane International.
Roddick's left knee was unstrapped Thursday during a hour-long session with defending champion Radek Stepanek.
"It's coming around all right," Roddick said. "It was disappointing to finish the year like I did, especially considering I felt like I was having a really good year until the injury came about.
"That was disappointing but on the flipside I'm probably a little bit more mentally rested than a lot of these guys, maybe a little bit more eager to get out here. I've been playing a lot. I'm definitely not coming in under-practiced."
The 2003 U.S. Open winner said his 2009 record, including a fourth Australian Open semifinal appearance, gave him extra belief he can claim a second career Grand Slam title -- possibly in Melbourne in January.
"Obviously I feel like maybe I could have played a final there before," he said. "It hasn't quite happened but there's not a lot of people walking around that can say ... that they've played in four semifinals."
Roddick said he still flashes back to the tough Wimbledon loss against Federer.
"It's like anything that's hard in anyone's life," Roddick said. "You just keep going and do the things you enjoy and slowly, maybe, I'll only think about it four times today."
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/t … z0bGKOwiG9
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http://smpimages.com/albums.php?albumId=99516&page=1
Zdjęcia z treningów Roda w Brisbane (z dzisiaj).
Andy Roddick nearing peak fitness
ANDY Roddick dispelled lingering fitness doubts over his Brisbane International campaign, but conceded his knee would be more ready in two weeks time at the Australian Open.
Roddick withdrew from his last three tournamwents of the year with a knee injury suffered in early October, presenting him with a different task in preparing to start the next season as top seed for the Brisbane International, which starts on Sunday.
The Wimbledon runner-up drove himself through a second practice session at Pat Rafter Arena this afternoon and said he was regaining a range of movement with a knee which was too painful for permit him to contest the ATP World Finals in late November.
"I don't know if it will be perfect for a while, but it's close," Roddick, the world No7, said.
"It's a matter of getting a range of motion back. As far as running and drills, I don't feel feel anything. It's nothing to do with power or the way it feels when I'm running.
"It was disappointed to finish the year like I did, especially considering I felt like I was having a really good year. But on the flipside, I'm more mentally ready and eager than some of these guys. I haven't played a match in three months.
"But I'm not coming in under-practised and I'm hitting the ball really well in practice."
Roddick said he considered himself an Australian Open contender and planned to use Brisbane as his own tournament before the Australian Open starts on January 18.
The American, who fell short of beating Roger Federer in their Wimbledon final last July, said every day made it more easy for him to rationalise the disappointment of a third loss in the Wimbledon title-deciding match.
"You think a little less about it every day and slowly you maybe only think about it four times a day," he quipped.
RODDICK TARGETS MORE GRAND SLAM GLORY
As the 2010 ATP World Tour season prepares to swing into action, World No. 7 Andy Roddick has just one thing on his mind: more Grand Slam success.
Speaking ahead of his debut at the Brisbane International, which gets underway on Sunday 3rd January, the 2003 US Open champion said: “For me it’s been the same goal for a long time: try and win another Grand Slam. At this point in my career I think I’m less concerned whether I finish the year No. 4 or No. 7, it’s more just about putting yourself in position to win big tennis tournaments.
“Last year was good because I did put myself in a position to win it; didn’t quite get there but if anything that gives me a little bit more belief.”
The 27-year-old Roddick, who finished runner-up to Roger Federer in a heart-breaking Wimbledon final defeat in 2009, added: “I consider myself a legitimate contender in three out of the four Grand Slams. Maybe grass [is my best chance], because I feel like it’s a surface that not a lot of people learn to play on. I’ve certainly had years of experience and I’m certainly comfortable on any of the harder surfaces as well.”
Indeed, the American will be a strong contender for the title at the Australian Open, which begins in two weeks time in Melbourne. In 2009, he reached the semi-finals for the fourth time, falling to Federer.
“Obviously I feel like maybe I could have played a final there (at the Australian Open) before. It hasn’t quite happened but there’s not a lot of people walking around that can say – there’s probably one that’s active right now [Federer] – that they’ve played in four semi-finals.
“[My record] is good. It could be better and I want it to be better.”
Roddick has chosen to open his season campaign in Brisbane, joining defending champion Radek Stepanek, Gael Monfils, Tomas Berdych and fellow American Sam Querrey among others.
He is playing his first tournament since his 2009 season was prematurely ended by a knee injury that the right-hander suffered against Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round of the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000, presented by Rolex in October.
“[The knee] is coming around all right,” said Roddick. “I don’t know if it will be perfect for a while but it’s getting close. It’s just a matter now of getting range and motion back. As far as running and drills; it’s fine, I don’t feel any pain. It’s not something that should hinder me on court.
“It was disappointing to finish the year like I did, especially considering I felt like I was having a really good year until the injury came about. That was disappointing, but on the flipside I’m probably a little bit more mentally rested than a lot of these guys, maybe a little bit more eager to get out here. I haven’t played a match in over three months so I’m certainly chomping on the bit to get back.”
Reflecting on his decision to start the year in Brisbane, Roddick said: “I love coming to Australia, it just seemed like the right fit. Especially coming off of this knee, [it’s good] being able to just be in one spot and focusing and getting the feel of the Australian summer.
“I think it’s a very deep field [in Brisbane]. You have players like [Richard] Gasquet, who’s been Top 15, Top 20 his entire career and due to some unfortunate circumstances he’s floating in the field somewhere. There are a couple of other guys like that so it’s certainly a pretty strong field.”
Following an hour-long practice session with Stepanek on the Pat Rafter Arena, Roddick commented: “I like the conditions [of the court]. It seemed like it was bouncing true and it’s kind of what you expect coming down here. It’s a pretty neutral court; I think any style can pretty much translate onto a court like this. I think it’s fair.
“I feel like I’m hitting the ball really well in practice it’s just a matter of getting that to translate.”
Andy Positive for 2010
ust before his 2010 season gets underway in Brisbane, Andy has talked about his goals for this year.
“For me it’s been the same goal for a long time: try and win another Grand Slam. At this point in my career I think I’m less concerned whether I finish the year No. 4 or No. 7, it’s more just about putting yourself in position to win big tennis tournaments.
“Last year was good because I did put myself in a position to win it (Wimbledon); didn’t quite get there but if anything that gives me a little bit more belief.”
Looking more specifically at his next month in Australia, Andy shared his hopes for the Australian Open,
“Obviously I feel like maybe I could have played a final there before. It hasn’t quite happened but there’s not a lot of people walking around that can say – there’s probably one that’s active right now [Federer] – that they’ve played in four semi-finals.
“[My record] is good. It could be better and I want it to be better.”
Andy’s 2009 season was cut short with a knee injury, incurred at the Shanghai masters 1000 in October. Andy has given an update on his fitness going into 2010,
“[The knee] It’s coming around all right. I don’t know if it will be perfect for a while but it’s getting close. It’s just a matter now of just getting range and motion back. As far as running and drills, it’s fine, I don’t feel any pain. It’s not something that should hinder me on court.
“I haven’t played a match in over three months so I’m certainly chomping on the bit to get back.”
We’re looking forward to having you back on court, Andy!
Stay tuned to AR.com for all the latest on Andy’s progress at the Brisbane Internantional, beginning on Sunday.
Roddick has back-up plan if Brisbane bid goes bust
ANDY Roddick has a Plan B in place if his Brisbane International campaign is torpedoed early in his first tournament in three months - asking for a match at Kooyong or a wildcard to Sydney.
Roddick is ready for today's draw to cast up some early round difficulties for him as top seed at the Tennyson event and, after recovering from a knee injury, he is keen to play a series of matches to bring him up to speed at the Australian Open.
The three-time Wimbledon runner-up named world No. 52 Richard Gasquet as among the dangerous floaters he may face. Frenchman Gasquet is playing his first tournament since the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled he did not need to serve a suspension for a drug test which uncovered traces of cocaine.
Work-hungry Roddick yesterday practised with Belgian Xavier Malisse, who himself beat a suspension which had been placed on him for not supplying sufficient notice of his whereabouts to drug testers.
Roddick, the world No. 7, entered only one tournament, Brisbane, before the Australian Open, electing not to adopt his customary schedule by playing Kooyong's AAMI Classic.
''It was beneficial for me to get an extra tournament in before the Australian and Brisbane seemed the best place for me to start,'' he said.
''Colin Stubs (Kooyong tournament director) would, I think, be nice enough to let me play one match if I thought I needed it, but nothing is scheduled.''
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor … public_rss
Jeżeli Andy'emu nie powiedzie sie start w Brisbane (tzn. trafi na Bellucciego xDDDDDD) jest spora szansa że zagra z dziką kartą w Sydney bądź wystąpi w turnieju Kooyong Classic. ;)
z tego co się orientuje to Bellucci będzie rozstawiony w tym turnieju z numerem ósmym, a więc jest duża szansa, że trafi na Roddicka w ćwierćfinale jeśli obydwaj dojdą, a nie wiem czy Roddick ćwierćfinał potraktuje jako dobry wynik. jeśli chce niech potem startuje w Sydney choć ja na jego miejscu nie grałbym tam ponieważ ewentualna koejna porażka zniszczy go mentalnie
Zniszczyć go mentalnie może jedynie kolejne niepowodzenie na Wimbledonie ;)
On sam mówi, że cudów w pierwszych startach się nie spodziewa.
Czyli nie jest najlepiej przygotowany do sezonu albo to taki chwyt żeby zaskoczyć rywali.
Ekspert tenisowy napisał:
Czyli nie jest najlepiej przygotowany do sezonu albo to taki chwyt żeby zaskoczyć rywali.
Chyba logiczne że po tak długiej przerwie ciężko jest odrazu o grę na najwyższych obrotach. Turniej w Brisbane, będzie testem dla kolana - które jak Roddick zapewnia w 100% nie jest wyleczone, ale to tylko kwestia czasu...
Roddick to test his knee in Brisbane
Andy Roddick will take it slow and easy as he competes on his injured knee for the first time in two and a half months in his debut next week in Brisbane.
The American missed the remainder of the ATP season after pulling out injured from Shanghai in mid-October. He also skipped the year-end World Tour Finals in London after qualifying into the field.
Last year's Wimbledon finalist admits he's not on 100 percent fitness but added: "It's coming around all right. It was disappointing to finish the year like I did, especially considering I felt like I was having a really good year until the injury came about.
"But I'm probably a little bit more mentally rested than a lot of these guys, maybe a little bit more eager to get out here."
He added: "I'm definitely not coming in under-practised, I'm hitting the ball really well in practise it's just a matter of getting that to translate."
Playing in Australia prior to the Australian Open is a new experience for Roddick, whose only previous non-Open experience was two matches in Sydney seven years ago.
To nie jest kwestia czasu bo kolano już nigdy może sie nie wyleczyć to przez jego grę czyli dużo biegania przy takiej wadzę a na Wimbledonie na pewno przegra.
lol15
Tyle rozminięć z rzeczywistoscia w jednym zdaniu, że nawet mnie to zadziwiło, co nieczęsto się trafia. Roddick dużo waży? Chyba w porówniu z Małyszem, bo np Federer i Nadal są od niego masywniejsi; a od kiedy prowadzi go Stefanki, to wręcz szczuplak się zrobił. Roddick dużo biega i ma przez to mieć nieuleczalną kontuzję kolana? No w porówniu z Karlovicem to faktycznie biega dużo, ale w zestawieniu z Nadalem to z Andego niezły kortowy obibok, bezczelnie wygrywa swoje gemy często samymi serwisami.
Ekspert tenisowy napisał:
To nie jest kwestia czasu bo kolano już nigdy może sie nie wyleczyć to przez jego grę czyli dużo biegania przy takiej wadzę a na Wimbledonie na pewno przegra.
Rozumiem że ty wiesz lepiej od niego :|
A co do wagi Roda - owszem kiedyś ważył 88-90kg teraz waży 81-82 kg :)
Ekspert tenisowy napisał:
a na Wimbledonie na pewno przegra.
Co przegra ?
Raddcik napisał:
Ekspert tenisowy napisał:
a na Wimbledonie na pewno przegra.
Co przegra ?
No właśnie się zastanawiam co ma przegrać skoro on to wygra :D
Mam jedno pytanie skąd podejrzenie, że Roddick wygra Wimbledon. Miał tyle szans, a nigdy nie wygrał i jest coraz starszy. W Wimbledonie to moim zdaniem dojdzie do ćwierćfinału oczywiście tylko dzięki serwisowi. Co do wagi Roddicka: oficjalne statystyki ze strony ATP
Age: 27 (30.08.1982) Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, USA Residence: Austin, Texas, USA Height: 6'2" (188 cm) Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg) Plays: Right-handed Turned Pro: 2000 Coach: Larry Stefanki
A kto uznaje za wiarygodne dane ze strony ATP? Nadal jak miał 19 lat ważył tam 85 kg, dwa lata póżniej, kiedy wyglądał jak terminator, dalej miał 85.
Ekspert tenisowy napisał:
W Wimbledonie to moim zdaniem dojdzie do ćwierćfinału oczywiście tylko dzięki serwisowi.
:zdziwiony:
Ekspert tenisowy napisał:
W Wimbledonie to moim zdaniem dojdzie do ćwierćfinału oczywiście tylko dzięki serwisowi.
To już znasz wyniki ćwierćfinału Wimbledonu 2010 ???
To gratuluje wiedzy. A co do wagi to nie brał bym tego za tak ważny czynnik Nalbandian czy choćby Agassi wygrywali
duże turnieje, a ich waga odbiegała wtedy znacznie od normy.
Co do danych ze strony ATP to przyłączam się do zdania Yannicka. Tam czasami takie błędy są, że można się poczuć jak w Nibylandii (i nie mam tu na myśli bynajmniej rancza Neverland :D)
Co do Roddicka to ten sezon powinien być podobny pod względem okupowanego miejsca w rankingu, natomiast ilość wygranych imprez powinna wzrosnąć ;)
Roddick serves his way out of trouble !
Andy Roddick’s troublesome knee was given a stern test but the big-serving American came through with flying colours in his return to the ATP tour on Monday night.
Australian Davis Cup regular Peter Luczak gave Roddick a worrying first-set scare before the top seed prevailed 7-6(5) 6-1 in his opening match at the Brisbane International.
Luczak, who has worked his way to No.77 in the rankings after an injury-hit 2009, was up 5-3 in the tense tiebreak but failed to close out the set by dropping clutch points on serve.
Roddick swiftly grabbed the opportunity given by two unforced Luczak errors and then quickly ran through the second set with his signature booming serve firing on all cylinders.
The world No.7 iced the first set with an ace, one of an amazing 15 for the match, with his weapon hitting speeds beyond 220 km/h.
Roddick finished 2009 early to rest his knee but after three months rest he moved as well as ever during his one hour and 23 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena.
Luczak was impressive from the baseline and more than held his own for the first 12 games but slipped after creating a gilt-edged chance in the tiebreak by drawing Roddick in with a deft drop shot and then finishing off with a volley at the net.
But the 29-year-old was guilty of overdoing the drop shot in the second set as Roddick pounced to break in successive Luczak service games.
Roddick could meet another Australian in the second round with wildcard Carsten Ball standing in his way if he beats Germany’s Mischa Zverev on Tuesday.
Roddick admitted Luczak took him out of his “comfort zone” by playing far more aggressively than he expected and taking the rallies up to the 2009 Wimbledon finalist.
The Texan was grateful his prime weapon – his serve – was on song to allow him to stay in the opening set.
“I served great tonight, that’s what got me through the first set,” he said.
“It was like an insurance policy for me … it buys me time sometimes and allows me to work my way into a match.”
Roddick, who has given himself a heavy training workload in the past month, was pleased his knee gave him no problems and felt he finished the match in far better nick than he started.
“You don’t climb a mountain and then play your best tennis after a four-months layoff,” he said.
“I feel good and I feel excited and there’s definitely room for improvement.”
Roddicks Visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Andy Roddick, the top seed at the Brisbane International, and his wife Brooklyn visited the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on Tuesday, on a day off from the ATP World Tour 250 hard-court tennis tournament. The Roddicks both nursed a koala, named Teresa, before Andy's fear of snakes was put to the test.
Eric, an Olive python, which can grow up to four metres in length and weigh more than 25kgs, was brought down from its enclosure to meet the American couple.
As soon as the snake arrived, the World No. 7 backed away as far as he possibly could, while Brooklyn, a model, showed no fear and started patting the snake. Eventually Roddick joined his wife alongside the snake, but it was a fleeting-encounter and a brief pat was all that Andy could handle.
“It was great and a lot of fun,” said Roddick. “I had never held a koala before. I had heard they can get after you a little bit, but that one was very calm.”
After the snake it was back to the cuddly stuff, as the Roddicks headed to the kangaroo enclosure to feed the laying herd.
Roddick will play Australian wild card Carsten Ball in the second round on Wednesday. “I know a little bit about him,” admitted Roddick. “He played well last year in Los Angeles. I played against someone similar today in practice and it will be down to whoever returns better.”
The 28-year-old American will also be competing in doubles action with compatriot James Blake against Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares for a place in the semi-finals.
Brisbane QF Preview
In the Quarterfinals of the Brisbane International, Andy will take on France’s Richard Gasquet. Gasquet defeated Nieminen and Ebden to reach Friday’s elite eight.
Andy has played the 52nd ranked Frenchman three times before and holds a 2-1 record. His only loss to Gasquet came in the thrilling five set Quarterfinal match in 2007 at The Championships, Wimbledon. Gasquet, who has reached a career high of 7, is coming off of a rough 2009 season where he finished out of Top 50 for first time in five years. Both players are anxious to continue their Australian Open preparation down under with a birth into the semi-finals.
Check out some stats on Gasquet courtesy of the ATP World Tour by following the link below:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play … squet.aspx
Roddick trumps Gasquet
Top seed Andy Roddick has won through to the Brisbane International semifinals after beating France’s Richard Gasquet 6-3 7-6(5) on Friday night.
The top seed certainly did not look restricted as he sent down 16 aces to blast Gasquet out of the quarterfinals.
In his first tournament since October due to his troublesome knee, world No.7 Roddick booked a semifinal showdown with fourth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych on Saturday.
World No.20 Berdych prevailed 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(3) over Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci earlier on Friday in a match lasting more than two-and-a-half hours.
Roddick hasn’t shied away from his work at Brisbane – he also contests a men’s doubles semifinal with compatriot James Blake on Saturday.
But the former US Open champion said he had given his support crew a vote and it was decided they preserve his knee by limiting the number of surfaces it is exposed to this year.
“I am not playing Davis Cup this year, [but] I am not retiring from Davis Cup,” Roddick said on Friday night.
“I am not going to be one of those guys who plays when it is convenient, when it is close to home and on a good surface for them.
“In Davis Cup my view is that you decide at the beginning of the year whether you are going to go through everything or not.
“Sometimes you have to listen to your body and do what is smart even though it is not an easy decision in the short term.”
He said there had been “zero drama” with Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe.
While wary of his knee, there did not seem to be any chinks in his armour ahead of his Australian Open assault.
Certainly Roddick felt he was on track ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam.
“I wanted to come here and play well, get better with each match and get matches in – the goal is to be prepared for Melbourne,” Roddick said.
“And I feel I like that has been accomplished for the most part.”
Roddick said he had shifted into another gear against former world No.7 Gasquet.
“I knew I had to come out and play a lot more aggressively than I have had so far this tournament,” he said.
Gasquet – in his first tournament since officially being cleared of a positive drug test – appeared a little shellshocked after Roddick’s serving clinic.
“He served unbelievable, I had to earn every point from him,” he said.
“I played my game, but not with service. I think I could have served better, because compared to his serve it is not the same for sure.”
Defending champion Radek Stepanek will take on Frenchman Gael Monfils in the other semifinal on Saturday.
# 28) Brisbane 2010
R32 Peter Luczak 7-6 6-2
R16 Carsten Ball 7-6 6-3
Q Richard Gasquet 6-3 7-6
S Tomas Berdych 1-6 6-3 6-4
W Radek Stepanek 7-6 7-6
CDN !
Power serving Roddick outguns Stepanek for Brisbane crown
Hot and more than occasionally bothered, top seed Andy Roddick has completed the perfect tune-up for the Australian Open with rousing victory over Radek Stepanek in a thrilling final of the Brisbane International.
The world number seven battled the crafty Czech and some controversial officiating to win the first set in a tie break before surviving a spirited and barely believable comeback by second seed Stepanek in the second, winning 7-6 (2) 7-6 (7) in sweltering conditions on Pat Rafter Arena.
Stepanek has cruised through the tournament while Roddick came into the final with some clear kinks in his game. His wild beast of serve has been in fine form this week but there are other glitches he needs to remedy before he gets to Melbourne.
Roddick lead 5-1 in previous meetings between the pair but sensed some danger in the final. His fears were realised when he had to battle for each and every point, ending the 31-year-old defending champion’s hopes of repeating his heroics of last year’s inaugural event.
Roddick was impressed with Stepanek’s fighting spirit and ability to soak up the pressure from his trademark serve, of which he landed 77 per cent of the time.
"I don’t think I’ve ever squandered a lead where I’ve been putting in first serves and making approach shots. The first time I served for it (the championship), I had a double fault but I don’t know if I missed a ball beside that. And I was coming in on a bunch of them," Roddick said.
"The next one, I actually made five out of six first serves and again was coming in. When he (Stepanek) got down, he loosened up and started playing more aggressively. In the breaker, I felt like it was the same deal. I made first serves. That was helping me hold onto the last shred of sanity I had.
"At the end of the day, the only thing that’s going to be remembered is the ‘w’. I certainly didn’t know if I expected to come in and win my first tournament after an extended layoff. We can choose to focus on the last 20 minutes of stress or look at the week as a whole.
"It’s always a good thing when you’re winning tie breakers and close matches. I feel pretty good about it."
An exhausted Stepanek said he never gave up on the match, even at 5-1 down in the second set, and felt strong heading into the year’s first Grand Slam.
"It was a great battle. I’m going to next week’s Australian Open with positive things out of this tournament. It’s a magic place for me here. I lost for the first time and made back-to-back finals. I’m pretty satisfied with what I did here this week," Stepanek said.
"I never lost the match in my mind. You never know what’s going to happen. I tried to stay positive until the chair umpire said game, set and match. I said to myself, ‘Hey, you’re in Brisbane, you won here last year, there’s something special here’. In the end, it wasn’t good enough.
"I was able to come back from 1-5 down in the second set against a player such as Andy with a tremendous serve. I had my chances in the second set tie breaker. I played great tennis and didn’t miss many balls."
Few things are fashionable about Stepanek. While Roddick is dressed head-to-toe in Lacoste, the Czech looks like he raided Stefan Edberg’s wardrobe from the 80s. When he plays, he tucks in his shirt, perhaps the only man on tour to do so.
While Roddick’s game is based on a serve that sails off his racquet like a Hellfire missile, Stepanek is all about guile and deception. Brute strength isn’t his forte, which is ironic given he delivers most of his shots with an exuberant grunt.
Occasionaly, though, he rips out a rocket from the baseline. The strength of Stepanek’s game is that he will follow it with a crafty slice, taking the pace off the ball, or a drop shot, one of which had Roddick stranded in the third game.
But Stepanek, for the most part, was the man under the gun in the opening set. Roddick’s first-serve percentage was again hovering in the low 80s, meaning Stepanek was desperate not to relinquish a service game of his own.
Stepanek held off two breakpoints down 3-2 in the first set, finally holding serve with a whippy angled forehand. He pulled off a brilliant save in the eighth game, saving face with a stunning running lob that had Roddick producing a leaping backhand airswing and cursing his opponent’s tenacity to track down every ball in the oppressive conditions.
Roddick was cursing the officating as well, having a long and heated exchange with chair umpire Fergus Murphy after a disputed line call in the 10th game, which Stepanek survived to lock up the set at 5-5.
The Czech, who used to date Martina Hingis, was hanging on for grim life. Stepanek survived two set points down 6-5 and forced a tie break, as Roddick’s frustration with the line calls threatened to blow the roof off the stadium.
The American had the last laugh, racing through the tie break 7-2 and claiming an entertaining first set 7-6 in just over an hour.
It seemed as if Stepanek had run his race by the time the second set began. Roddick broke him twice in the opening three games, cantering to a 5-1 lead and seemingly having his opponent on toast.
Stepanek had no intentions of giving in that easily. He peeled off four straight games to level things at 5-5, then held serve to almost miraculously lead 6-5.
Even considering the heat, Roddick was sweating bullets. He held serve to set up his fifth tie break of the tournament.
He’d won all five but Stepanek had done the best job thus far of taming his serve, restricting him to just seven aces for the match.
Stepanek was as persistant as a mozzie at a barbecue. He was down 6-1 in the tie break, survived five championship points and even had a set point of his own. But Roddick would finally prevail, converting match point number six and winning the tie break 9-7 – thanks to Stepanek’s seventh double fault.
Roddick is likely to rest up until Melbourne but may yet play an exhibition match at Kooyong, possibly against Scotsman Andy Murray.
Roddick says Davis Cup decision not a permanent retirement
Roddick says Davis Cup decision not a permanent retirement Andy Roddick has explained that he's got no personal problems with American Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe, but still says he won't be a part of the US Davis Cup effort this season.
The world No. 7 characterized his relationship with Mac as "no dramas."
He laid out the reasoning for his decision, saying it was best for the team that they knew his intentions as early as possible.
"I'm not playing Davis Cup this year, (but) I'm not retiring from Davis Cup," said the 26-year-old. "I'm not going to be one of those guys who plays when it is convenient, when it is close to home and on a good surface for them.
"In Davis Cup you decide at the beginning of the year whether you are going to go through everything or not."
Roddick hinted that the knee injury which he suffered last October in Shanghai might well be one of the reasons for his 2010 choice. "Sometimes you have to listen to your body and do what is smart even though it is not an easy decision in the short term."
Along with Roddick, veteran James Blake is also reported to be skipping the international team competition this season for the US.
Brisbane: Roddick najlepszy
Po nieudanej, spowodowanej kontuzji, końcówce 2009 roku Andy Roddick zanotował fantastyczny start w nowym sezonie, zdobywając tytuł w swoim pierwszym występie. Amerykanin pokonał w finale turnieju ATP w Brisbane Radka Stepanka 7:6(2), 7:6(7).
Pierwszy finałowy weekend nowego sezonu tenisowego dostarczył kibicom niesamowitych wrażeń. Najpierw jeden z najlepszych w ostatnich miesiącach mecz pań pomiędzy Kim Clijsters a Justine Henin, potem kapitalna walka Rafaela Nadala i Nikołaja Dawydienki w Doha, aż wreszcie nie mniej emocjonujący i pełen zwrotów akcji finał Andy’ego Roddicka z Radkiem Stepankiem.
W pierwszym secie żaden z tenisistów nie zdołał zdobyć przełamania, chociaż najwyżej rozstawiony A-Rod miał piłkę setową w dwunastym gemie przy podaniu rywala. Czech nie pozwolił sobie na stratę podania w tak ważnym momencie i doprowadził do tie breaka, w którym jednak gładko przegrał do dwóch.
Druga partia miała zgoła odmienny przebieg. Amerykanin prowadził już 5:1 z dwoma przełamaniami na koncie… Roddick nie zdołał utrzymać przewagi, mimo że dwukrotnie serwował, aby zakończyć mecz. Stepanek wyszedł nawet na prowadzenie 6:5, ale znów wszystko rozstrzygnęło się w tie breaku.
W decydującej rozgrywce emocji też nie brakowało, bo Amerykanin prowadził w nim… 6-1, ale sześć następnych punktów z rzedu wygrał Stepanek! Nie wykorzystał jednak piłki setowej, a chwilę potem Roddickowi wreszcie udało się zakończyć spotkanie zwycięsko.
Wynik finału:
Andy Roddick (USA, 1) – Radek Stepanek (Czechy, 2) 7:6(2), 7:6(7)
Roddick comeback begins with Brisbane title
Andy Roddick missed almost the entire fall season with a knee injury, but he has announced his return to tennis in emphatic fashion. Roddick beats Radek Stepanek in straight sets to win the Brisbane title on Sunday.
It's safe to say that Andy Roddick's knee injury is a thing of the past.
Roddick, who was sidelined for the majority of last fall and did not win another match following a second-round victory at the U.S. Open, kicked off his 2010 campaign with a title at the Brisbane International on Sunday afternoon. The world No. 7 beat defending champion Radek Stepanek 7-6(2), 7-6(7) in two hours and five minutes.
And it will surely go down as one of the craziest straight-set matches in all of 2010.
Although the first set featured no breaks of serve, the players were not without chances. Things started to get really interesting midway through the opening frame of play, starting with Stepanek serving at 2-3. The 31-year-old Czech fended off two break points, the second of which he saved by turning back three Roddick pass attempts with flawless volleys.
Roddick saved a break point in the next game with a service winner, and back and forth they went. Stepanek saved another in the next game with an incredible backhand lob, then--after came up with a service winner on break point at 5-5--Stepanek thwarted two set points in a wild 12th game of the match.
For all the dramatics of set one, the ensuing tiebreaker was anti-climactic. After double-faulting to hand Roddick an immediate mini-break, Stepanek promptly dumped two straight backhands to all but end the set. The top-seeded American went on to ease through the decider seven points to two.
From there it seemed to be all over. With momentum in hand, Roddick earned the day's first service break in the opening game of the second set and broke a reeling Stepanek yet again at 2-0. Up 5-1, Roddick suddenly collapsed. He failed to serve out the match at both 5-2 and 5-4 before going--improbably--to a second straight tiebreaker.
As if the match had not already been wild enough, the second-set 'breaker proved to be even more bizarre. Roddick raced to a 6-1 lead, then shocking blew all five of his championship points, two on his own serve. Stepanek even managed to earn a set point of his own, but he sailed a slice backhand just over the baseline. At long last, at 7-8, Stepanek double-faulted to bring the match--and the tournament--to an appropriately memorable end.
Stepanek struck five aces and double-faulted a whopping eight times, while Roddick fired seven aces and double-faulted once in the process of serving at 77 percent. Roddick improves to 6-1 lifetime against Stepanek, including 3-0 in ATP finals (San Jose 2008, Memphis 2009).
Roddick digs deep to reach title fight
ANDY Roddick started the Brisbane International hoping to play well, improve with each match, and log some significant court time ahead of the Australian Open. The world No. 7 may have played better matches than yesterday's three-set semi-final win against Tomas Berdych, but for the most part his ambitions have already been achieved.
Which leaves just the title to collect on the way out, from today's singles final against second seed Radek Stepanek on Pat Rafter Arena. Having also reached the doubles semis with James Blake, the Wimbledon finalist has played not just solidly, but often, in his first tournament since a knee injury curtailed his season in October. Tick. Tick. Tick. ''I definitely feel like I've gotten enough court time this week,'' said Roddick, who dropped his first singles set for the week in beating the 20th-ranked Berdych 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in just over two hours.
''I just wanted to play a whole lot of tennis, and I've done that, so tomorrow we kind of shift to trying to win a tennis tournament. I didn't feel like I had my best stuff for a lot of the match and still kind of found a way to navigate through the tough patch there at the beginning and was able to turn the match. I felt like the third set was probably my best set, so it was a real good test, especially early in the year.''
If statistics were kept on these things, they would have shown that Roddick's tally of racquet-tosses was higher than his total of aces throughout a match in which he struggled early on to make any impression against the talented but streaky Czech. Roddick's run of 30 consecutive service holds ended in the opening game, and he took 29 minutes to win his first - and only - game of the set.
No one could quite believe it, not least the top seed himself, but he steeled himself to halt Berdych's momentum at the start of the second, holding serve to love and then breaking for one of only two times in the match. The other came in the ninth game of the third set, when Roddick lifted his intensity, charging the net off second serves and forcing Berdych to respond.
He could not, and so Roddick is today in a position to claim his 28th singles title, against a player who has beaten him just once in six attempts. Stepanek will be a much different opponent, one who will try to blunt Roddick's power rather than match it, one who vowed before last year's final against Fernando Verdasco to destroy the Spaniard's rhythm by mixing up his pace and his tactics, and succeeded in doing just that.
''I think I am physically fit and using my experience [to] play a different game than the others and that's to my advantage,'' Stepanek said. ''My game is to be aggressive, to change the rhythm, use the whole court, change the pace, make the opponent feel that he doesn't know what's gonna come next. That's what I'm best at and I will try to do it tomorrow again.''
Roddick's knee has apparently not troubled him this week, despite four singles matches already and another three in doubles, but he has confirmed his reluctant decision to stand down from Davis Cup competition this year in order to minimise the number of surface changes and help preserve his 27-year-old body, then re-evaluate that call for 2011.
''I'm not going to be one of these guys who plays when it's convenient, when it's close to home and on a good surface for him health-wise,'' Roddick said. ''In Davis Cup my view's always been you decide at the beginning of the year whether you are going to go through everything or not. Sometimes you have to listen to your body and do what's smart even though it is not an easy decision to make in the short term.''
Roddick's body is apparently telling him not to play a full week at Kooyong for a final Australian Open tune-up, even though Roger Federer's comment after losing to Nikolay Davydenko in Doha that ''I need some rest before the year's first slam'' bodes ill for promoter Colin Stubs' hope that the Swiss will claim the place that has been held open for him all year.
In the event that Roddick returns to the eight-man AAMI Classic exhibition, it, too, is unlikely to be for more than one match. ''Colin's been nice enough to let us know that it could be an option if we wanted to - but that's probably not something that I'll decide before this tournament's finished,'' said Roddick.
''I won't play the full week. I left that week open for a reason. If Thursday, Friday comes around and I feel like I want to get out there again, I feel like that's a good play, then I'll probably look for a match.''
Roddick po raz 28.
Najwyżej rozstawiony Amerykanin Andy Roddick pokonał obrońcę tytułu, Czecha Radka Stepanka 7:6(2) 7:6(7) i okazał się najlepszym zawodnikiem turnieju ATP w Brisbane.
Pierwszy set pojedynku opierał się głównie na wygrywaniu swoich gemów serwisowych przez obydwu tenisistów. Czech, słynący z kombinacyjnego stylu gry, obronił jednego setbola przy stanie 5:6 i doprowadził do tie-breaka. W decydującym gemie olbrzymią przewagę zyskał Amerykanin, który zwyciężył 7:2.
Zupełnie inne oblicze miała druga partia tego spotkania. Nagle nastąpiła zapaść serwisowa Czecha, który popełniając kilka podwójnych błędów, dwa razy dał się przełamać przeciwnikowi. Kiedy Roddick prowadził 5:1 i wydawało się, że sprawy na korcie są już przesądzone, waleczny Czech pokazał charakter i odrobił straty. O losach spotkania, przy stanie 6:6, znów zadecydował dodatkowy gem. Amerykanin prowadził 6:3, ale dał się dogonić i dopiero kilka chwil później, po czwartej piłce meczowej mógł wznieść ręce w geście tryumfu.
Dla Roddicka, zwycięzcy Us Open 2003 i trzykrotnego finalisty Wimbledonu, był to 28 turniejowy skalp.
http://media.theage.com.au/roddick-blas … 35111.html
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Round One Preview Down Under !
Andy will kick off his 2010 Australian Open and first grand slam of the season on the blue courts of Melbourne Park taking on Thiemo de Bakker in the opening round. As the 7th seed, the highest ranked American and coming off of his 28th tour title win in Brisbane, all eyes will be on Andy as The hopes to improve on his 2009 semi-final showing last year.
As Andy will be competing in his 9th Australian Open, this will be the first time on the big stage Down Under for Thiemo. The 21 year old who reigns from The Netherlands reached his current career high ranking of 81 last week. This is the first meeting for Andy and Thiemo.
Check out some stats on de Bakker courtesy of the ATP World Tour:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play … akker.aspx
andyroddick.com
Roddick content after first hit-out
Andy Roddick jumped out of the blocks quickly today before meeting some resistance from Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands in their opening round match at Hisense Arena.
The men’s seventh seed eased through in straight sets, prevailing 6-1 6-4 6-4 after de Bakker raised his game in the second and third sets.
Roddick was in complete control early as he pushed his opponent around the court at will, taking the first set 6-1.
In the second, a rain delay held up the match at 2-2 despite it being played at Hisense Arena – which has a roof. Unfortunately for the players, the roof had been left open, causing a 20-minute delay.
The pause in play may have helped world No.80 de Bakker to relax a little as he worked his way into the game following the delay, but Roddick got the required break and took the set 6-4.
It was a similar story in the third set as de Bakker tried hard, but the damage had been done, and the match was Roddick’s in just over two hours.
Roddick saved all seven break points he faced and converted four out of the 15 opportunities that came his way.
“I thought I played the right way,” said Roddick after the match. “I could have executed probably a little bit better at times.
“But overall I thought it was pretty good. You know, first rounds are always a little uncomfortable, especially at a slam. You know, you're kind of built up, you're maybe a little bit over-anxious.”
Roddick moved well throughout the match, chasing down several de Bakker drop shots and giving his repaired knee a good workout. At one point, Roddick tripped over the legs of a linesperson, but no harm was done.
“I didn't see him. He wasn't really trying to do much to get out of the way ... Normally they see a player running full speed, they decide to at least move or catch the player.”
“But, you know, it's a good sign that I can kind of take that. You know, it didn't do too much to me.”
Looking at the post-match statistics, Roddick didn’t win his points in the manner tennis spotters are accustomed to – a bundle of aces backed up by a stack of winners.
De Bakker hit 17 aces to Roddick’s seven, which is surprising considering Roddick is the holder of the fastest serve record and last year was ranked second behind serving giant Ivo Karlovic for total number of aces served.
And while de Bakker hit 43 winners to Roddick’s 25, most of them were undone by the 42 unforced errors that came from the Dutchman’s racquet.
What made the difference was that Roddick won 100 points overall to de Bakker’s 79 and came out with a ‘W’ against his name.
The former world No.1 did what he needed to during the match to get himself into the second round – the victory may not have shown off the devastating power game that Roddick is known for, but was perhaps a win from a player who has realised there is more than one way to get the job done.
Roddick’s next job will come in the second round against the winner between Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci and Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili.
Konferencja po meczu I r.
Q. Can we have your thoughts on your first match?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I thought I played the right way. I could have executed probably a little bit better at times.
But overall I thought it was pretty good. You know, first rounds are always a little uncomfortable, especially at a slam. You know, you're kind of built up, you're maybe a little bit overanxious.
But I thought ‑‑ overall I thought it was all right.
Q. A lot of the players say that about first rounds. Sharapova goes out today. What is the key when you're going out there not to get too overhyped?
ANDY RODDICK: You can't really control the way you feel. It's just a matter of trying to manage it when you're out there.
You know, it's a week of buildup, a week of practice, then all of a sudden it seems like it's here. You know, you don't really know ‑‑ you can't really replicate the match conditions in practice. So it is about getting used to it all over again.
Then once you kind of find a comfort zone, it's fine. It's kind of a matter of getting up. It's tough to do that. It's tough to kind of get your feet under you if you fall behind early.
Q. Looks like you were pretty anxious to get back out on the court in Brisbane. At what point last fall were you saying, I have to get on the court to play some matches again?
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, you know, it wasn't really get back on the court. At first it was I got to be able to walk, then it was I got to be able to run, then I got to be able to move side to side. I always kind of had that goal right in front of me. I didn't really think about it.
I guess probably ‑‑ you know what, when I started Brisbane I was about ready to start as far as health. Obviously I always want to be on the court and going and spectating at the World Tour Finals for ‑ I think I was there for two days ‑ that wasn't easy, especially when I feel like I had earned my spot.
It was a constant procession of little goals that led up to Brisbane.
Q. Could you make a comment on the De Bakker's game and his potential?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I definitely was impressed in spurts. Now I think it's just a matter of consistency. I mean, he hits the ball great. You know, we hadn't seen him play at all. Larry went out and watched him just hit, and he said, He's smooth.
I thought third set he played a little better, maybe he was a little looser. He could probably maybe get a little bit quicker. But overall he certainly seems to have the foundation for a pretty good game.
Q. Did you take a tumble out there?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I ran into one of those immovable objects called a referee. He wasn't giving up any ground. I didn't see him. He wasn't really trying to do much to get out of the way.
Q. Has that ever happened to you before?
ANDY RODDICK: No. No. I don't think so. Normally they see a player running full speed, they decide to at least move or catch the player. You know, I felt like he was trying out for WWE or something, just letting me go.
Q. No injury, though? Didn't get hurt at all?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, I kind of pinched it a little bit. You know, I promise you that first step afterwards was a relief. You know, I definitely don't want to go doing that a whole lot.
Q. You pinched what?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, the last thing to come back for my knee is gonna be range of motion, you know. Instead of getting your heel to go all the way back, you kind of work it back slowly, and it kind of jarred a little bit.
But, you know, it's a good sign that I can kind of take that. You know, it didn't do too much to me.
Q. How would you rate your physical shape now compared to the normal start of a year?
ANDY RODDICK: I was able to get plenty of time in as far as running and training. So, uhm, as far as fitness level, as far as endurance and strength and stuff, I feel fine.
Q. As a long‑time Davis Cup player, what is your take on this new World Cup idea?
ANDY RODDICK: We'll see. It's certainly a lot more conducive to our schedules, which is a big plus. It's a lot easier to carve out 10 days every two years as opposed to, you know, if it's an away tie, that's 10 days in lead‑up four times a year.
You know, we'll see what happens with it. It certainly is an intriguing prospect. But, you know, we all have a lot of ideas. You know, the tough part is making it work. So we'll see what happens with that.
Q. Would you see it as a bit of a risk if the Davis Cup format went away, given that that competition has a long history?
ANDY RODDICK: Give me that question again.
Q. Wouldn't it be a bit of a risk to go that way? Because if it doesn't succeed, Davis Cup might lose part of its allure.
ANDY RODDICK: It has been in the sport for a long time. You know, I wish there was a little more cooperation from Davis Cup, and then we would probably be a little bit more sympathetic to that question.
Q. Who takes care of your dog when you're away?
ANDY RODDICK: Who takes care of my dog when I'm away? Questions I didn't think I was going to get today.
Q. You tweet about your dog.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, my dog is at the in‑law's right now. Sometimes when I leave, the dog wants to stay in Austin, because it just tells us, and my friend Neal Boban, who graduated from Dartmouth, takes care of it, takes it out thrice daily, emails us updates (laughter).
Q. Thank you.
ANDY RODDICK: Thank you (smiling).
Q. Do you find it a little strange that the Australian Open would have an official partnership with a betting company, Betfair?
ANDY RODDICK: You know what I say. I say you can have a sponsor that wants to advertise, that I don't really see how it affects, you know, our roles. I think we all know what we can and can't do.
At this point with this economy, I do think it would be foolish to say no to willing sponsors. You know, it's still up to us as players to act responsibly. I don't think that changes because of signage on a court.
Roddick has no problem with betting site sponsor
Roddick has no problem with betting site sponsor Andy Roddick weighs in on the Australian Open's decision to use an online betting company as a tournament sponsor.
Poker-playing Andy Roddick has no worries about the perceived crisis of an online betting firm serving as a minor sponsor of the Australian Open amid a campaign against possible match-fixing in the sport.
"I say you can have a sponsor (Betfair) that wants to advertise; I don't really see how it affects our roles," said the seventh seed and former world No. 1. "I think we all know what we can and can't do."
Roddick added, "At this point with this economy, I do think it would be foolish to say no to willing sponsors. It's still up to us as players to act responsibly. I don't think that changes because of signage on a court."
Several smaller ATP events have had online betting shops as sponsors in recent seasons with no ill effects, with the ATP saying that the decisions are strictly commercial and driven by the marketplace.
Andy To Face Bellucci in Second Round
In the second round down under, Andy will face Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci. Andy has never played the 22 year-old Bellucci before.
In his second appearance at the Australian Open, Bellucci defeated Gabashvili in fours sets. The rain delayed match took two days to complete 6-3, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. The Brazilian who reached a career high of 34 this year is paired with countryman Andre Sa in the doubles competition.
After surviving the first round jitters that he explained can be “always a little uncomfortable,” Andy is ready for round two.
Check out some stats on Bellucci courtesy of the ATP World Tour:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play … lucci.aspx
http://www.andyroddick.com/2010/01/19/a … ond-round/
COME ON ANDY ! SZYBKIE TRZY !
Marzysz :D
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Marzysz :D
Za marzenia nie karają :D
To twoje być albo nie być, dobrze , że Rod nie zdaje sobie sprawy z odpowiedzialności, jaka na nim ciąży. :D
Fed-Expresso napisał:
To twoje być albo nie być, dobrze , że Rod nie zdaje sobie sprawy z odpowiedzialności, jaka na nim ciąży. :D
Spoko, On dobrze wie... :P
Nie po to wstanę w nocy żeby on przegrał choć seta, bo to już będzie wstyd :D
Rod nawet nie dopuszcza myśli że coś może pójść nie tak :D
Trip can't deter Andy Roddick
WHAT seemed like an innocuous stumble became a huge fright for American Andy Roddick.
Roddick, sidelined with a knee injury only two months ago, tripped over a line judge's foot as he raced to retrieve a ball in his first-round match against Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker.
"I promise you, that first step afterwards was a relief. I definitely don't want to go doing that a whole lot," Roddick said.
The spill was the only major concern for the American as he pounded out a 6-1 6-4 6-4 win in just over two hours under Hisense Arena's roof.
A strained medial ligament in the left knee forced Roddick to quit at 4-3 in his opening match in Shanghai in October.
He avoided surgery with rehabilitation work and rested until he returned in Brisbane where he won the title in his main warm-up for the Australian Open.
"I ran into one of those immovable objects called a referee (linesman). He wasn't giving up any ground," Roddick said.
"I didn't see him. He wasn't really trying to do much to get out of the way. Normally they see a player running full speed, they decide to at least move or catch the player. I felt like he was trying out for WWE or something, just letting me go.
"The last thing to come back from my knee is going to be range of motion. I kind of jarred a little bit. But it's a good sign that I can kind of take that, it didn't do too much to me."
More content to rally in the back court, Roddick ventured to the net or was drawn in by Bakker's drop shots 48 times.
And, strangely, he was dominated on the aces count by his 80th-ranked opponent.
"Overall, I thought it was pretty good. First rounds are always a little uncomfortable, especially at a (grand) slam. You're kind of built up, you're maybe a little bit overanxious," Roddick said.
He cranked up his booming serve each time De Bakker threatened in the second and third sets.
It enabled the American to stave off two break back points when he served for the second set at 5-4. And in the end De Bakker never made any of seven break point chances in the match.
While the young Dutchman blasted 17 aces to the American's seven, it was the quality and consistency of the Roddick serve that counted most.
De Bakker cancelled out those free points from the aces with 40 unforced errors compared to just 22 from Roddick.
Chilean Fernando Gonzalez enjoyed a lively first-up test from Belgian birthday boy Olivier Rochus on an outside show court.
Aside from a third set lapse, the 11th seed maintained control to win 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-1 in a match interrupted twice by showers.
Gonzalez is well prepared for an Australian Open campaign after improving with each of his three matches at Kooyong last week.
And he had another tough workout against Rochus, who turned 29 yesterday, one of two players in the men's field to celebrate birthdays during the Open's fortnight.
Z pierwszej ósemki odpadł Soderling, teraz czas na Roddicka.
Ekspert tenisowy napisał:
Z pierwszej ósemki odpadł Soderling, teraz czas na Roddicka.
Oj, jak się boje
xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Roddick knee passes suddden stress test on court
Andy Roddick has given his injured knee an unexpected test by crashing into an immovable linesman on his way to a victory at the Australian Open.
The American, who was forced to miss the season-ending event last November in London due to his injury which required two months of rehab, was more than pleased that his knee passed the sudden test in the first round.
"I promise you that first step afterwards was a relief. I definitely don't want to go doing that a whole lot," said the seventh seed. "Normally (they) see a player running full speed, they decide to at least move or catch the player."
Player and official crossed paths at the back of the court, with the player receiving the worst of the encounter. "I kind of pinched the knee a little bit," Roddick said.
Roddick limped out of Shanghai just under three months ago after injuring his left knee and did not play until winning the Brisbane title to start the 2010 season.
Trochę spóźniona informacja, ale...
...Andy Roddick, po wygraniu turnieju w Brisbane, wyrównał wynik L.Hewitta i został 2 z obecnie grających graczy, którzy wygrywali turniej ATP w 10 kolejnych latach. Andy wciąż ten rekord może poprawić.
Ivan Lendl 14 1980-93
Jimmy Connors 13 1972-84
Boris Becker 12 1985-96
Stefan Edberg 12 1984-95
Michael Chang 11 1988-98
Vitas Gerulaitis 11 1974-84
Brian Gottfried 11 1973-83
Pete Sampras 11 1990-2000
Guillermo Vilas 11 1973-83
Andy Roddick 10 2001-2010
Lleyton Hewitt 10 1998-2007
Andre Agassi 10 1987-96
Ilie Nastase 10 1969-1978
Andy into Round 3 !
In Hisense Arena for Wednesday’s second round play, Andy took on world number 35 Thomaz Bellucci second on. Under crystal clear Melbourne skies, the two battled just over two hours. Andy’s tough fitness and clever shot play earned him the “W” 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and a spot in the third round.
The first set started on our American’s Babolat Pure Drive, whose serve wasn’t challenged the entire set, though Roddick put constant pressure on the Brazilians shots. The 2010 Brisbane champ displayed stellar offense and defense, only allowing four points to be earned on his serve, earned a handful of break points early on, and later converted on one at 5-3 to serve for the set. Andy did so to take the lead in just 36 minutes.
Going into the second with momentum, Andy broke immediately to lead 1-0. Continuing in this form, Andy broke again at 4-2 to serve for the match. However, the young lefty left it all on the court today, earned his first break point of the match, and capitalized shortly after a few deuces to get back in the set, 5-3. After Bellucci held serve to bring the score to 5-4, our Nebraska-native stepped up to serve for the second set for the second time, and dominantly served the Brazilian and bagel to claim a 2 set lead, 6-4, 47 minutes later.
Andy was all business in the third set, placing consistent pressure on the young Brazilians serve. The pair traded holds throughout the beginning of the set. At 3 all Andy’s quick feet at the net followed by a double fault from Bellucci earned Andy the break for 4-3. His strong and consistent serve didn’t waiver as he held for 5-3. The Brazilian battled on his serve and earned one more game, but it would be his last in Melbourne Park as Andy served out the match 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Check back to Ar.com for more from The Australian Open.
andyroddick.com
Konferencja po meczu II r.
Q. I didn't see the end of your match, but did you have some sort of problem?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, there was just a disagreement about a rule I guess on a continuation of a call. To be fair, I watched ‑‑ I didn't come in here till I watched the video of it. I was more wrong than I thought I was out on court.
That being said, it was very close. To take away a match point at that juncture in a match, it's a big call.
Q. Did you argue that you could have had a swing at that ball?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, it wasn't a winning shot. That was the basis of my argument.
Q. You don't think it was a bad call after having watched it?
ANDY RODDICK: It was a lot closer than I thought as far as when the call came. I guess their whole argument was whether the call came after I had already let the ball pass. It's hazy as far as either way.
I thought I was going to be a hundred percent right. It's definitely closer than I felt it was while I was on court.
Q. What about the tennis? How you doing?
ANDY RODDICK: I felt good out there today. You know, with him, it's a lot of just trying to keep the ball out of his hitting zones because he hits pretty big. You know, keeping the ball on the backhand side, which is a little trickier, because he's a lefty.
You know, it was just a matter of kind of getting the ins and outs of the points. I thought I did a pretty good job of that.
Q. On a general subject about umpires and calls, do you think Hawk‑Eye has helped umpires or hindered them? Do they go more into their shell?
ANDY RODDICK: Sure. As anyone would if you have an insurance policy. We all have it.
Q. In that respect, have umpires been rather neutered by being themselves?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. It definitely puts less pressure on them as far as having to stick your neck out there, you know. But I'm still a fan of Hawk‑Eye 'cause I don't think you want ‑‑ you know, there's always going to be some judgment calls.
That's like my match today, where they have a split second to make a very important call. You know, there's always going to be something kind of like that.
But Hawk‑Eye, overall, I feel like is probably fair. You know, you wouldn't really expect 'em to throw it out there as much when you kind of have video replay. Their argument is, Well, you can challenge it. That's a sound argument.
Q. At 5‑4, two sets to love, match point, a match you've had under an enormous amount of control, is it worth the fight?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, if you were watching, I didn't actually start the fight until after the match was over. I didn't go through the whole thing and then have to regroup and play the point. I finished, then we actually just tried to have a conversation. Then I didn't want to do it on court, so we talked afterwards.
So, no, it's not worth the fight. It wasn't worth the fight at the time. When it was finished, I was really curious to hear what the exact ruling on it is.
Q. Is there any element of you enjoying the dialogue with the umpire? You seem to be a little chattier than other players.
ANDY RODDICK: That was a nice way of putting that question (smiling).
Q. It's very entertaining. People enjoy it.
ANDY RODDICK: I don't do it for entertainment. I do it because I strongly believe what I feel. That's not just on the court. I think if I believe in something strongly enough, I'm pretty outspoken about it. I don't think that has to do with me enjoying it. That probably goes back to, you know, childhood issues, which would be a longer conversation (smiling).
Q. Are you prepared to do it to the point of humiliating a linesman?
ANDY RODDICK: Not intentionally. But, you know, a lot of times if the argument works itself that way, then it works itself that way. You know, it's not about that. But if the argument I'm getting back doesn't make sense or doesn't make common sense, then I will be sure to acknowledge that it didn't make a whole lot of sense.
Q. You said you're not going to play Davis Cup after a decade. Will you miss it?
ANDY RODDICK: I'll miss it, for sure. You know, it's been a big part of my career so far. You know, I don't know if I've shut the door on as far as forever goes.
You know, we made the decision later on last year. That's when my knee was still hurt. We didn't think it was smart to be switching surfaces from hard to clay to hard, time zones, all that. Probably want to do that as few times in the year as we had to. That played a big part.
I never wanted to be one of these guys who played when it was convenient. I feel like if you commit at the beginning of the year, then you commit. Last thing I'd want to do is have those guys go battle early in the year, then me waltz in and try to play later in the year when they've been the ones to get the team to that point.
Q. Do you have a view whether the Cup should be played less recently?
ANDY RODDICK: Gee, everyone is acting like this is an original idea. We've been talking about adjustments for a long time. Bottom line is, until the ITF steps up and actually says, You know what, this might be better for our event, until they see it that way, then it's really a moot point. It's not going to happen that way. That's like talking about Peter Pan. It's a fairytale. It's not real.
Q. Do you have a preference?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, obviously. It would be a lot easier. I think I could definitely see the benefits of it as far as players and from a fan's perspective. But, you know, I think one of the reasons is that the Ryder Cup is so successful is because you have a little bit of time to build up to it and it is unique.
But on the other side of the coin, I certainly understand that a lot of the smaller countries support their tennis federations with home ties. You know, there are certainly arguments to be made either way. It's not an easy call.
Q. Do you feel like you've done your duty, now these last few years of your career you can just be looking after yourself a little bit?
ANDY RODDICK: I didn't approach my decision like that. I think it was just a matter of what was better for potentially my health this year after missing four months last year. You know, certainly playing on hard courts away on clay, coming back, playing on hard courts, switching back to clay a month later wasn't probably the best schedule for me as far as my knee goes.
Q. Are you happy to see Roger on the other side of the draw or...
ANDY RODDICK: We're talking about things that would only matter way down the road, and it's Wednesday.
Q. With the Hawk‑Eye system, do you have faith in it?
ANDY RODDICK: You know what, I have faith in it being consistent enough to where it's the same for both players. So, you know, if we're talking is it exact down like to ‑‑ if it's a millimeter off, at least it's a millimeter off for both players and no one's really getting screwed, or if we're getting screwed, we're getting screwed the same amount (smiling).
Roddick won't backtrack on decision to skip Davis Cup
Andy Roddick is sticking by his decision to skip Davis Cup for the US this season in the interests of preserving his fitness.
Last autumn's knee injury put a scare into the 26-year-old, who will now try to limit any abrupt changes of court surface.
"We made the decision late last year, my knee was still hurt," said the Australian Open seventh seed. "We (he and coach Larry Stefanki) didn't think it was smart to be switching surfaces from hard to clay to hard, time zones, all that.
"You probably want to do that as few times in the year as we had to. That played a big part."
Roddick said he's not trying to hurt his team's chances but will not be changing his mind. "I never wanted to be one of these guys who played when it was convenient.
"I feel like if you commit at the beginning of the year, then you commit. Last thing I'd want to do is have those guys go battle early in the year, then me waltz in and try to play later in the year when they've been the ones to get the team to that point."
It is reported that captain Patrick McEnroe is likely to start building a next-gen team around Sam Querrey and John Isner, a pair of unpolished competitors with huge serves.
"I'll miss it, for sure, it's been a big part of my career so far," said Roddick. "But I don't know if I've shut the door on as far as forever goes."
Wywiad po III r. AO:
Q. You've played a lot of excruciating matches, but where would this one rate?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, in the sense of physically or?
Q. No, not at all. Things couldn't have gone very wrong.
ANDY RODDICK: A lot of times you feel like maybe some things go your way. I felt if there was a let cord, I felt like I was real close to getting on top of the match and making it, turning it, to kind of make it a little bit more comfortable. Just didn't quite get there.
But, you know, the only thing that matters, you're just trying to get through a day, and that happened, so no complaints.
Q. You had 21 unforced errors in the whole match. He said that was the thing that made the difference for him. You just didn't miss from the baseline. Do you have the same feeling?
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, yeah. I mean, I thought that's the best he's played against me, for sure.
Q. He said that.
ANDY RODDICK: I had a pretty clear strategy going in, you know. Eight, nine years, I wanted ‑‑ in the rallies, you know he's going to chip. I wanted to take my chances with approaches on his backhand side. He was sticking passing shots pretty regularly. I was kind of fighting my own intuition there.
I actually ended up doing most of the damage going to his forehand side later in the match. But, credit to him, he served big points really well. You know, I thought he played pretty well from the baseline. Definitely I was lucky to get through that in four.
Q. Anything about your game that you liked?
ANDY RODDICK: I needed to convert. You know, I had a lot of breakpoints there in that fourth set. And I needed to bear down on one of those. He's such a tough ad‑court server. I wasn't getting a good read. You're dealing with 215 down the T, then 185 wide where it's going outside of the sideline every time. I probably had an opportunity or two where I could have played it a little bit.
But I was getting pretty frustrated just with the way he was serving on that ad side. But, you know, that's probably the one thing I could have done a little bit better.
Q. Beyond just this match, how do you strike the balance between playing with passion but managing emotion?
ANDY RODDICK: Is, I don't know, an acceptable answer (laughter)?
As far as point to point, I think I approach matches maybe a lot more even keel than I used to. I kind of negotiate my way through the match. I'm assuming this is in reference to the other day.
Q. Overall.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, overall I'd say I've definitely learned the balance. You know, obviously some things change in the heat of the moment. But what was a little bit lost the other day was the fact that, you know, it happened. I went and finished the match, then had my ‑ we'll call it an episode.
Q. Are the stakes higher now that you're older than when you were younger because there's a finite window of opportunity to win this second slam?
ANDY RODDICK: You know what, I don't deal in that big of a picture, I don't think. You know, as boring as this for all of you, literally we go ‑‑ today we finish up here, tomorrow we talk and we game plan and we discuss what we're gonna do. Two days from now we go and try to apply it. How we negotiate this tournament has nothing to do with two or three years from now.
That's honestly the way I think. I'm going to try everything. I'm going to put in the hard yards before I get to a tournament. But once you're there, you're just trying to get through some days.
Q. How long do you think the window is open for that?
ANDY RODDICK: It's tough to predict health. But, you know, certainly I'm looking at I'd probably say at least three, four more years ‑ I hope.
Q. Have you talked to Larry tonight since the match?
ANDY RODDICK: Yes.
Q. Was there something going on in the box during the match? I couldn't tell.
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know anything about that. Sorry. I don't know. I wish I knew something for you.
Q. That strange shot where you reached over the net. Seems like you forget the rules for a second or were going to get into a jawing match with the umpire.
ANDY RODDICK: I was not going to get into a jawing match with the umpire. I didn't know. Reaching, not reaching. I guess you're not allowed to reach unless the ball hits his side and then goes over. I wasn't that sure about it. I just wanted to make sure he saw the replay. If it was a reaching thing, I guess at that point he wouldn't have changed anyways.
I wasn't going to get too involved there.
Q. Talk about Gonzo. Good record against him. Talk about that matchup.
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, he's a very dangerous player. Some days he comes out, looks like he's playing ping‑pong the way he can sling the ball around.
I mean, it's going to be a completely different matchup than I've had the last couple. Obviously the returning will probably be a little bit easier, but everything besides that will probably be a little bit more difficult.
You know, we'll see. I think I'm going to have to keep serving the way that I have been, kind of try to control the pace of the match with my first serve. We'll see.
I mean, I don't think there are going to be a lot of secrets out there. I think we played each other 11 times or something like that. So, you know, I don't think anybody's going to be real shocked with what they're seeing.
Q. In the fifth game of the second set, you finished, get a second ball ace on the sideline. Kind of daring at that stage. Then you finally broke him to get ahead. Do you think that was a critical point?
ANDY RODDICK: It wasn't a breakpoint? I didn't have a second‑serve ace on a breakpoint?
Q. No. It was 40‑30.
ANDY RODDICK: I wasn't going for an ace. It came off better than I was trying. It was a kick serve. I think it was about mid 150s. I think I got a little bit of action on it.
I think as the match wore on, I was it hitting that kick out to the forehand a little bit more because it was rewarding me a little bit more than going into his chip return.
I don't know if I was going for too much there. I think it just came off pretty well.
Q. Tiebreakers are usually your friend. You lost the first one. How much concern was there after the first set?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, yeah, I mean, you're playing uphill from there. That being said, I mean, I was talking about it a little bit earlier. The point I lost on serve, I had a forehand. You know, I wanted to hit it heavy, make him pass up the line. He ran. Sometimes you play the point the way you want to and you get beat.
Then on his set point to put it back on serve, I hit another approach that was pretty close to the baseline. He took it on the rise and hit an angle cross‑court.
I was concerned about the scoreline, but I wasn't really beating myself up as far as tactics in the tiebreaker. He came up with the goods on two backhand passes, which is, you know, normally his least favorite shot. You know, I couldn't really second guess my decision‑making in that breaker.
Q. Can I ask you about a German junior named Dominik Schulz. You've been practicing with him during the off‑season.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. What is your opinion on him?
ANDY RODDICK: I practiced with him for a little bit for a couple days. I think we were in Florida. You know, he's got some potential. Obviously being left‑handed will help a little bit. He's got a fair ways to go as far as fitness goes. He certainly has some potential.
Q. Is this the most sound you've been in terms of coach and now being married as a package?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't really think about coach and marriage. I don't put those together too often (smiling).
You know what, I've been getting a lot of questions. This is the natural flow of events even when you're not a tennis player. Obviously you're going to be probably a little bit more put together when you're 27 as opposed to when you're 20 or 21. I just did it all in front of you, you know. I think it's pretty normal.
Q. You were talking a moment ago about controlling the match on your serve. Is that related to first‑serve percentage?
ANDY RODDICK: A lot of the times. I certainly feel a lot better about my prospects of holding when the first ball's going in.
ao.com
Roddick's serve more nuanced, but he can still bring heat !
MELBOURNE — Andy Roddick rode his blazing serve to the top of tennis in 2003 with a simple strategy: "Just pop it and deal with it," he said earlier this week.
That philosophy served him well back then, but as the happily married Roddick has evolved, so has his game.
The former No. 1 can still deliver pure heat — Roddick owns the fastest recorded serve at 155 mph — but his most feared weapon is a more nuanced beast.
"That option is still there," Roddick says of his power delivery. But now he is increasing ly picking corners, changing speeds and curving in body blows — "seeing the game differentl y," he said.
The fireballer is also more of a student.
"I'm a lot more conscious of what players' favorite returns are," he says.
The measured shift is paying dividends in 2010. On Friday at the Australian Open, the No. 7 seed shook off dangerous lefty Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to advance to the fourth round for the seventh time in eight years.
Following his season-opening title at Brisbane earlier this month, Roddick is 8-0 and off to the best start of his career.
A year-by-year review of Roddick's statistics shows that over the last decade the 6-2 Texan has upped his first-serve percentage by about 10%, including an ATP Tour-leading 70% in 2009. At the same time, he has consistent ly held serve nine out of 10 times.
In other words, sacrificin g power for accuracy has not hurt his ability to dominate on serve and might help preserve his arm over time.
"I certainly feel a lot better about my prospects of holding when the first ball's going in," said Roddick Friday.
In his eight matches this year, Roddick has put in an even higher 74%, the same percentage that he hit in his win against Lopez.
"If you go back three years ago, I'm sure his average first serve speed is 6-7 mph faster than it is now," says American Sam Querrey, who lost in the first round but remains alive in doubles with compatriot John Isner. "But I think it's still just as effective right now."
Roddick's coach Larry Stefanki says it is part of a conscious strategy not to let returners groove on Roddick's pace and to take advantage of the third ball in a rally, which he calls the dead ball, or "duck."
"He's such a great server that he gets a lot of mishit ducks in the middle of the court," explains Stefanki, who started coaching Roddick in December 2008. "It's a Johnny Mac (John McEnroe) type of theory. He didn't hit a lot of velocity, but he hit spots. Then you control the point from the third hit. Andy is trying to do more of that. It gives him the chance to run around and spank it with his forehand when he gets the floater back."
At 27, Roddick says he still enjoys tour life and burns with desire to win a second major after his 2003 U.S. Open victory, but knows the clock is ticking.
"I always feel a sense of immediacy," last year's Australian Open semifinali st says. "I'm certainly aware that instead of looking at years and years and years, you're looking at a 3-4 year window."
If early on he enjoyed the trappings of the pro tour as much as the tennis, now he relishes the process.
"I find a lot more fun in the Xs and Os of it all," says Roddick, who married model Brooklyn Decker last April. "I used to find the fun in just being around the tournament s."
An intense competitor, Roddick can still sometimes get mouthy. On Wednesday, he launched into a heated exchange with the chair umpire in the final stages of his second-round win over Thomaz Bellucci of Italy, including a very audible F-bomb on TV.
But that intensity is what makes him tick. It's the fuel that pushes him to improve and never say die on the court. And he is accountabl e for his actions, later admitting that his interpreta tion of the rules following a Hawk-Eye replay was not as clear-cut as he first imagined.
It might be why he is an active, if non-voting, voice on the men's tour.
"I just worry about being politicall y correct enough to be on the players' council," he says.
Roddick, a mainstay in the top 10 since 2002, has made big strides with his movement, backhand and net play to go with his formidable forehand and serve. Stefanki says Roddick is better at "loosening up" and going for more on returns.
Still, he has yet to put together seven wins at a major in six years, despite his gutsy performanc e in a loss to Roger Federer in last year's Wimbledon final. His competitiv e fire and work ethic make him a perennial contender, but to be consistent ly mentioned among the favorites at majors he knows he must add another piece of Grand Slam hardware to his trophy case.
At least this time in Melbourne Roddick is on the opposite side of the draw from his Swiss nemesis, who clawed out a 16-14 fifth-set victory in London. No. 1 Federer owns a 19-2 record against Roddick, who has yet to beat him in a Slam and suffered demoralizi ng semifinal defeats to the 15-time major winner here in 2007 and 2009.
Looming is a fourth-round date with 2007 Melbourne finalist Fernando Gonzalez of Chile on Sunday and a possible quarterfin al clash with U.S. Open champ Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.
"He's a very dangerous player," Roddick says of No. 11 seed Gonzalez, who is 3-8 vs. Roddick. "Some days he comes out, looks like he's playing pingpong the way he can sling the ball around."
If Roddick earns a fifth trip to the semifinals, he could face either defending champ Rafael Nadal or No. 5 Andy Murray. No easy path, to be sure, but Roddick has hardcourt wins against them all.
The heat is on — just not necessaril y on his serve.
AndyRoddick.com
Gladiatorial Roddick Takes Down Gonzalez !
Andy came back from two sets to one down in a late night classic in Melbourne to beat Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
The fiery Chilean came very close to beating Andy, as he seemingly couldn’t miss in the third and fourth sets. Andy’s fighting spirit was on full display though as he dug deep to see out the fourth round victory.
It was just one break a-piece for both players in the first two sets, as a high standard of tennis was maintained. It was in the third set though that the match really took off. Some terrific play by Gonzalez, applauded by Andy, saw off Andy’s first break point of the third set in the second game. Gonzalez’s level went up a few notches and in the ninth game Andy, under pressure, lost his serve to the Chilean. A scintillating forehand winner from Gonzalez took him to a two sets to one lead.
At the beginning of the fourth set Andy worked hard to stay with the Chilean, and some strong serving helped Andy out of trouble early on. Andy’s perseverance paid off, as he created two break points at 3-2. He was unable to convert though, but in the tenth game Andy was rewarded again, this time with a set point, as he guesed correctly on a booming Gonzalez serve. Tensions were running high as Andy was unable to convert on four set points in the game.
The tension came to a head with the controversy in the twelfth game at 6-5 to Andy. Andy clawed back to level the game from 40-0 down, and then earned himself a fifth set point. Andy claimed this one with a marvellous forehand of his own. Initially called out, Hawkeye showed the ball to have caught the line, and the umpire awarded the set to Andy.
Gonzalez struggled to regain focus at the beginning of the fifth set and Andy took full advantage racing to a 3-0 lead. Andy missed a chance for a double break but in the eigth game was presented with his first match points. Gonzalez saved the first two, but the pressure was too much as he double faulted on the third to give Andy the victory.
Following this terrific fight back, Andy will now face Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals, after the Croatian dumped fourth seed, del Potro, out of the Australian Open.
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com for all the latest from Melbourne!
AndyRoddick.com
Tall Order for Andy in Melbourne !
In the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, Andy will face Marin Cilic. The match is scheduled third up on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.
The 6’6” Croat has already come through three battles to reach this stage, defeating Bernard Tomic and Stanislas Wawrinka in five and four sets respectively, before dispatching of the fourth seed, Juan Martin del Potro, in another five set epic.
Andy has a 1-1 record against Cilic. Andy won their first encounter at the Queen’s Club in 2007, before Cilic settled the score in Canada in 2008. However, Andy felt previous match-ups would have little bearing on this quarter-final match up:
“I remember I played him at Queen’s a long time ago, he played pretty badly. Then I played him in Canada, and I played pretty badly. I don’t think we can put much stock into our previous meetings.”
“He’s just a tough player. You know, he’s one of those guys, 6’6”, 6’7”, just kills the ball from the baseline. He likes to play inside of the court. He’s relentless. He goes after the ball every point.”
Here are Cilic’s stats from ATPWorldTour.com:
Age: 21 (28.09.1988)
Birthplace: Medjugorje, BIH
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6’6” (198 cm)
Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2005
Coach: Bob Brett
The Australian Open men’s singles quarter-final line-up looks like this:
Roger Federer (1) vs. Nikolay Davydenko (6)
Novak Djokovic (3) vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (10)
Andy Roddick (7) vs. Marin Cilic (14)
Rafael Nadal (2) vs. Andy Murray (5)
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com for all the latest from Melbourne!
AndyRoddick.com
Wywiad po przegranym ćwierćfinale AO10:
An interview with:
ANDY RODDICK
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Down two sets, was it a matter of playing catch‑up tennis that proved too much for you?
ANDY RODDICK: No, because I caught up. I did catch him, then he went ahead again. No, I caught him.
Yeah, I mean, I guess it's always a case of playing catch‑up tennis when you're down two sets, right?
Q. What was the story in the fifth? Talk about the shoulder or arm or whatever was bothering you.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, the arm was ‑‑ I don't know what happened. I felt it a little bit the other night, the cold weather, trying to hit through those for a little while. I didn't hit yesterday. Felt pretty good today in warmup, the first couple games, then I think I aggravated something.
The trainer said it was stemming from the neck down. By the end of the first set, I was pretty numb in the bottom two fingers. I could still hit it pretty hard; I was just having trouble controlling it, you know. I didn't really have full deal.
So that was unfortunate. I started kind of almost going sidearm for a little bit, or at least what it felt like. That was working for a while, I think until he realized I was having trouble kind of pronating out that way.
On the flipside, I hit the ball about as well as I could, you know, throughout the whole match. You know, I felt like in the fifth, I was always going to need, you know, a break or two with the way I was kind of chunking my serve around.
I think the difference was in the third and fourth set. He was under 50%. I was getting a look at a lot of second serves and I was able to take big swings at them and try to finish points. I didn't see the stats, but he had to be up there pretty far in the fifth as far as making serves. He hit some aces. With the way I was serving, he was going to get looks at my serve.
Q. You fought hard and clawed your way back into it. You had Love‑40 in the first game of the fifth. Did that kind of suck the wind out of you a little bit?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, I had one really good look at a return, a forehand. Kind of pulled up on it. I was sitting on it. I think I got a little overexcited, was actually out in front of it. You know, he hit a good off‑forehand, which is the one you want to make him hit. It's his least favorite. He hit it well.
If anything, I don't know that it affected me that much. I still hit the ball pretty well in the fifth. I think maybe he calmed down a little bit after he was able to get out of that hole.
Q. Ever played in a match with so many twists and turns?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I'm sure I have. I can't remember right now. You know, that's the way it is sometimes.
Q. Were you forced to flatten the ball out more off the ground on the forehand? Was it hurting your hand hitting topspin?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. Yeah, I was having trouble when it was up a little bit, kind of when I had to kind of hit it and pull back.
But, you know, I was playing pretty high‑risk and the ball was dropping in for a couple of sets. Like I said, I even think I hit it pretty decent in the fifth. The two balls, the two forehands, that I missed to get broken were after I hit five or six balls pretty firm before that.
It ended up, you know, working out for me okay from the baseline. I was just having to break too many times.
Q. Did you feel after the second set you might not play the third?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I asked Paul Ness, the trainer ‑ obviously anytime there's something with an arm, a shoulder, numbness with your fingers, I'm going to be a little bit concerned. My arm is pretty much my livelihood. I asked him if there was any risk involved with going further. He said he didn't think so. So from that point it was just a matter of just go.
Q. What are your impressions of him as a young player coming through?
ANDY RODDICK: He keeps it together real well. Unlike a lot of the young guys who are very emotionally up and down, he doesn't beat on his chest, he stays the course, he's very deliberate, he hits the ball very well. Doesn't give an inch on the baseline. He literally sets up shop right behind the baseline and isn't going to be moved.
That's something to be dealt with when you're out there.
Q. Disappointment or do you just say to yourself you hurt the arm, just leave this one behind?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't think it has to be either/or. You know, from the end of the first set, I mean, I honestly was ‑‑ he came out and I was having trouble feeling to the touch. You know, at that point I didn't know how much I was going to be ‑‑ once he said there was no risk, I knew I wasn't going to stop, but I didn't know what I was going to be able to come up with.
To be able to push it and have a shot, uhm, I thought it was a pretty good effort.
Q. Did they explain to you in medical terms what it is? Is it a muscle? Tendon?
ANDY RODDICK: They said something like a nerve on a T1. Does that make any sense to you?
Q. No.
ANDY RODDICK: Didn't make any sense to me either (smiling).
Something I guess that was resonating from the neck on down.
Q. You'll get further attention?
ANDY RODDICK: For what?
Q. Further examination.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. All signs at this point are good. Sounds like something, you know, whether it was a nerve that was compressed or something, I don't know, cutting off something. But they don't think it's going to be anything too serious long‑term.
I'm sure we'll take the proper precautions and check it out. But at this point I'm not real, real scared about it.
Q. Cilic has played two five‑setters in a row, three in the tournament. How much of a factor do you think that will be for him in the next round, two five‑setters?
ANDY RODDICK: It will be a factor. Guessing how much, I'm not sure. The good thing for him is that he doesn't ‑‑ because he stands so close to the baseline and kind of directs traffic, there's not a whole ‑‑ he rarely gets outside the sidelines. Similar to what Andre used to do as far as minimizing his movement because he's controlling the points. Similar to how Del Potro plays a lot. So that's good for him. I don't think he's going to be able to ‑‑ he doesn't really spread the court too much.
That being said, five‑setters are five‑setters. I'm sure he'll be a little tired. He'll probably be cheering for those guys to go long tonight.
Q. In terms of the young players you've seen coming through this game, his ability to get through the fifth sets, be unflappable, resilient, where would you put him in the group of young players you've seen in the game?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, I don't know. He's definitely composed. I mean, I don't know where to rank people 'cause, you know...
I mean, he was the same after he lost two sets as when he won two sets. I think that will definitely serve him well over the course of his career. I feel like, you know, there's a lot to like about him. He just goes about his business, does it the right way, and seems like a very hard worker. You know, like you said, he doesn't give you any encouragement, like the feeling you're on top of him, even though I probably was for a little while.
Roddick’s Chances Dashed as He Battles Shoulder Injury
MELBOURNE, Australia – What had been a very good week of tennis here for Andy Roddick — raising the hopes of his faithful fans that a second Grand Slam was in reach — ended abruptly when the 14-seeded Marin Cilic downed him in a back and forth five-set match, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3.
Roddick said he was battling a nerve problem in his shoulder. It was another impressive performance for Cilic who bounced the United States Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in five sets in the fourth round.
Roddick dropped the first two sets as he battled back the pain. He endured, however, to win the next two sets. When Cilic saved three break points in the first game of the set, then broke what had been Roddick’s forte –- a money serve — Cilic went on to capture his third five-set match of the tournament to make his first semifinal at a major.
Roddick does not know the genesis of his injury, but said it had been bothering him for a few days.
“I felt it a little bit the other night, the cold weather, trying to hit through those for a little while,” he said. “I didn’t hit yesterday, and felt pretty good today in warm up, and the first couple games, then I think I aggravated something.”
Roddick had a trainer look at it but said the pain persisted.
“By the end of the first set, I was pretty numb in the bottom two fingers,” he said. “ I could still hit it pretty hard; I was just having trouble controlling it, you know.”
“I started kind of almost going sidearm for a little bit, or at least what it felt like. That was working for a while, I think until he realized I was having trouble.”
Roddick gave all the credit to Cilic, but still wonders what might have been.
“I knew I wasn’t going to stop, but I didn’t know what I was going to be able to come up with,” he said. “To be able push it and have a shot, I thought it was a pretty good effort.”
Coming up for Andy…
Andy has had a great start to the year, winning the title in Brisbane before reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. Following that success, AR.com takes a brief look at the road ahead for Andy in 2010.
First up for Andy is the SAP Open in San Jose, where Andy is a three-time Champion, winning the tournament in 2004, 2005 and 2008. San Jose gets underway on the 8th February.
Following San Jose, Andy will jet back East for the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, which is an ATP World Tour 500 level event in Memphis. Andy is defending Champion in Memphis, and will be joined there by Verdasco, Querrey, and Hewitt. Memphis starts on the 15th February.
Andy will then leave the States, and head over to Dubai for the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. Andy won the title in Dubai – another 500-level event – in 2008, and this year will be part of a strong field including Federer, Murray, Djokovic, del Potro and Davydenko. The action in Dubai begins on the 22nd February.
These three tournaments will serve as excellent warm-up for Andy in preparation for March Madness, where Andy will compete in Indian Wells and Miami, both ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events.
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com, as we follow Andy’s progress over the next month
Roddick Looks For 'Shot At The Best Players' To Reclaim Trophy In Dubai
2008 Men’s Champion looks to prize back mantle from Djokovic
Andy Roddick is ready and determined to win back the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championsh ips trophy he claimed two years ago by beating Feliciano Lopez of Spain.
The All-American, who played one of the most memorable Grand Slam matches of all time when he stretched Roger Federer to the limit in the 2009 Wimbledon final, was unable to defend his title here last year. But his early season form in 2010 has sent out a warning to Federer, defending champion Novak Djokovic and everyone else that he can reclaim his crown at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.
The 27-year-old won the title in Memphis last year and, as well as competing in that wonderful Wimbledon final, he finished as runner-up in both Doha and Washington . But his season was cut short by an injury to his left knee. After a dramatic 7-6 in the fifth set defeat by John Isner in the third round of the US Open he lost easily to 143rd-ranked Kubot Lukasz in the first round in Beijing and then retired in the opening set against Stanislas Wawrinka in Shanghai.
The injury that had hindered him for weeks finally ended his season, and although he qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London he could only attend as a spectator.
That disappoint ment, however, is behind Roddick now and he is back to top form, as he showed by lifting the title at the Brisbane Internatio nal in the opening week of January, before advancing to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Now he is ready to launch his bid to recapture his Dubai title, knowing that he will have to test himself against many of the best players in the world. Standing in his way will be four-time winner and world number one Roger Federer, reigning champion Novak Djokovic, Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray, US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro and Barclays ATP World Tour title-holder Nikolay Davydenko.
Neverthele ss, the strength of the opposition he faces at the Dubai Tennis Stadium is a major motivating factor for Roddick, as he revealed after he lifted the trophy in 2008.
“A big part of my decision to come here was to try to get a shot at the top players and I was able to do that, and success here has shown it was a good idea,” he said.
Aside from winning his 23rd career title, Roddick’s first visit to Dubai was memorable for other reasons.
“I’d heard some wonderful reports about Dubai and based on what I have seen, the city is beyond my wildest expectatio ns,” Roddick said after a trip to the famous Mina A’ Salam, part of Madinat Jumeirah’s Arabian Resort.
“I’ve always wanted to come to this part of the world and I am certainly glad I came here and enjoyed some of the sites and warm hospitalit y. I really enjoy learning from different cultures and visiting new places and coming to Dubai was a great experience .”
Roddick was overwhelme d by his stay at the world famous Burj Al Arab hotel. “That hotel, I don’t know how to describe it. It’s just amazing. It’s almost like you’re not in reality – it is like another universe. It was pretty fun and something I’ll remember. They gave me a little note that said ‘Congratulations Andy’ every night and they gave me a big bouquet of flowers every night. So my room looked like Valentine’s Day”, he added.
The Championsh ips, which begins with the Women’s Open on Valentines Day itself this year, is delighted to be welcoming back one of the game’s most recognisab le faces.
“Andy Roddick is one of the most difficult players in the world to beat, as he showed with his magnificen t performanc e against Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final”, said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free.
“His achievemen t in winning the title here two years ago also captured the imaginatio n of tennis fans both in Dubai and around the world, and it gives me great pleasure to welcome him back.”
Play at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championsh ips, which is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, begins on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 with the WTA Tour event and continues with the ATP tournament from Monday, February 22nd – 27th.
SAP Open Draw Release
Andy is set to play at 7pm on Wednesday, February 10th, for his first round match against a qualifier, according to the SAP Open draw that was recently released.
As the number one American, ATP’s current “lucky” number seven, and three time champion under the HP Pavilion roof, Andy was given the number one seed in San Jose. Sharing his half of the draw with the other top four odd-seeded players, the Texan could clash with Tomas Berdych(5) in the quarterfinals and either compatriot Sam Querrey(7) or two-time defending champ Radek Stepanek(5)in the semis.
In the lower half of the 32-player draw are the even-seeds, starting with number two Fernando Verdasco. Also in that half are Germany’s Tommy Haas(4) and Philipp Kohlschreiber(6) and France’s Jeremy Chardy (8).
Stay tuned to AR.com for a full tournament preview and match update at this ATP 250 event in California. Go Andy!
AndyRoddick.com
2010 SAP Open Preview
After Superbowl XLIV (44) comes to an end and Andy’s eye is back on the tennis ball, the SAP Open is ready for their number one seed to hit the courts and take some names.
With play beginning on Monday, February 8th and ending with the finals on Sunday, February 14, San Jose’s HP Pavilion will be the home of the 122nd SAP Open, the second oldest tennis tournament in the United States. The Indoor Premium hard court will be the center stage for a 32-singles draw and 16-doubles one, boasting many Americas players, along with top seeds Verdasco, defending champ Radek Stepanek, Haas, and Berdych.
As a three-time champion (2008, 2005, 2004) and five-time semifinalist here, our world number seven steps back on the court since his Australian Open quarterfinal run. With his first round match scheduled for Wednesday, February 10th at 7pm, SAP’s Ambassador will have a few days to scope out the competition and enjoy the west coast.
This year, you can get minute-by-minute updates by joining the SAP Open’s Twitter page as well as become a fan on Facebook. However, this ATP250 event will only be seen on the CST California channel for the semifinals and finals next weekend. Stay glued to your live scoring and AR.com for everyone Andy in San Jose!
AndyRoddick.com
Roddick Knows The Way To San Jose !
Sporting a pair of bright red running shoes, looking more subdued than usual, perhaps tired from having attended the Super Bowl and seeing one-time tennis opponent Drew Brees in action, three-time SAP Open champ Andy Roddick spoke briefly one night prior to his first-round SAP Open match.
Having been struck with a right shoulder injury that hindered him during his quarterfin al loss to Marin Cilic at last month’s Australian Open, Roddick admits, “it was a little touch and go to be playing here. But I got the clearance I needed and I’ll give it go.”
Keeping the ball-hitting to a minimum since Australia, Roddick only started serving in the last few days. “That’s the part I’ll be most concerned about,” says Roddick. “The first match will be telling. If I can get through that one, I should be OK. I may have to work my way into this tournament a little bit.”
Roddick’s tennis rivalry with Brees goes back to his early childhood in Austin. Nearly four years older than Roddick, Brees, as Roddick recalls, “beat me a couple of times. I beat him and then he quit to play all sorts of other sports. I don’t remember his game, but I do remember he was quite an athlete.” Asked for more, Roddick joked, “I’d love to be able to break down point structure for you” – and then conceded he was only nine years old at the time.
More than 20 years later, he’s still grinding away, still looking for the answers. As he sees it, Roddick’s 2009 “had a lot more positives than negatives,” a year he regards as his most successful end-to-end campaign since 2004 (when he finished the year ranked number two in the world). As far as San Jose goes, Roddick says, “I always have a good time here. There’s a comfort to it.”
Andy into SAP Quarterfinals !
Andy claimed his spot in Friday night’s quarterfinals in the SAP Open with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Leonardo Mayer.
In a familiar time-slot, Andy kicked off the first set on his serve, firing one ace and holding for 1-0. He immediately challenged Mayer, earning two break points, but the Argentinian battled back to save the game and level the set at one a piece. It was business as usual as the opening set progressed, Andy advancing to 4-3 with neither player giving up a break opportunity after Mayer’s first service game. But in that seventh game Andy surged forward, breaking the Argentinian and serving out the set 6-3 after 35 minutes of play.
With the momentum in his corner Andy again placed pressure on Mayer in the third game, earning three break points at 40-0. Mayer saved the first two, and fired his fourth ace for deuce. Andy attached Mayers second serving earning a fourth break opportunity. The Argentinian’s first double fault of the match gave Andy the break and the lead 2-1. Mayer was able to put one more game on the scoreboard, but Andy never looked back. He broke the Argentinian again and rolled to take the match 6-3, 6-2 after about an hour an fifteen minutes.
Next up in the Quarterfinals Andy faces the towering Tomas Berdych Friday night.
Check back to Ar.com for more from San Jose.
AndyRoddick.com
Walking in Memphis…
After a good week in San Jose, Andy now treks east to Memphis for the ATP World Tour 500 event – the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. Andy is the defending Champion and number one seed, but he has not been dealt a kind draw.
In a mouth-watering first round match, Andy will take on Davis Cup team mate, James Blake. The former world number four has struggled for form of late, and this has seen his ranking fall to 55. Andy and Blake have met nine times over the course of their careers, and although Andy leads the head-to-head 6-3, it is Blake who has won their past three meetings.
Looking further afield in the draw, the gauntlet does not get any easier for Andy, with a string of talented Americans in his path. Andy could meet Robby Ginepri in the second round, and Sam Querrey or Mardy Fish in the third.
Andy is in the same half of the draw as Thomas Berdych, whom he defeated last week in San Jose, and the new SAP Open Champion, Fernando Verdasco is also in Memphis as the second seed.
Check out the full Men’s Singles draw at this link:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2010/402/mds.pdf
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com for all the latest from Memphis!
Roddick to test shoulder, defend RMKC title
Andy Roddick, the world's seventh-ranked player, steps onto the Stadium Court at The Racquet Club of Memphis tonight at 7 to begin defense of his Regions Morgan Keegan Championsh ips title and to test the condition of his somewhat ailing right shoulder.
Roddick opens against Davis Cup teammate and former world top 10 James Blake, not the ideal start for the 27-year-old American who injured his shoulder during last month's Australian Open. Roddick played through some discomfort last week in San Jose, where he reached the finals of the SAP Open.
''To be honest, I didn't know if I was going to play last week up until the last minute coming off the shoulder injury in Australia,'' he said. ''My expectatio ns were not that high as to how my form was going to be.
''But I thought the best way to prepare for Memphis was to go through and take my lumps last week in San Jose. Not one of my matches was pretty, but I was able to play five of them. Hopefully that will prepare me for this week.''
Roddick, a two-time Memphis champion, inflicted more pain than he absorbed. His trip to the San Jose final included wins over Tomas Berdych in the quarterfin als and Sam Querrey in the semifinals . He lost the final in three sets to Fernando Verdasco, the No. 2 seed there and Tuesday's biggest upset victim.
Verdasco, also the No. 2 seed in Memphis, struggled from the outset in his opening-round match against France's Jeremy Chardy, and dropped a 7-6 (4), 6-3 decision. While compliment ing Chardy on a solid effort, Verdasco said he had difficulty adjusting to the conditions at The Racquet Club's Stadium Court.
After winning Sunday's ATP World Tour event in San Jose, Verdasco, the world's 11th-ranked player, had only Monday off. He didn't have an opportunit y to practice in Memphis, where he had never played before.
''With just one day in between matches, in different conditions, and not being able to practice on the stadium court before the match, it was difficult,'' Verdasco said. ''And it was difficult for me to get the timing. But he played a great match. He served really good.''
Chardy, ranked 41st, had been winless this season in four matches. Aware that Verdasco had been unable to get acclimated to the conditions, Chardy went on the offensive from the outset.
''It was difficult for him because he came here at the last second,'' Chardy said. ''He couldn't practice on the courts. I knew it would be difficult for him so I started the match very aggressive .''
Chardy forced, and won, a first-set tiebreaker, getting the mini-break he needed to go up, 5-4, and serving out for the set. He won on a crisp forehand volley. In the second set, he broke for a 4-2 advantage by ripping a cross-court winner off a short ball.
Chardy did not face a break point in the match and won 88 percent of his first-serve points.
''I played very well,'' Chardy said. ''My serve was very good today. I know it's difficult to win against top 10 players, for me it's a good victory. I had nothing to lose. I hadn't won a match all year.''
As for Roddick, who will try to avoid being an upset victim tonight, he was asked how his shoulder withstood five matches in San Jose. His response: ''It felt great at the beginning and not so great at the end of the tournament .''
Roddick flew home to Austin, Texas, after the San Jose tournament for additional treatment. He said he'll have his chiropract or with him this week at the RMKC.
''I'm going to negotiate through these next couple of weeks (events in Memphis and Dubai) and then get in some good practice that I haven't had since before the Australian Open,'' Roddick said. ''It should be manageable .''
Roddick may not want to be treading somewhat tentativel y into this week. His half of the draw has yet to lose a seeded player. The bottom included Verdasco and No. 7 Philipp Kohlschrei ber, who was upended Tuesday by Evgeny Korolev, 7-5, 7-5.
In Korolev's upset win, he snapped a winless streak against Kohlschrei ber. Unable to beat the German in four previous meetings, Korolev used 10 aces and a solid return game to advance giving him his third victory over a top 30 player this year.
In some ways, the win was surprising .
''I didn't play my last tournament (a week ago in Rotterdam), I got sick, I had to pull out,'' Korolev said. ''I didn't practice for a long time, so it was a good feeling. I was playing really well. It felt really good, especially to beat a player as good as Philipp.''
Korolev said he suffered from flu-like symptons in Rotterdam and considered not playing Memphis, either.
''Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (of last week), I was dead,'' Korolev said. ''Thursday I was better, Friday I flew here and Saturday was my first practice. I am playing next week in Delray, so I had to fly over here. So I thought what's the difference of sitting (at home) in Moscow or come here and see if I can play.''
In other first-round matches, 6-10 Ivo Karlovic, the leader in aces on tour each of the past three seasons, blasted 32 aces in his 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) win over Benjamin Becker. Karlovic, who reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open, used his overpoweri ng serve to overcome deficits of 5-2 and 4-2 in the respective tiebreakers.
BNP Paribas Open Preview
While Team USA is rolling, sliding, and swinging on Serbia’s clay courts, Andy is in Austin preparing for his next tournament- the BNP Paribas Open.
Starting on March 11th, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs is proud to host this ATP World Tour Master 1000 event, featuring both ATP and WTA tours. As the number one American and last year’s doubles champ with former housemate Mardy Fish, Andy’s eighth consecutive appearance here will begin with a “bye” as a top seed in the 96-singles player draw. A repeat double appearance this year, however, is something to stay tuned to AR.com for.
Last year, Andy reached the semifinals where he was knocked out by eventual champion Rafael Nadal, and our Texan has also seen two semis and two quarterfinals in his previous seven appearances in Indian Wells. The 2010 BNP Paribas Open, formerly the Pacific Life Open, is prepared for and greatly anticipating the 300,000+ fans who will fill the grounds from March 8th through the 21st, with the first few days boasting qualifiers. Once the main draw kicks off, this Arizona-originated tournament will thrill like a Slam.
Stay tuned to AR.com for the draw release and preview.
Andy In Singles Action Sunday
After success in the doubles with James Blake on Saturday, Andy will look to begin his singles campaign in similar fashion when he faces Chinese Taipei’s Yen-Hsun Lu in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Sunday.
Andy and Blake teamed together on Saturday to defeat Ross Hutchins and Andy Murray 7-5, 7-6(5) in a blockbuster doubles first round. Having received a bye through the first round in singles, Andy will be grateful of the extra match practice when he challenges qualifier Lu on Sunday evening.
Andy takes a 2-0 career lead into the match, defeating the 26 year old most recently last month in the Memphis second round. World No. 103 Lu crushed Oscar Hernandez in the first round on Friday to win his fourth match of the season. The right-hander’s best result this year came in Johannesburg, where he reached the quarter-finals.
Learn more about Lu from his stats, courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com:
Age: 26 (14.08.1983)
Birthplace: Taipei, Chinese Taipei
Residence: Taipei, Chinese Taipei
Height: 5’11” (180 cm)
Weight: 163 lbs (74 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2001
Coach: Dirk Hordorff
The match will take place not before 7:00 pm local time on Stadium 1 on Sunday evening. Check out the full order of play here: http://www.bnpparibasopen.org/Schedules/OOP.aspx
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news and photos from Indian Wells.
Go, Andy!
Andy Bidding for No.10 Against Melzer
For a spot in the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open, Andy will face Austria’s Jurgen Melzer. The match is scheduled first up in Wednesday’s night session, with play scheduled to start at 7.30pm in the desert (10:30pm EST).
Andy has won his previous nine meetings against Melzer, and will be looking to round that up to ten this evening. In all their previous meetings, Andy has only dropped three sets against Melzer. In reaching the third round, Melzer has taken out David Nalbanian and Simon Greul.
Melzer is a top doubles and singles player, and currently is enjoying high rankings in both. Andy and Melzer know each other well, having grown up on the tour together, and the pair have teamed up for doubles over the years.
Here are Melzer’s stats from ATPWorldTour.com
Pronounced: Yur-gin mel-tser
Age: 28 (22.05.1981)
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Residence: Deutsch-Wagram, Austria
Height: 6’ (183 cm)
Weight: 178 lbs (81 kg) P
lays: Left-handed
Turned Pro: 1999
Coach: Joakim Nystrom
Singles ranking: 28
Ahead of his match against Melzer, Andy commented,
“Jurgen is always tough. He’s capable of playing a couple different ways. He was capable of coming forward, attacking, really being the aggressor, which is always a little bit uncomfortable. With him it’s important to hang on to your service games.”
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the latest from Indian Wells!
Roddick One Away From Title
The BNP Paribas Open had long been a blemish on Andy Roddick’s impressive North American resume. The World No. 8 had played in 14 different North American ATP World tournaments during his career and reached the final in each of them – with the exception of Indian Wells and the now-defunct Scottsdale event.
After three semi-final finishes, the top American finally went one better at the year’s first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament, defeating World No. 7 Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Saturday afternoon to be among the last two players standing on the final Sunday.
“This is probably the only real big tournament in North America that I haven't won, so I definitely would love to win it,” said the 27 year old, who has won four titles in seven finals at the three other ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events on North American soil.
Roddick and Soderling had each entered the semi-final match without dropping a set at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open, and the American needed just one break of serve to take the opening set. He went up an early service break in the second, only to see Soderling come back to win six of the final seven games.
Despite his surge to close the second set, Soderling admitted afterwards: “I felt I was still waiting for my best tennis. We played two sets and the conditions were a little bit tough. I felt that I was playing a little bit better at the end of the second set, but then he broke me. It wasn't the greatest match, but I tried everything. He came up with some good shots at the end.”
The third set began in similar fashion to the second, with Soderling erasing his opponent’s 2-0 lead, but Roddick grabbed the winning break in the sixth game before proceeding to close out the match on serve.
“I knew I was returning real well, so I thought this might be the rare occasion where that would be the thing that won it for me,” said Roddick. “I think ultimately the fact that I put a lot of pressure on his service games ended up helping. I normally don't need two breaks to win a set, but today I did.”
With Ivan Ljubicic prevailing in a third-set tie-break against defending champion Rafael Nadal earlier in the day, it marked the first time since 1984 that both semi-final matches had gone to three sets.
Roddick, who leads the 31-year-old Croatian 7-3 in the head-to-head series, said about his opponent’s performance against Nadal: “He did a great job of serving big points today. It seemed like he came up with a big serve every time. It felt like Rafa was controlling the rallies once he got back to neutral, but he was having trouble getting it back to neutral. It's gonna be a challenge to do that also for me. It's just gonna be a matter of who can convert their chances.”
Roddick is attempting to become the first American male to win the BNP Paribas Open title since Andre Agassi defeated Pete Sampras in the 2001 final. His coach, Larry Stefanki, also captured the title in nearby La Quinta in February 1985 (d. Pate).
The Austin, Texas, improves to a circuit-best 20-3 mark following Saturday’s win. Roddick will be contesting his third final of the season, after winning in Brisbane (d. Stepanek) and finishing runner-up in San Jose (l. to Verdasco). Of Roddick’s 28 tour-level titles, 18 have come in North America.
BNP 2010 Finals Preview
Today Andy will take on Croat Ivan Ljubicic for his first BNP Paribas Open Title. Andy and Ivan have played 10 times before with Andy holding the 7-3 record. The two have not battled since 2007 where they met on the same stage in Indian Wells in the Quarterfinals. They have never competed in a final against each other before. Both men overcame three set challenges in the semifinals, Ljubicic upset Rafael Nadal to book his Finals spot.
The men’s final will follow the women Sunday afternoon and air live on Fox Sports Net.
Roddick Goes For Record At Queen's Club; Still Believes In Wimbledon Chances
Andy Roddick will try to win a record fifth AEGON Championships title at The Queen’s Club in June and then seek to claim the Wimbledon crown that so narrowly eluded him last year.
Roddick joins 2008 Wimbledon winner Rafael Nadal and current US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro as early entrants into the AEGON Championships singles field (7-13 June, 2010), and he believes that he is now closer to Wimbledon glory than ever before after losing that heart-breaking 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 Wimbledon final to Roger Federer in 2009.
“I love the whole month in London,” said Roddick, who reached the Indian Wells final last week and has won 20 matches already this year, more than anyone else on the ATP World Tour.
“Over the years I’ve had a lot of success at The Queen’s Club and I still say it’s the best grass court in the world. It plays perfectly and so the AEGON Championships is a great way to prepare for Wimbledon. If you look at my grass court season (in 2009) as a whole, it went well. It was disappointing to hurt my ankle in the semifinals at Queen’s and have to pull out, but I was playing well and I took that into Wimbledon. Wimbledon was a very good event for me. I would have loved to have changed the last five minutes of it, but I look forward to another opportunity.”
The American also prepared for runs to the Wimbledon finals of 2004 and 2005 by winning the traditional grass-court event at The Queen’s Club in those years, and last year he only lost at the AEGON Championships when an ankle injury forced him to retire in the semfinals against James Blake. He recovered to go all the way at Wimbledon, and in the end he won the first set and then held four set points at 6-2 in the second set tie-break for a two-set lead. His 16-14 loss in the fifth set after four hours and 17 minutes was difficult to take, but the standing ovation he received from the crowd was something he will never forget.
“The more you distance yourself from it, the more you start remembering the better things about it as opposed to the most disappointing things about it,” said Roddick. “For the crowd to kind of acknowledge my effort was real nice and I certainly appreciated it. I promise you, I wish more than anything that I would have won that tournament, but I'm still going to move on and keep going with the plan that we've set in place, because I feel like it is working. I'll always want to win that tournament and I view last year as something to build on.”
The AEGON Championships will take place from 7th-13th June, 2010. The event will be broadcast live, every day, on BBC Television and Eurosport.
Handling Roddick’s big serve for a good cause
On a Monday night of exhibition tennis at the St. Pete Times Forum, the most courageous participant was a hockey player.
Between matches at the Tampa Tennis Classic, Lightning left winger Stephane Veilleux tried to return the serve of Andy Roddick.
Jim Courier, formerly the world’s No. 1-ranked tennis player and the event’s host, offered this sensible advice:
“Get out of the way!”
Roddick’s serve, after all, was once clocked at a record 155 mph.
But Veilleux did pretty well, returning three of Roddick’s five serves, at least one in self-defense.
“I’m pretty proud of myself,” said Veilleux, a former junior tennis player and huge Roddick fan who attended Wimbledon last summer.
There was palpable tension backstage as Veilleux did a pre-match interview – with Lightning teammate Vinny Lecavalier capturing it on his video recorder.
“If this doesn’t work out,” Veilleux said, “I’m challenging Andy to some pingpong.”
It was that kind of night – big serves, nifty shots, world-class players, good-natured entertainment. The real tennis happens later this week. That’s when Monday night’s marquee players head to Key Biscayne for the Sony Ericsson Open, a big event on the ATP Tour.
Monday night was about giving back.
Roddick and Blake – along with professional women’s players Victoria Azarenka and Vera Zvonareva – were the headliners in the event that sent all its net proceeds to Raymond James Courier’s Kids. The youth tennis initiative supports the First Serve tennis program at St. Petersburg’s Bartlett Park.
Round Two Against Andreev
“I feel good,” Andy noted in his pre-Sony Ericsson Open press conference. “I had a good couple weeks in California, so I feel prepared and match ready.” Andy’s first match will be a second round show down against Russia’s Igor Andreev, second on after a 7pm EST start on Friday, March 26th.
With both players holding two wins, their fifth meeting with be for the lead in both their head-to-head and most importantly Miami. After Roddick prevailed victorious in their first meeting, Wimbledon 2005, Andreev took the next two in 2006 and 2007. After a year off, the American and the Russian met at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada event with the Texan hooking his horns into a straight-set win, 6-1, 7-6(3). With this encounter also taking place on a hardcourt like in Canada, let’s hope there is a repeat result for Andy.
Andreev, the 26-year-old righty from Moscow who turned pro in 2002, is currently ranked 40th on the ATP ladder, having reached his career high of 18th back in March 2008. This forehand-favored player was named 2007 Comeback Player of the Year, which he showed in his last meeting against our 2004 Miami champ. His unpredictable turn-around game is something Roddick is ready to defend and defuse.
Below are more stats on the Russian:
Age: 26 (14.07.1983)
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Residence: Moscow, Russia
Height: 6’1” (185 cm)
Weight: 176 lbs (80 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2002
With things feeling heated in sultry Miami, Andy’s Sony Ericsson campaign with be nothing short of fierce as it begins tomorrow evening. Stay tuned to AR.com for the latest on Andy on the East Coast.
Bikini-clad wife puts Roddick in the shade
Andy Roddick was initially bitter when his wife Brooklyn Decker graced the cover of Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue last month in a tiny yellow bikini - and it was not because of her skimpy attire.
The eighth-ranked Roddick has never appeared on the cover of the weekly magazine, not even after the American won his first Grand Slam title at the 2003 US Open.
Decker, who married Roddick last April, teased her husband about beating him to the cover.
"Trust me, that fact wasn't lost on her. I promise you," Roddick jokingly told reporters on Thursday at the Miami Masters.
"That was one of the things I was bitter about... she gave me a little crap."
Roddick lost to Roger Federer in an epic five set battle at the All England Club in 2009 and the American said match left him heartbroken, but not down.
"It was a lot tougher being that close than compared to the '05 Wimbledon final where I lost in straight sets and didn't feel like I was ever really too far into the match," said Roddick.
Decker had been modelling for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issues for five years before getting the nod for the cover. Now she is working on a movie with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler called 'Just Go With It'.
"As far as our year, it's been great. I think we both realise - probably me more than her at this point - but in the grand scheme of our lives, this is probably a very important three or four years for me."
Roddick plays Russian Igor Andreev in the second round on Friday in Key Biscayne, Florida.
Andy Roddick Interview – 03/27/2010
Q. How did you spend your day?
ANDY RODDICK: Ah, not doing a whole lot. I think I’m glad they do Sports Center quasi live now, because it used to be I would have the segment memorized by the third or fourth time I watched it on a day like today.
They throw in a few more wrinkles. It entertains me longer.
Q. There are other channels.
ANDY RODDICK: Not unless The Office is on NBC.
Q. You were hosting T.O. I saw by his tweets.
ANDY RODDICK: He really enjoys the tennis. We saw each other real quick before the match, so…
Yeah, I think it’s his third or fourth year in a row here now. T.O., the tennis fan, you know.
Q. Can you talk about Rochus beating Djokovic? Can you talk about that? What do you think about all of that?
ANDY RODDICK: Again, well, I mean I know what’s out there just because I get asked about it. I’m extremely, I think, not presumptuous when it comes to working my way through a draw.
You know, I can’t make it you know, make later rounds come any faster. You have to take care of it the way it is. You know, quarterfinals is when the quarterfinals is. I can’t get there.
Q. Were you surprised by his loss?
ANDY RODDICK: He’s been playing a ton. He played a ton at the beginning of the year.
I think I was a little bit surprised. Some of his matches from Dubai through Davis Cup through Palm Springs were seemed like they were all pretty much nail biters.
Q. Long matches?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, there weren’t many easy ones to come by. You know, I don’t think we can put enough stock into how stressful it is playing home match, especially him. He’s kind of the key of that team and kind of taken that leadership role.
And putting two on the board when people expect you to put two on the board, it’s a stressful thing. You know, to kind of parlay that into two big tournaments is a big ask.
Another Night Victory In Miami !
Under threatening skies and well into the evening slot, Andy made quick work of Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2, 6-1. The 55 minute victory booked the top American into the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open. Next up, Andy faces Benjamin Becker.
Following his decisive victory Sunday, Andy discussed the evening’s win and his much talked about basketball skills:
Q. What was more fun, almost beating Wade in HORSE or tonight?
ANDY RODDICK: Good, I was so close. I could have kept it to two feet and hoped that he had an aberration of a jump shot. But wasn’t meant to be. I mean, at least I made him go to like the layups and the fancy, you know, all that stuff that I just he just took it out of my hands.
Q. You were definitely better at basketball than he was at tennis, right?
ANDY RODDICK: Exactly. Well, I think it’s a little probably skewed. Although I didn’t play much in high school, I still have a shot at basketball before. I don’t think he had touched a tennis racquet in about 10 years he said. I was hoping to win that one.
Q. You were looking forward that. Were you nervous at all really?
ANDY RODDICK: I had a blast. Yeah, I had a really, really good time.
I was pretty nervous. I got a little bit more nervous when my grand plan was to I haven’t shot a basketball in a year. I mean, it’s been a long time, so I was kind of tight about that.
My plan was to get out there 15, 20 minutes early and kind of shoot around a little bit. I got out there and they said, Oh, we don’t have a basketball here yet. I was like, Oh, well that’s a problem. There were some holes in my plan.
Q. Larry said you guys play basketball in Austin now and then.
ANDY RODDICK: No, Larry, I mean, I don’t know if we’ve played too much. Sometimes when Doug comes down we’ll shoot around some, but I it hadn’t been in a long time.
Q. Man, he could shoot.
ANDY RODDICK: Dougy can shoot. Doug is the shocking one. He’s Drain o. He’s about 90% from the free throw line. He’s my ace in the hole. I was hoping to go to him again, but then Wayne told me no more life lines. I was like, Damnit. I’ll have to try myself.
Q. So this match tonight was quick. I guess that’s how you wanted it?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, I felt good. It’s rare that you kind of walk off thinking everything kind of went the way that you wanted it to. There’s definitely that feeling when you play a whole lot of matches in a row where a lot of it your kind of muscle memory takes over a little bit. You know, you’re able to just kind of be free a little bit. I think I’m kind of getting to that point a little bit.
As the telecast of America’s Davis Cup tie against Serbia was broadcast in Roddick’s living room, IT publisher Bill Simons spoke to the star about his wife Brooklyn, his rival Federer, his hero Agassi and the transformation of his career
INSIDE TENNIS: We’re sitting here at your nice home. You travel the world. Talk about your lifestyle. Pretty darn good, yes?
ANDY RODDICK: It’s very good. I tell anyone who’ll listen that I probably won’t ever have a real job. I feel 95 percent of people don’t enjoy what they do. It’s a means to get the stuff they do enjoy or to get to the weekend. But I really do enjoy what I do and I definitely don’t take it for granted. I realize the reality of my situation.
IT: You’ve said your worst day is better than a lot of other people’s best…
AR: Yes. I got a lot of kind of condolences after Wimbledon with people asking, “Are you okay?” and I said, “I’m disappointed. Obviously, it was a little heart-breaking. But let’s put this is perspective. I got to play in one of the best Wimbledon finals ever. I got cheered and I’ll have those memories forever.” I look back and have a lot more great memories than bad ones. At times like that, you have to have a little respect. I was never going to feel sorry for myself.
IT: You’re right there playing in a classic. The whole world is watching you on the sport’s most hallowed court. What were your thoughts out there in the moment?
AR: I was as good as I’ve ever been at literally going to the next point. I wasn’t upset about anything – even when I had my chances in the second set breaker.
IT: Four set points.
AR: Even there, I got back and won the third set. I wasn’t thinking about all the extracurricular stuff. I know it’s big, but that’s a little bit lost on me. Two, three weeks later Tom Watson was at the British Open. Everybody was watching that. I said, “This is amazing. How cool is that?” And my buddy looked at me like I was stupid because just weeks before I was in the same situation.
IT: Do you ever think of that backhand volley at set point off of a floater that…?
AR: I’m the first person to say when I’ve choked shots or matches. That one wasn’t. The fact that I missed it badly made people remember. It was a high ball. The wind was gusty. I was dealing with whether to let it bounce. And the way Roger hits passing shots, you either put it away or you lose. So, I don’t think about that shot. That’s not a shot that won or lost the match.
IT: It’s said that you got more out of that loss than all your other wins combined.
AR: From a public perception standpoint, I would agree 100 percent. I was first the young up-and-coming, ah-shucks kid from Nebraska. Then the endorsements and the hype came and I have a bit of a temper. So then I was kind of a punk. Then there was the comeback story, and then there’s a comeback 2.0. After Wimbledon, for the first time I was presented as an Everyday Joe who works his tail off and tries his best every time, which is the way I view myself. I go about my business every day, I go to work and that’s it. So it was an interesting progression to see that change after one match.
IT: Do you think you’ve pretty much been the same meat and potatoes all along or have you…
AR: Everyone changes from 19 to 27. It’s a very interesting part of most people’s lives. I’ve just had an audience. But the core of me hasn’t changed too much. I’m probably a lot more of a homebody now. I wake up a lot earlier and I enjoy tennis a lot more. The way I was presented at any given time was an extreme version of myself.
IT: Were you as much of a punk as you were portrayed?
AR: I don’t think so. There was the failed [AmEx] mojo campaign. That adds to public sentiment. That’s not who I am at home or when I’m hanging out with my friends. We’ve all made good decisions. Obviously, that was a suspect one.
IT: Was the mojo campaign your answer to Agassi’s “Image is Everything” campaign?
AR: Probably. And there was Dan [O’Brien] and Dave [Johnson’s] Reebok campaign. A campaign is never any good if the athlete doesn’t produce. I lost in the first round at the Open, absolutely ruining and making a mockery of that campaign. If I had semifinaled, it would have been a great campaign.
IT: Tennis is such an individual sport — 20,000 people watching just two athletes. The public watches your evolution — from young exciting kid to man-child, all the struggles.
AR: It’s so weird because I was never outside the top 10. I guess mainstream America kind of checked out between ‘03 and the ‘06 U.S. Open final, which was my first comeback. Then, all of a sudden, it’s ‘09 and we’re at a Wimbledon final. In the three years in-between, I was still a top-10 player.
IT: Many contended the field caught up to…
AR: The field caught up to everybody. Tennis is deeper now than ever. I can confidently say that I would beat the ‘03 version.
IT: You’ve said that the 10-15 seconds after a big win is what it’s all about.
AR: That’s what you train for. That’s the great feeling. You close it out, it’s done. It’s a euphoric feeling.
IT: And your most euphoric feeling?
AR: I don’t think of the U.S. Open first. It was quick. [Winning the Davis Cup in] Portland was great because it was an eight-year process. It was a culmination, and it was about the guys, a different feeling. It wasn’t selfish. At the ‘06 U.S. Open, I had a blast because for the life of me, I couldn’t understand how I was getting the door shut on me at 24. Guys who were older were called “up-and-coming.” I was having trouble grasping that…[I had] a chip on my shoulder at that tournament, and I enjoyed that. Last year’s [Wimbledon] win against Lleyton [Hewitt] and then against [Andy] Murray in the semis, those were good.
IT: American men’s tennis, you can argue, has gone through some pretty clear eras. There were the dignified pioneers, Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe, then Jimbo and Mac, then the Fab Four. Since Sampras, Agassi, Courier and Chang stepped aside, you can say it’s been “The Andy Era.”
AR: You could say that. Tennis has just become so much more global. The talent pool is so much deeper. You used to look at the top 100 players and 30 were from Australia, 30 were from America, and then it was kind of spotty. What’s tennis in the U.S. — the 10th biggest, behind even extreme sports? Everywhere else it’s second, so their best athletes are going into it. It’s something I’ve dealt with throughout my career, being the guy. There is a sense of responsibility for holding up tennis, especially considering our tradition. But for every negative there are three positives. You can’t accept the positives and complain about the negatives.
IT: At one point, you spoke of how you were looking for your edge. You said, “Probably under my dresser.” You started to turn it around with Larry Stefanki and your future wife, Brooklyn, in your corner.
AR: We had a talk and I said to Brooke, “I honestly don’t know if my best tennis is behind me.” I was coming off a shoulder injury. I wasn’t playing great. We thought, “What do you want? Who do you want to work with? Who gets you excited? What are we going to change? Are we going to become a better athlete? The game is changing, so you’re not going to rely just on shotmaking anymore. It’s not two shots — you have to be able to move, to run.” So it was a tough time. I had to look at myself objectively. We took a risk. We dropped some weight. We started playing a little bit differently, incorporating slices, and incorporating changing to meet the demands of how the game had changed. And last year it worked, up until when I got hurt. But I was playing well.
IT: You said you see tennis in a different, more conscious way.
AR: You learn more about the game having been around it. What I did at the beginning of my career, having huge holes in my game, but being able to cover them up with strengths. I don’t think that would work now. You don’t see someone with just one shot.
IT: Some have said it was tough on your career that you won so big so early, with a game that wasn’t complete.
AR: It’s never a bad thing to win the Open. It’s never a bad time to make a Slam final. There was a lot to deal with afterward, because I had a personality. If I had been from a smaller market, someone who didn’t have the storylines behind him, who wasn’t a complete wiseass, there would have been a lot less to deal with. But I wouldn’t change a thing because what you go through shapes you as a person. You learn your lessons. I love my career, every second. The valleys are what make the peaks great. That what makes those 10 to 15 seconds after a win so sweet.
IT: You were once a thrower, now you’re a pitcher. You’re using slice more, you’re switching it up more.
AR: You have to make adjustments…There are some matchups where you can switch things up. You have an option. I’m always going to have my A game. My serve is always going to be my thing. I’m never going to turn into someone who spins it. It would be stupid not to use it. But if the A game’s not working, I feel like I can run. I can put the ball in play and I can haul ass for a couple of hours and be able to mix it up mid-match if something’s not working. There wasn’t a plan B before. The ‘05 U.S. Open was a perfect example. If I had a plan B, I would have gotten through that match. If I’d been able to chip it, stand way back, get returns in, make the guy think a bit as opposed to just hit, hit, hit, hit, hit.
IT: Does having those options take a little pressure off, knowing that you’re not always dependent on your fastball?
AR: It’s nice to have options.
IT: Plus, recently you’ve hit a few Fabrice Santoro-like dropshots?
AR: People ask me, “Do you enjoy that a lot more than hitting an ace?” I say, “You’re damn right I do!” I’ve hit 15,000 aces. The other ones, you’ve got to enjoy those a little more. It’s like hitting a hole-in-one as opposed to a couple of birdies.
IT: Larry Stefanki noted that people dismiss your wife Brooklyn, saying she’s just supermodel in a bathing suit. But he said she’s one tough cookie. She came up from Carolina to New York and worked her way to the top, she’s a self-starter.
AR: My favorite thing about Brooke is her drive. She loves working. She loves doing it. She moved from a very humble background in North Carolina to take a swing. “I’m going to move to New York by myself straight out of high school and live by myself.” It takes some stones. She’s very self-motivated. She works for what she gets. She hustles.
IT: And the SI cover was like her Wimbledon?
AR: She earned that cover through her personality and professionalism. She’ll tell you that there’s a lot of pretty girls. It’s huge. It’ll open a lot of doors. They just announced she got a role in a [Adam] Sandler movie. She’s all over the place. The last thing she ever wants to be is to be perceived as my wife. She could sit back, go to tournaments and sit in player lounges. That doesn’t interest her. We both realize we have limited shelf lifes. So we support each other in our goals. She’s a good soul. She doesn’t get too carried away with everything. She has a good head on her shoulders. To go into the fashion industry, which isn’t exactly the most morally sound industry that’s ever been created, at 16-17 and remain unaffected, is a testament to the way her parents raised her.
IT: Another person that’s pretty important in your life is a guy named Federer. If it weren’t for him, you might have a trophy or two more?
AR: It crosses your mind, but it isn’t something I obsess about. I get a lot of that from Joe-shmos: “Federer owns you.” But if you were compared to the best person that’s ever done what you do, you probably wouldn’t match up favorably. I have a lot of respect for Roger and the way he goes about his business. It would be a lot harder for me if I was losing to someone who didn’t respect the sport. What are you going to do? Next time I go out, I’m going to try as hard as I can again.
IT: Connors once said he was going to chase Bjorn Borg around the world until he got some wins. A while back you said you didn’t care if you had to chase Roger until you were 1-31. You’re now 2-19.
AR: Yeah, what are you going to do?
IT: Jimmy and John McEnroe were at each other’s throats.
AR: When I’m on the court, I don’t like anybody I’m playing. I get intense against James and Mardy, and they’re two of my best friends. That doesn’t mean I can’t respect how Roger handles himself. But there’s no laying down.
IT: What is it in his game that…
AR: His defense. That doesn’t get talked about. The way he’s able to convert defense into offense with a subtle little chip. He can do a lot of things with a racket like as if he was born with it. You can stick a return deep and he will flick a forehand to the opposite corner. He makes it look easy. That’s a really rough shot. It doesn’t make sense.
IT: Do we call that artistry?
AR: You can call it whatever you want. The point being, he makes a lot of the tougher shots look routine, regularly.
IT: He’s a great fighter.
AR: Everything is great when you’re winning. It’s easy to be a winner when you never lose. You know for that four-year run, when I was kind of in the middle of it and he was losing three matches a year, I don’t think you then get a true test of someone’s will. He’s just saying, “I’m better than you.” [But]last year at the French, when Rafa went out he knew this was his shot. Yet he was down to [Tommy] Haas, he knew that was his opportunity and dug in. He was down to [Juan Martin] Del Potro, dug in. That was a show of his will. He wasn’t the better player in a lot of those matches, but won the tournament. That was probably one of his more impressive Slams.
IT: What was your take on the tears in Australia after he lost to Nadal?
AR: My first reaction was, “Come on, Roger, you’ve won enough!” He did it because, obviously, he cared a lot, and he sensed Rafa legitimately had the upper hand. The other part of me was going, “Come on, you’ve done it 13 times. Let the guy have one.” I can honestly tell you in that moment, I had zero sympathy for Roger. And that’s not mean. We get along great. It was just nice to see he cared so much.
IT: Some are dismissive of your career, but when you break it down, you can argue that you’re the premier Davis Cup player of our era and, after Roger, the most consistent.
AR: The thing is, you can make top 10 on a hot streak once. You can make it on reputation twice. You can make it on whatever it is three times. It doesn’t happen eight times by accident. You have to have something there. You have to know the ins and outs a bit. You have to work real hard. You can probably make it into the top 10 on talent, but you have to have staying power. You have to respect what you do, work at it, and the longer I do, the more people will realize that aspect of it, which is gratifying. As far as being dismissed, you’re not going to believe me, but I don’t get that concerned. That’s someone’s opinion and I feel the people who know tennis will respect my resume and its length. If I have a basketball reporter commenting on tennis, and dismissing me, I don’t care. But not in an arrogant way. It doesn’t affect my morning. It’s forgotten. In order for it to bother me, I have to feel like the person honestly understands the ins and outs of what it takes to be a player.
IT: You’ve said Agassi, Lance Armstrong and Muhammad Ali were your heroes?
AR: There have been a lot of great athletes, but I put someone like Ali on a different pedestal. In the prime of his career he stood up for something he believed in and missed seven years of his prime. Someone like Lance, took his success and waged a war on cancer. Someone like Arthur [Ashe], who’s been a transcendent person, as far as HIV and Aids. Andre taking his leverage and becoming a leading philanthropist, and Billie Jean and her fight for equality. Those people are heroes. They’ve taken what they’ve done as athletes and used it as a soapbox for something that’s bigger than themselves.
IT: Tennis is an individual sport with lots of wealth. The top players are really brands unto themselves. Yet, our sport, has had some true visionaries.
AR: I don’t know why besides the fact that tennis is such a close-knit family. Every person we’ve mentioned, with the exception of Arthur, I’ve been able to have a personal relationship with throughout my career. I don’t know if that lineage. I don’t know if there is another sport where there is such a close connection between generations. The reason I started my foundation was because of Andre…He’s been completely revolutionary as far as athletic philanthropy goes.
IT: And your take on his using meth?
AR: I’m going to judge someone based upon how they’ve treated me personally and their effect on the world. Andre’s effect on the world has been unquestionably positive. But, I don’t judge someone for having a rough time in their life. A recovered alcoholic is celebrated. It was shocking to me how quickly the tennis world turned their back on Andre when he came out with this. I talked to Andre during this whole thing and he said his perspective was, “I was at the lowest of the low. I was depressed, I didn’t know why. I had this angst. I was using hard-core drugs. I got a second chance. I was able to rebound. If that can effect one person who’s in the space I was in and inspire them to get out of their rut…[after all] I got back to No. 1 in the world.” Andre really thinks his story is a tool for people who’re in a bad place.
IT: Yet Rafa was very critical and Roger said there was “a dark cloud over our sport?”
AR: I was disappointed in their statements. They’re level-headed. But I’m just amazed. Andre is possibly the biggest crossover star we’ve had and he built the business side up. [Yet] the majority of the tennis world just instantly wanted nothing to do with him, like hands off. It was surprising.
IT: What about Serena’s N.Y. implosion?
AR: She just got pissed. Listen, you probably got pissed and threw something against the wall because something happened at work. You probably dropped terrible language during the work day. She did it, it was televised, she snapped. The only thing was during her press conference she didn’t have it figured out.
Być może już ktoś to wrzucił. W każdym razie Andy Roddick zrezygnował z udziału w rozgrywkach Pucharu Davisa w 2010 roku, by w pełni skoncentrować się na karierze singlowej.
Źródło: http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20100 … _Davis_Cup
Roddick Reaches Second Miami Final
“You have become the player of March Madness, moving into the final,” commentator Justin Gimelstob noted post-match after Andy defeated Spain’s Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the Sony Ericsson Open semifinals. As for what Andy’s game plan is for Sunday, Roddick replied, “You know that’s an easy answer, right? Win!”
Andy started the match on his racquet at 1pm on Stadium Court in Miami, and served up a nearly untouchable service game, three aces and held to love. At 1-1, however, Nadal picked up on Andy’s serving and began dictating play, running our American from side-to-side deep behind the baseline, which earned the Spaniard a break point. A forehand cross-court winner converted the first break, though the former Florida-native earned a break point shortly after, to no avail though. After that, Roddick served a handful of love games to the world number four until break and set point came around, but the sixth seed’s smooth sailing aces came in a three pack to hold. Nadal shortly after held to take the set, 6-4, in 45 minutes.
The second set started on Andy’s Babolat as well, holding easily. Immediately after, the Pure Drive Roddick also earned him a break point, though Nadal’s AeroProDrive slammed winners to hold. Play heated up under the Miami sun as these two Top 10 players settled into the second set, especially as Andy challenged Nadal’s serving. Holding at 4-3, Roddick’s offensive tactics and pressure earned him triple break points, and a whipping cross-court forehand sealed the lead, 5-3. After serving up another game of “love” to Rafa, a third set would be the determining factor.
The final set was a reflection of the second- Nadal held easily and earned a break point one Andy’s first service game. Both Roddick’s serving and winners at the net kept the score even, 1-1. As the yellow bullet soared from the Spaniard’s side again, unrelentless Roddick defense forced the error for double-break points; although one slipped away, the second didn’t as the ball slid down the net off Rafa’s racquet to give Andy the edge, 2-1. The subdued number four seed held onto his serve a little more securely as ace #6 closed the seventh game of the set, 3-4, with Roddick ready to roll. About to hold, Rafa fought back to deuce, a serve and volley created Advantage Roddick, a forehand winner curved down the line to bring it back to deuce, an unforced error gave Andy his second advantage, and an unreturned serve down the “T” allowed our American Firepower to hold, 5-3. Break and match point rolled around as the clock hit the two-hour mark, and with the crowd on the 2004 champion’s side, a long forehand handed the Final ticket to the home court hero- 4-6,6-3,6-3.
Andy will contend for his second title in Miami on Sunday against either Robin Soderling or Tomas Berdych winner. Stay tuned to AR.com for the post-match interview, Andy’s participation in “Champions for Chile” on Saturday, and a finals preview. Go Andy!
An interview with:
ANDY RODDICK
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Is this one of those matches where you look at a lot of hard work over a lot of years and this is the payoff?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, I think you play a match on a day and you feel good on that day.
You know, I took a lot of risk there in the last two sets. I said it on the court and I've it said a couple times: The best thing I can think of is I rolled the dice a lot and came up Yahtzee a couple times.
That's what I have to do. My comfort zone of moving the ball around and maybe chip ping it around a little bit doesn't work against Rafa. I had to try to come up with something that at least took him out of his comfort zone a little bit, and it paid off.
Q. How much did you decide to change your approach with the way the match was going when you got into the match a little bit?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, we talked, and, you know, I have been playing well over the last month. So going into the match, we said, Well, let's go with what you've been doing. Let's not come out and be desperate right away.
So I waited a little bit to be desperate. (Smiling.)
Q. When did you become desperate, exactly?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it's all a matter of how you're asking that question. But, no, I don't know. I think, you know, in the second set, you know, I wanted to come in on some more second serves just because I wanted to take away the middle of the court. I didn't want him to be kind of be comfortable hitting that heavy ball in the middle and kind of going from there.
So that was an conscious decision. I had to go after returns a little bit more. If I was just getting it back in play, then it was like water torture. You know, it was five or six shots, but I was never really feeling comfortable.
So the return was the key to me being able to get two feet under and hit a couple of those forehands, I think.
Q. How confident are you in the third set? You get your nose down in front of the break, and it seemed like you almost coasted on his serve. To have that 135 in the pocket, how effective was it?
ANDY RODDICK: It's nice, but, you know, the 135 wasn't gonna win me the match today. It does a lot of times. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it. But that's - I don't think that's the thing that won it for me today.
Q. In the eighth game of the second set when you broke at Love and you were ripping and/or taking some nice cuts on your forehand, what's prevented you in the past in some big matches from doing that in those matches and doing it today.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, like I said, you can't exactly plan on sticking three returns in a game on the line and backing him up. It's not as easy as, See ball; hit ball.
If that was the case, a lot of us would do that. I started sticking returns, and I got hot on my first and second serve returns.
I think that's what enabled me to really kind of get two feet under myself and take a cut.
Q. How often in the past have you served and volleyed on the second serve and been that effective as well? You've got to be proud about that.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, well, to Rafa's credit, normally I don't - I win, you know, 55%, 60% of my second serve points because guys don't handle it as well as Rafa does.
So he forced me into something that probably isn't the most comfortable thing more me. I did it well today.
Q. What's it like charging forward against Rafa?
ANDY RODDICK: It's kind of like driving into head on traffic times. (Laughter.)
But, you know, the way I rationalized it was, you know, I'm trying to get the upper hand in a rally. It's very tough once we get neutral. I don't hit the ball like him. I hit the ball straight through, and his ball comes up and down and he can switch directions a little bit easier than I can.
So basically I was sitting here thinking, all right, well, is my second serve my best approach shot against him? I thought it was, so that made the decision kind of, I guess, a little bit easier in my mind.
Doesn't always work, but I thought that was my best shot.
Q. In every year there are certain boosts to your morale or a player's morale. Where does this one rank in terms of morale boosters?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. You know, one thing Larry always says, and it kind of keeps things pretty simple, is: You're never playing as well as you think and you're never playing as badly as you think. So that kind of keeps it - every day you start over.
Today was a good day. Hopefully tomorrow will be okay, and hopefully Sunday will be another good day.
Q. You were talking on TV about how you felt after Memphis with your shoulder and knee and stuff. Did you think going into the next two tournaments it might be kind of tough for you? How pleased are you that it didn't turn out that way?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I remember I had lunch with Gimelstob, which is suspect decision making in the first place , and he asked, How are you feeling? That was right before we drove down to Palm Springs. I said, I really feel banged up. I don't feel real good about much.
That's the thing about sports. I mean, sometimes that happens when you're not really expecting it. Maybe that makes it easier sometimes. I don't know.
Q. Andy, Soderling? Berdych?
ANDY RODDICK: A lot of similarities. A lot of similarities. I don't know that I have much of a preference. With both guys you're gonna get guys who hit very hard and very flat, you know, aren't interested in rallying too much.
A lot of times they'll take it out of your hands a little bit. Both have been playing great. We'll be able to start preparing a little bit already mentally for what kind of match.
It's not like you're playing two guys who are on extreme ends of style.
Q. How about emotionally? I mean, a match like this, it really almost felt like a final out there. The crowd and it's Rafa and all that. How did you keep that level of intensity for Sunday?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, intensity hasn't been my problem. Execution has been my problem sometimes, but intensity I'll be okay.
Q. You just said something really interesting...
ANDY RODDICK: Really? (Laughter.)
Q. I thought as professional athletes you always expect to win. Coming into this tournament you really didn't see yourself as getting into the...
ANDY RODDICK: Well, there's a big difference between hoping to win and expecting to win. If I come in and I'm banged up and I don't feel super confident in what I'm able to do, we are - we are experts in the art of delusion.
I mean, I probably would have figured out a way to Jedi mind trick myself into thinking I had a shot.
But, you know, there's a big difference between hoping, and expecting. I think you always hope for the best, but if someone doesn't go - you know, they're coming off a month lay off and playing their first basketball game saying they expect to be right back where they started, it's a lie.
Q. How would you say Rafa responded to your tactics? Did you feel like he fell off at the last two sets, or was he right there?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I mean, he would answer that better than I would. I executed as well as I could. I had a - I mean, I literally took really, really ridiculous cuts at a lot of forehands.
They found the purple part. I might have missed a couple. So, you know, it was tough from there. I executed pretty well.
Q. How do you feel about upcoming clay season?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm not worried about it right now. I'm worried about Sunday.
Q. What was the immediate thought or feeling right when you won the match? What did you think or feel?
ANDY RODDICK: I was like, I can't believe he actually just missed a ball on his forehand. Once I got past that, I was pretty happy.
You know, obviously I was a little bit more pleased not having to go through the war of a service game to serve is out. That's always a nice feeling.
You know, but, again, there's still tennis to be played this week.
Q. Are you looking forward to participate tomorrow in the charity event for Chile?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I committed to that. I'll honor that for sure. I'm excited about it
# 29) TMS Miami 2010
R64 Igor Andreev 6-4 6-4
R32 Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2 6-1
R16 Benjamin Becker 7-6 6-3
Q Nicolas Almagro 6-3 6-3
S Rafael Nadal 4-6 6-3 6-3
W Tomas Berdych 7-5 6-4
CDN !
:D :D :* :*
No ba. Na przełomie czerwca i lipca atakujemy Wimbledon :D
Bizon napisał:
No ba. Na przełomie czerwca i lipca atakujemy Wimbledon :D
Taka okazja jaką miał rok temu na Wimblu była niepowtarzalna.Z wiadomych względów byłem wtedy za Federerem,ale oceniając grę Roda to z mojej perspektywy należy się mu tytuł na Wimblu.
Po ceremonii proszę wkleić zdjęcie Roda z trofeum! :D
Yannick napisał:
Po ceremonii proszę wkleić zdjęcie Roda z trofeum! :D
MISTRZ MIAMI 2010 ! :D :D 
Piękny grafik. :D
Radosław, tam 3-4 posty wyżej też by się jakaś fota przydała (post z wynikami). :P
Aha i brawo Duck. :D
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Radosław, tam 3-4 posty wyżej też by się jakaś fota przydała (post z wynikami). :P
No i jest. :P
Turniej ATP w Miami - zwycięstwo Roddicka
Rozstawiony z numerem szóstym Amerykanin Andy Roddick pokonał Czecha Tomasa Berdycha 7:5, 6:4 w finale turnieju ATP Masters 1000 na twardych kortach w Miami (z pulą nagród 4,5 mln dol.).
Roddick odniósł 29. zwycięstwo w karierze i drugie w turnieju w Key Biscayne, gdzie po raz pierwszy triumfował w 2004 roku. W półfinale Amerykanin pokonał Hiszpana Rafaela Nadala (4.) 4:6, 6:3, 6:3.
Wynik meczu finałowego:
Andy Roddick (USA, 6) - Tomas Berdych (Czechy, 16) 7:5, 6:4
Unbreakable Roddick Rolls To Title
Andy Roddick capped his best American hard court swing since 2006 when he won his second Sony Ericsson Open title to lift the inaugural Butch Buchholz trophy. Roddick defeated Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4, ending the Czech’s giant-killing run that claimed a trio of Top 10 seeds: Roger Federer, Fernando Verdasco and Robin Soderling.
Roddick took time out during the trophy presentation to pay tribute to Buchholz, the founder and retiring chairman of the event, who gave Roddick a wild card into the event 10 years ago when he was a 17-year-old rookie. “It’s nice that it’s now come full circle,” Roddick said.
Asked what most pleased him about the title run, Roddick said: “I won in different ways. I changed it up against Rafa and today I was smart with chipping and mixing paces, which kept him guessing. I held onto my serve well throughout and played a pretty smart tournament.”
Former World No. 1 Roddick did not face a break point in the match and dropped serve just twice in the tournament, including once during his masterful win over Rafael Nadal in three sets in the semi-finals.
Roddick, who won his first Sony Ericsson Open title in 2004, claimed his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title since Cincinnati in 2006, a year in which he also made a run to the US Open final. Two weeks ago Roddick was the beaten finalist at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells. His title run at the Sony Ericsson Open marks the first time since 2003 (Montreal and Cincinnati) that Roddick has reached the final of back-to-back ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments.
In claiming his fifth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, Roddick increased his haul of tour-level titles to 29 from 49 finals. The 27-year-old Austin, Tx., resident, leads the ATP World Tour with a 26-4 match record this season.
In the first set against Berdych Roddick twice rallied from 0-30 deficits, although neither player faced a break point until 5-5, when the Czech was the first to crack. Berdych offered up his second break point of the game with a double fault at deuce and then, after almost double faulting again, sprayed a forehand well long to hand Roddick a 6-5 lead. Roddick then served out the set to love, ending with his fifth ace.
Berdych was unable to exert pressure when Roddick missed his first serve, winning just one of 11 second serve points. He also paid the price for 19 unforced errors – most off his forehand wing - to Roddick’s nine.
Berdych began the second set with two tentative net approaches and Roddick earned a break point with a cross-court backhand passing shot and then claimed the early break when Berdych hit another forehand long. That was all the opening needed by Roddick, who won 61 of 63 service games during the tournament.
Berdych was attempting to become the first player in 20 years outside the South African Airways ATP Rankings Top 20 to win the Sony Ericsson Open title.
Andy Roddick: Lacoste Challenge's New Face!
Andy Roddick is the new face for Lacoste’s Challenge fragrance, in stores now for $40-$60.
“I’m thrilled that Lacoste invited me to be the face of its men’s fragrance, Challenge,” the 27-year-old tennis ace says in a release (via People). “This fresh, and dynamic fragrance represents well the image of Lacoste as a chic, sporty and elegant brand.”
Challenge is a mix of citrus and aromatic lavender. Andy is replacing Hayden Christensen as the new spokesperson for the fragrance.
Stefanki : Roddick może pójść w ślady Agassiego.
Larry Stefanki, coach Andy'ego Roddicka jest przekonany, że Jego podopieczny pójdzie w ślady Andre Agassiego i największe triumfy Roddicka są jeszcze przed nim.
"Myślę, że Jego kariera może potoczyć się podobnie do kariery Agassiego, który największe sukcesy odnosił po 27 roku życia" - stwierdził Kanadyjczyk.
Andre Agassi wygrał 5 turniejów WS, po swoich 29 urodzinach.
Tramlines: A-Rod gets Decker and Decker
No sooner had Andy Roddick held aloft the new glass vase bearing co-founder and tournament chairman Butch Buchholz Jr's name in staggeringly large font, but the American's career was being compared to that of Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi.
The sixth seed and new world number seven ended a four-year drought as he clinched his fifth Masters 1000 title, and the 2004 champion at Key Biscayne became only the fifth man to win the Miami title twice.
Roddick joins Andre Agassi (6), Pete Sampras (3), Roger Federer (2) and Ivan Lendl (2) as multiple winners in Florida and, according to his coach Larry Stefanki, the 27-year-old can emulate Agassi in peaking in the latter years of his career.
"I think this is still the infancy, I really do - I think he could be similar to Agassi where his best years are from 27 onwards," Stefanki said.
"I have seen it done before. I think he was very raw and his game is starting to come to where it is not hit and miss."
Stefanki thinks that the American's sudden improvement in form is due to a combination of weight loss and his swimsuit model wife - a blend which Jamie Murray and Alex Bogdanovic are contemplating adopting too.
The appearance of wife Brooklyn Decker has apparently seen Roddick's stress levels plummet and, according to his coach, the introduction of an organic, healthy diet in place of junk food has also helped - a searing revelation, no doubt.
"I told him 'If you want to get faster, you have to lose weight'," said Stefanki, who can list helping the pony-tailed Chilean Marcelo Rios and Yevgeny Kafelnikov rise to prominence on his resume.
"You are working five hours a day and re-polluting your body. Now he still eats a lot - but he eats the right stuff.
"I think there has been a maturing, his nervous system is calmer now and then you have control over your game and your body," he added.
Roddick is also sure that the partnership is taking his game to new levels, and praises Stefanki for the vital components provided by any tennis coach: namely that he is never late for golf, has a high tennis IQ and a hell of a personality. What is more, he even tells his charge what to do!
"I think he wanted to run things and I was more than okay with that, that's what I wanted. I wanted the guidance. I'm not going to pay a guy to be my coach and then tell him what to do. You would be surprised how prevalent that is in tennis," Roddick said.
"It's a great mix. I love his tennis IQ. I like his energy. I don't know if I've ever seen him stressed out unless we're late for a tee time.
"The tennis side of it works and the personality side of it works. So I think we're in a good spot," he added.
But back to the perhaps premature and hugely flattering comparisons; Roddick certainly has a similar level of intensity and desire for fitness and ethically-farmed wheatgrass as Agassi, but can the two be seriously compared?
Agassi had won three of his eight Grand Slams before the age of 29, and perhaps given his talent, the denim shorts-wearing American would have bagged significantly more if only for a prolonged slump due to his highly-publicised off-the-court problems.
Of course, Roddick has made a fine start to 2010, having won the Brisbane Open and losing in the final at Indian Wells before having the privilege of receiving the Butch Bucholz trophy from the man himself - but does that really justify the post-Miami hype?
Reed: Roddick good, but not great
When I heard what Larry Stefanki had to say on Andy Roddick's potential to emulate Andre Agassi in his later career, my initial thought was that it was just the natural reaction of a coach talking up his player.
There is no doubt to me that Roddick was starting to slip down the rankings and that his role as a contender at Grand Slams was diminishing.
But last year's Wimbledon changed all that. And following his latest win in Miami, it seems he's not quite ready to fall down the rankings and I believe he has what it takes to go on and win one more Slam.
But can he do what Agassi did and win five more major titles and become world number one after turning 29? I'm not so sure.
Roddick always does well in America, both in Grand Slams and ATP events, and he was on terrific form in Miami, especially against Rafa Nadal and Tomas Berdych, who is playing really well at the moment.
But perhaps it is a bit late for him. Two or three years ago when he was that bit younger I would have said yes, he can become world number one again. But he is limited at the moment.
What he does now is use his strengths better to mask his weaknesses. The Nadal match proved as much when he combined brilliantly with Stefanki on a tactical level, working out a way to take the Spaniard on, mixing it up and not giving him as much pace as he would have liked.
But his backhand isn't the best - he hides it well - and his forehand, while better than it was two or three years ago, isn't as strong as in his early career.
His service game remains the key, but what is really impressive about Roddick is that the desire still burns brightly inside him. You have to admire him for that.
You can understand why Stefanki came out with those comments. None of the top players are getting any better; Roger Federer may well win a couple more Slams this year but for me he's still not the player he was two years ago, Nadal has had his injury problems, Andy Murray has not advanced quite at the pace we expected and Novak Djokovic certainly hasn't.
The others are certainly catching up and the gap between the top four and the next six or eight is slight. Roddick is well amongst the chasing pack.
Wimbledon last year will have given Roddick a huge boost. There comes a point when a player needs to see definite results and some substance behind a good relationship with a coach. That's what happened in SW19 and it seemed to reignite some belief inside him.
If he is to win another Slam, it could well be there. It's possible, but I can't see him winning multiple Slams. In that respect, Agassi stands way ahead of Roddick.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/si … icle/2364/
Znawca Simon :)
:o
Spalić heretyka!
Hm, jak już ta menda zaczyna pisać o Rodzie to znaczy, że faktycznie wrócił do ścisłej czołówki.
Safin, Sampras think Roddick can win another Slam
Reported on April 11, 2010
During an exhibition in Atlantic City, both Marat Safin and Pete Sampras have said that Miami champion Andy Roddick has a chance to win another Grand Slam. The top-ranked American hasn’t won one since the 2003 US Open.
“He’s playing very well now and it can’t get any better than beating Nadal,” Safin said of Roddick’s semifinal victory in Miami. “Andy is moving incredibly well, his backhand is working, the serve and forehand will always be there and he has a very good chance to do well at Wimbledon.”
Sampras added, “I think he realizes now when he plays top players that he has to do more than just stay back and rally. He’s right there. He just needs to believe and step up and try to do it.”—M.C.
Skoro tak mówi Pete Sampras to na pewno wie co mówi. Andy z pewnością zrobi wszystko żeby utrzymać się w formie
na turniej w Wimbledonie. Jest poza tym jeszcze US Open, więc szansę w tym roku na tytuł są spore. ;)
Roddicki na Hawajach:
Więcej zdjęć:
http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/04/2 … niversary/
I przy okazji, Roddick out z Rzymu.
Roddick second honeymoon interferes with Rome
Roddick second honeymoon interferes with Rome Andy Roddick will miss the Rome Masters for his second year running as the No. 7 celebrates a second honeymoon with bikini-model-turned actress wife Brooklyn Decker.
While Decker takes a break in shooting in Hawaii of a romantic comedy with Jennifer Aniston, Roddick has been along for the ride, with gossip media showing him in a shirtless run on a beach.
Roddick last played in Rome in 2008, reaching the semi-finals where he lost to Swiss Stan Wawrinka. He skipped the Italian clay trip a year ago to get married.
Starting his clay season at the Foro Italico will be Roger Federer, while Rafael Nadal is due to play after winning Monte Carlo a week ago for a sixth consecutive time but withdrawing from his home Barcelona Open this week to rest.
Roddick's last outing was a title in Miami last month on hardcourt. Federer owns two Rome finals but no title and Nadal has won four of the last five editions.
Beside Roddick, the clay field will be missing US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro, out since the Australian Open with a wrist injury, Russian number six Nikolay Davydenko (broken wrist) and Argentine David Nalbandian.
Roddick will not be penalised in the rankings or fined for missing the Italian stop as he will be using his "get out of jail card" with the ATP which allows veterans with over 600 matches played to receive one tournament exemption per season.
COA napisał:
I przy okazji, Roddick out z Rzymu.
Na jego miejscu, też wybrałbym Brooke i Hawaje. :P
Przynajmniej na wakacjach zdjac by ta czapke :P
W sumie dobra decyzja Roda, lepiej zrobic jedna dluzsza przerwe niz dwie krotsze i zagrac w Rzymie, a odpuscic Madryt. Latka leca, a gdzie najlepiej odpuscic jak nie w trakcie sezonu ceglanego.
Nie, niech on jej nie zdejmuje do końca życia, pamiętamy przecież Paryż 08 xDDDDDDDD
Andy jest poirytowany tym że Queens Club, to zaledwie "250" i że na na trawie nie ma mastersa, ani chocby "500".
Twitter:
random thought... the tournament at queens club now has 8 of the top 11 entered and its still a 250... no 500 or masters on grass...... um..
3 masters 1000 on clay and at least 3 or 4 500 tournies on clay
please note that i have not entered an opinion here..... just repeating facts
Aha, Andy życzy JMDP powrotu do zdrowia.;)
also, on a different not i hope Del Potro's wrist heals quickly! really sad to see his bad news today.. the game is better with him healthy
Coming Up for Andy
Andy returns to action next week in Madrid for the ATP Masters 1000 Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open. This will be Andy’s first tournament since capturing the title in Miami, back at the start of April.
Madird will also see Andy’s first outing on the clay this year. In 2009 Andy had a good run in Madrid, reaching the quarter-finals where he pushed eventual Champion, Roger Federer, to three sets.
Following Madrid, Andy’s Euro travels will continue as he heads to Paris for the French Open, which begins on Sunday, May 23rd. Last year Andy recorded his best ever result at Roland Garros reaching the fourth round.
Heading into June, we reach one of Andy’s favourite times of year – the grass court season! Andy will head to London for the Aegon Championships, where he is four-time Champion. Queen’s will start on Monday, June 7th.
Andy’s matches at the Queen’s Club will play a vital part in the warm up for The Championships, Wimbledon. The third Grand Slam of the year gets underway on June 21st and Andy will be hoping to go one step further than his fantastic feat last year, where he reached the final before losing a heart breaker to Roger Federer.
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the coverage from the clay court and grass court seasons!
Andy Roddick napisał:
off to spain today! excited to start playing again
:P
Tennis-Roddick's French Open build-up hit by illness
Andy Roddick's preparations for the French Open were dealt a blow on Wednesday when he was forced to withdraw from the Madrid Masters due to a virus.
The American world number eight suffered bouts of vomiting and sweating this week and said he found it hard to focus on the ball during his first-round men's doubles loss on Tuesday.
"Obviously, this is far from perfect in terms of preparation heading into Paris but you play the hand you are dealt," the pale-looking Roddick told a brief news conference.
"Playing well there isn't out of the question but it's just going to be a little bit tougher," he added.
Roddick recorded his best performance at the French Open last year when he reached the fourth round and said a lack of practice on clay would not necessarily stop him repeating the feat when the tournament gets underway on May 23.
"Obviously, you always want a great tournament heading into a slam and I think you're more likely to play well with matches going in. That said, I only had two matches going in last year and had my best French Open so it is possible," he said.
"First and foremost I have to get better and rest and make sure I'm ready to go and get on the practice court."
(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Ken Ferris
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12052010/ … um=twitter
:( Wracaj do zdrowia Andy, robimy ćwiartkę w Paryżu !
Roddick Paris in peril after pulling out ill from Madrid
Andy Roddick heads to Paris under-done after withdrawing with a stomach virus from the Madrid Masters before his opening second-round match with Spain's Feliciano Lopez.
"This is disappointing. I've worked hard after Miami, spending three weeks on clay in the States with my fitness trainer and coach," said the fifth seed, who was also the subject of pap snaps in Hawaii as he accompanied his bikini model wife on the set of a film she was shooting with Jennifer Aniston.
"We'll have to see what I can do to get a match or two," said the player who is due for one exhibition match next week in Paris prior to the May 23 start of the French Open.
Roddick said he got hit hard by the virus upon arrival in Spain. "I was up about 24 hours between Sunday and Monday night with all the symptoms," said the winner of the Miami Masters in early April.
"I played doubles but couldn't focus on the ball. it was the same this morning after I warmed up. I don't want to go into a tennis match feeling like that.
"I would have taken this virus any time over the past five weeks, but unfortunately I have it now," he said. "I'll have to see what I can do later for some matches.
The American said that his French Open campaign is not yet lost. "I went to Paris last year with only two match wins (from three played in Madrid). I still had my best Roland Garros ever (fourth-round loss to Gael Monfils)."
RG 2010 - wywiad z Andym po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
Q. Same old clay courts, but maybe a different Roddick out there.
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, I don't know. You know, there was a lot of ugliness out there today. But, you know, at the end of it, I get to play again.
So that's that's all you you go into a day hoping to get through a day, and I got through today.
Q. You never played him before. Was he kind of a mystery out there with all his spin? He's very fast.
ANDY RODDICK: No, no, no. I think anybody you've been on tour with he's been 13 in the world, so obviously I've seen him play a bunch. We played here in juniors 11 years ago, I think, and that didn't go so well.
Yeah, he does a great job because he makes up for his weaknesses. Obviously his second serve is probably his weakest part. But if you take a crack at it down the middle, he's so good down the middle of the court just redistributing the ball.
So I was getting a little frustrated with that. He's tough.
Q. Obviously that's one way to get some clay court matches under your belt, but maybe not how you wanted. What's it like when you've had that long of a break without a match to come out, you know, at a slam and play?
ANDY RODDICK: It's not easy. I mean, definitely, you know, spending three days in bed in Madrid wasn't the way we wrote it up, you know. That was bad. That was not, you know, the preparation we wanted. We did the best we could. We scrambled last week and got two matches out at an XO. You know, XO is never the same.
You know, so as far as preparation physically and in practice, it was good. But, you know, like you mentioned, it's or like I mentioned, it's not the same.
It definitely was less than perfect, but I put some time in today.
Q. Were the courts pretty quick?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I can never really tell. I don't know. They're still slippery.
Q. When Murray finished after four hours yesterday, he was absolutely dead on his feet. How do you feel after five sets out there?
ANDY RODDICK: I feel better now than I did 45 minutes ago. But it's tough for me, because I also feel I don't have a lot of rhythm in my movement out here. I feel like I fought against myself a lot and get stuck.
So clay is probably tougher for me physically than any other surface. I was definitely feeling it more than I normally do in that fifth set. But one thing I've always been able to do well is recover well. You know, a day of rest, I feel like I can get back to neutral most times.
Q. As a player who always puts everything out on the court in every match you played, were you a little bit disappointed to read Sam Querrey's comments today? He basically said he didn't want to be on the court and pretty much wanted to get off the court and get on the plane and go home. Was that a bit surprising for you?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I probably would hold back from commenting until I actually this is news to me. You know, I just finished off the court, so probably want to hear it from Sam himself before I jump on that one.
Q. Mardy said you guys have been here for 12 days, right, you were here for a good week when there were no other players? Didn't it help just to be out on this surface at a locale movement wise, or was it just the match is so much different once you get out on center?
ANDY RODDICK: It's always different. You know, like I said, like I commented to Doug, I did everything I can to kind of it's kind of like when you miss an assignment in school and they give you a chance to get extra credit. I've been trying real hard to get extra credit. It's never really the same.
After Madrid, I did pretty much everything I could to be prepared here. But, you know, I didn't play my best today, and I definitely wasn't match tough.
I've been saying all week if I can get through the first one or the second one, then maybe I will start hitting my stride and playing a little bit better. But it's just a matter of surviving and advance. Today I guess I found a way to get through it.
Q. You're playing Blaz Kavcic next round. Do you know anything about him?
ANDY RODDICK: I found a person who knew him.
Q. Who was that?
ANDY RODDICK: Who was the person? A guy who he had played in quallies in Australia. So, you know, I got a little bit of a scouting report, and I'm sure I'll do some more Googling when I get back to my room tonight and try and figure something out and maybe try to get a tape of his match today or something so I have you know, but I've never played him and I don't know him.
Q. Just after Miami, you made the decision clearly you needed some time off. You wanted to rest the body. But now thinking back, would it have been a good idea to play Rome, or is it basically you didn't know you were going to get sick in Madrid?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I didn't know I was going to get sick in Madrid. That was my preparation last year and I had my best ever French Open.
Also I have responsibilities elsewhere, you know. It was my first anniversary and I hadn't seen Brook in a while. I think at that point in the year, that was always gonna take precedence for me. That was a time that we had blocked out for us, and you know, that's necessary.
Q. How different a player are you than you were two, three years ago? Is this maybe a match you wouldn't have pulled out a couple years back?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, I don't know. I've been pretty good at sticking around. The majority of the matches I win aren't pretty.
But I've made a career out of that. I think I'm in, you know, in better shape now than I was three years ago. I don't think the difference is as big as everyone talks about. I think it's just a matter of between the ears, you know, I didn't get I was very frustrated at times, and was audible with it at times, but, you know, I have, I don't know, a sense of calm a lot even when things aren't going my way. I realize it is possible to a match can turn quick, and it did there in the fourth set breaker on three points and then all of a sudden, you know, a lot of times it's just about momentum shift.
Q. Not to repeat what Sam said, but in a sense he was saying that he's been in Europe a long time, he played I think four events in a row, including last week, and that maybe wasn't such a great decision to come over so early. Match practice wise or match toughness wise it was good but a player can run the risk of getting a little bit fried before a Major.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, yeah, you live and learn. You know, like I said, I think before I comment on, you know, hearsay and whatever else is being interpreted, I'll probably, you know, address it with Sam if I talk to him.
You know, it's a tough it's tough for him because when he's in the States he plays really well when he plays a lot. He can play a lot.
You know, you learn. I mean, I feel like I have a better grasp on my schedule now than I did when I was 21 or 22, and it seems like I played everything.
He'll learn.
Q. I know you all have obligations and commitments, but on a purely personal level, would you like to just each year just fast forward from Miami and go straight to practicing on grass?
ANDY RODDICK: No, no, I mean, I know the press, it seems that way to you guys. But this is also part of the year, part of leadup. Having to battle against, you know, my own style on a surface, and, you know, it is all a learning experience, so I don't think I would fast forward anything.
Q. No doubt when you go to a hardcourt or grass, you expect to win. When you come here, is it just sort of let's kind of get the rhythm, let's see how well I do, every win is gravy? What's the difference in your mind?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know that I ever expect to win. I don't know if I've ever been that presumptuous going into a match. If anything, I err on the other way. I do everything I can to find as much information about this guy that I play next even though I haven't heard of him before.
You know, I'll err on the side of being overstudied. You know, it is different, though. I mean, I know I think the ceiling is a little bit different on clay for me, but the mindset of going into a day doesn't change. You go in and you try and battle and do the best you can. You see what happens.
You know, I think the option of how you go about it is pretty simple. I'm aware that it's probably on a worse surface. I'm aware of the challenges that it brings. Doesn't change going into a day what I want to accomplish.
RG 2010 - wywiad z Andym po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
#
A. RODDICK/B. Kavcic
6‑3, 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑2
Q. Kind of a sloppy conditions out there today. Not the normal type of stuff you like to play in, but you got through it nonetheless.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, it was brutal for me out there. I couldn't get my serve to go anywhere and the ball was just sitting up. I woke up this morning, looked out my window, and knew that it was gonna be a long one, you know.
It kind of takes away a lot of shots and it makes it just about hitting the ball and running. There's not a whole a lot of, you know, kind of ‑‑ slices is out of play; the serve was pretty much out of play.
I mean, it's kind of just a matter of just running and sticking it out, and that's pretty much what happened?
Q. Did you get a decent read on the guy before the match? Did you watch tape, or did you just kind of have to go out there and...
ANDY RODDICK: I didn't watch tape. I got some scouting reports, but, you know, he's pretty straightforward. He's pretty solid off both sides. His serve, you know, is a detriment most times, but today not so much.
I mean, you can kind of throw it in and you're playing a baseline game basically, you know. (Laughter.) Yeah, I got a decent scouting report, but I wasn't really too surprised by much.
Q. So it wasn't an ideal match to improve your clay fitness?
ANDY RODDICK: Fitness was fine. That's about all it was was fitness. You know, it was ‑‑ you know, wet day on Lenglen has been my Achilles heel. I mean, I've lost a lot matches out there on conditions exactly like today.
I was able to get through that one today. That was one that might have gotten away from me a while ago, but I was just kind of staying the course. You know, I don't know the last time I lost serve seven times in one.
So, I mean, it's bad, but there's got to be something good in there somewhere, too.
Q. Do you consider yourself better equipped then on a day like that than maybe a couple years ago or few years ago in terms of versatility in your game or...
ANDY RODDICK: Maybe, but the versatility, I mean, the stuff that I've developed ‑‑ you know, chipping it around the court or, you know, different kind of ‑‑ you know, driving my backhand through the court, those things weren't happening today.
You know, drive the ball and it hits and just kind of sits there and then we start all over again. But, um, I think I just ‑‑ I have kind of a confidence just getting through matches right now, you know.
I'm okay going in knowing it's gonna be possibly crappy tennis. You know, I just want to be the less crappy one out there; whereas before I was maybe a little too concerned with that.
Q. More on this winning ugly theme.
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know about winning ugly. I don't want to use that term.
Q. You used it the other day.
ANDY RODDICK: Did I? Slip. I don't know. Yeah, I mean, I guess so. Definitely wasn't pretty, so I guess it's got to be the opposite.
Q. What are you telling yourself when you go into that match strategy‑wise? Are you thinking, Okay, I'm just gonna try to get some ‑‑ I'm not going to get a few points on my serve, I'm just going to have to really push out there and slog it out?
ANDY RODDICK: Kind of. Kind of. I mean, the thing is that it's tough for me, because on a hardcourt when it's just rallying and stuff it's fine because I move really well on a hardcourt. You know, I can run through my forehand and hit it. On the run I feel comfortable.
Here I get a little bit more exposed and the court stretches on me. So it's a little bit more difficult. It is kind of what you said. It's just a matter of there's gonna be some stuff that you try that's not gonna work. It's just a matter of kind of forgetting about it and going about it again.
Q. Is it harder to move on a damp clay court?
ANDY RODDICK: Actually, it's easier for me ‑‑
Q. You get a little more stick, right?
ANDY RODDICK: It is. It is easier for me to move on a damp clay court. The clay here is a little bit different. It's not gritty like salt; it's more like a baking powder.
When it get hot it's a little bit more slippery. So movement‑wise it's fine, but then it takes away serves and whatever. So it's kind of a catch 22 either way.
Q. Coming out of that first rain delay, what happened there? Eight straight points.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, nothing good. Nothing good. We came in, Larry gave me the whole, Start strong and you can take this over. I started and lost eight points in a row, so that didn't really go according to plan there.
Q. Were you mindful of that coming out of the second delay?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, no. Listen, I knew coming out of first delay I wanted to get off to a good start. I failed miserably.
The second one, I was literally sitting there because I had been broken six times. I'm up 4‑3 serving. I'm like, You guys think I can get through two games on my serve? That was a goal. Just get through two games, please.
Normally I don't stress about that as much. So we kind of made a joke of it of. I was like, I made it through two service games. Miracle.
Q. You have a reputation ‑ even before your latest drive for better fitness ‑ as a guy who did well in the heat. When you signed your beverage deal recently, the press release actually said you have a higher sweat rate than average.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. I'm curious about that. Anecdotally I've observed that. Is that something that's actually been quantified? Has is hydration a big issue for you?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it always has been. I literally wake up and am drinking all day long. We won't go into detail about kind of what happens after that.
It was important. It's always been something that I've fought. I think I don't mind the heat. I don't get psyched out by it, because I grew up in it in Florida and Texas. There's not much you can do.
That's just the way I've always been. I can sweat looking through the window on a hot day. It always has been something we've, you know, been trying to find products to kind of help with that.
Q. As a kid, when maybe you didn't have that refined so much, did you cramp a lot? Did you get severely dehydrated ever?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I used to cramp early on in my career sometimes, too. I've been a lot more mindful about nutrition, and it's helped. You can be dehydrated, but if you have the right stuff in your body you don't get to the point you're doubled over and cramping.
But it's something that we're definitely conscious of at all times. It's something that we fought a little bit, but, you, know, you can deal with it.
Q. Before you developed the big serve when you were a junior, say before you won US Open juniors, were these the type of the matches you used to win a lot as a kid? Just kind of grind it out, find a way to win, get a lot of balls back.
ANDY RODDICK: Sure. I still think one of the best things that happened to me was I grew late. When I was 12, 13, I was King Push. I think that's why I play okay defense on hardcourts or whatever.
Then I grew, and all of a sudden I could serve. It was a little bit of a mix. That's one thing Larry said. You know, you grew up just playing instinctual. You would run balls down. No one things you should play like that, but I think you play well like that.
Obviously it's not gonna work against everybody and you have to be able to adjust. But, you know, guys, if you show 'em you can move and not miss, it makes more a long day, especially if you're serving well.
Q. So in some ways you went away from the base and then you had to rediscover the base?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I listened to you guys too much. (Laughter.)
Q. Too much advice on certain points?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I mean, I don't think it's white or black. There's a gray area, and it's about adjustments. The good example is against Rafa in Miami. What I was doing, I started off, Okay, I've been playing great tennis. Let's go out there and see if my game matches up well and I can get through it.
I felt like I was falling behind in most points. So then it's a matter of being able to switch it up and being able to do something else. That's something I think I've become a lot better at, is being able to do a lot better. Something you were alluding to earlier, maybe playing in and out of different styles and conscious switching when I realize it needs to be done.
Q. You've been on the circuit for a good stretch. Of the regular courts, is Lenglen your least favorite? Which is your favorite?
ANDY RODDICK: Here?
Q. No, in general.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, probably. Yeah, I don't know. It's the slowest here. It's the most challenging for me. You know, I feel like every time I play out there it's raining. (Laughter.)
You know, like two sunny days in my career on Lenglen. It's challenging for me out there.
Q. Do you hear the French chants at night, or just let it go.
ANDY RODDICK: No, I sleep well.
RG 2010 - wywiad z Andym po porażce w 3 rundzie
Q. Considering your lack of preparation, not a bad tournament.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, I fought through a couple of matches that were a little dicey. Today I got outplayed from the first ball.
You know, it was a tough matchup for me in these conditions. He has pretty big swings and gets good length on the ball. I'm a little shorter and wasn't able to penetrate the court quite as well.
He was getting in control of the rallies most of the day.
Q. What's your program now?
ANDY RODDICK: I'll go to London. I'm not sure, but obviously playing Queen's, and I'll go to London next week to prepare.
Q. How much had you seen of him? For a guy ranked 116, he hits the ball awfully hard.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, he's been around for a while. The tricky thing is for him normally is having enough time to take those kind of swings at the ball.
Today he definitely had plenty of time to take swings at the ball, so, you know, it was tough for me to penetrate him. He was, you know, similar to, you know, Soderling last year. His swings are big enough to where he can create length even when it is heavy.
My swings are a little bit more compact and more based on timing as opposed to kind of long, kind of fluid, kind of lengthy type thing. You do that over and over, I'm probably gonna come up short against that on conditions like these.
Q. You talked after the last match about how tough that court in particular is. I think that's 0 5.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. It doesn't seem to get any better.
ANDY RODDICK: It's rough, I mean, it's it is what it is. I mean, I'm in a little bit of a difficult position here because I'm not, you know, one of the bigger names that's gonna get on center court all the time.
I've never played well here. But then, you know, they don't really want to put me out on I played him on Court 2 once last year, but they don't want to put me out there too often. There you go. I understand it. I just probably wouldn't prefer it.
Q. What happened there in the first set at 4 3 with your racquets? You weren't happy with the tensions?
ANDY RODDICK: They were just tight. You know, I felt like I wasn't getting much on the ball, and so I, you know, kind of threw them in and wanted some looser tensions.
By the time I got them in I think I was down two breaks in the third. Little too late to experiment.
Q. Did you ask to play on another court, or...
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, they know. But like I said, it's nobody's fault. I mean, you know, I'm not the guy that's gonna be on center here. You know, I understand that. Let's not make this into an issue that it's not.
I don't know if the court favors me, but at the same time, I don't think anything's going on. I think they're putting me on the court they feel I should be on as far as people coming to see it.
Q. You had a discussion with the chair umpire that I missed most of. It was something that you said happens year after year. What was that about?
ANDY RODDICK: One of the things that I do have a problem with is the tarps in the back of the court on rough days. They dry the whole court, but then they leave the tarps soaking wet.
So if a ball rolls through a puddle enough times, can you tell me what happens to it? Then when clay attaches to it, it doesn't get lighter. You know, so it's something that I've been pretty adamant about complaining about behind closed doors for a long time, you know.
Even the umpire said too me, Well, it happens every year. I'm going, Is that supposed to make me feel better? I didn't understand that logic.
So then I want to go through the proceedings of what he did to make sure it didn't happen again. He told me he talked to Brian. Then I said, Well, okay, do you know who Brian talks to? He said, The big chief. I said, Who is the big chief? He goes, I don't know.
I said, Well, now I understand why nothing gets done. That's one thing that only thing about that is I think that's preventable. I don't think that's something that needs to, you know, happen all the time.
Q. I can go back and look at the transcript when you talked about Lenglen before. Can you briefly sort of summarize why you don't like that court as much as otherwise?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it's known as the slowest one. It's a fun court as far as people viewing, and I have to issue with it. It's just the way that it plays isn't really doesn't really help me out much. That's all. That's fine.
There's courts like that everywhere. You have to deal with it and you have to play through it. Everything that I'm telling you guys, everybody deals with out there. It's nothing just for me. It's just my personal preference is all.
Q. I think Gabashvili had about 40% first serves in the first set. Was that a concern for you at that time that you weren't able to take advantage?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, I had a look to break back there and I hit actually a decent forehand and missed it wide.
If I can break back there, who knows what happens? The thing he was doing was just taking control from the first ball that I you know, serves probably don't matter as much out there. But he was taking control of the points and getting good hits on the first balls and the rallies. I felt like I was playing from behind in a lot of the points.
Q. Do you think if you had got that break back, maybe taking that first set you could have gone on to win, or...
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean, I'm not gonna sit here and deal in hypotheticals. Obviously your chances are a lot better winning a set if you're on serve as opposed to down a break.
The way the match was played and the way the points were constructed, I was I wasn't on top of anything today.
Q. Gabashivili hit almost 60 winners. Did you feel like facing Marat Safin again?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, sure.
Q. If I could change topics rather radically, in the past you've had some really good calls in terms of predicting sports events. You're going to be heading to England. Your home country is going to be facing an English
ANDY RODDICK: Bill, I've got the British crowd on my side right now. I've built up a lot of goodwill over the last couple of years that I don't want to ruin by answering this question.
Q. So you're not copping out. Give me a score.
ANDY RODDICK: I'm not gonna give you anything. I'm going to enjoy my sudden popularity in London and leave it at that.
Q. PR move.
ANDY RODDICK: That's fine. We can talk afterwards.
Q. Okay.
ANDY RODDICK: Did you just call me a peon?
Q. No, I didn't.
ANDY RODDICK: Okay.
Q. Is it going be difficult for you not to overamp emotionally in your Wimbledon preparation because of what happened last year?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't think so. I'm always anxious going into Wimbledon. I don't think that's gonna change. Last year is last year.
You know, I don't go in with any sense of entitlement or any sense of anything like that. I'm excited to get onto a surface that I actually feel that I can impose my game on a little bit more.
It's a long process. It's still a long ways away. I'm going to be focused on this practice week and trying to get in some fitness and whatever else, and then you deal with Queen's. Wimbledon is still a long ways off.
Q. Given what you just said, and you've repeated this many times over the last 10 months or so, are you going to have a different feeling walking in? You've been in finals before, but the whole sentiment that's going to greet you when you come back, do you feel that that's going to make any difference?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I honestly don't know.
I'm sure I'm sure it will be a little bit different just because of the type of final it was last year and everything that was involved in it, but, you know, for me to answer that, I would have to correctly predict other people's reactions, which I don't which I don't know. We'll see.
Q. You said the other day something about knowing a match is going to be crappy tennis and just wanting to be the one who is less crappy.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. Was that the same description for today's match?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I wasn't less crappy. No, he played good tennis. I thought he played well. You know, credit to him. I was allowed to get my feet into the last couple of matches and kind of it's a lot different when you can keep it tight, keep it tight, keep it tight, and it comes down to two or three points.
I'm good in that situation, but he got the best of me, and he was getting the best of me in 70% of the points as far as the way they were constructed.
You know, he kept it from being a match that hinged on a couple of points.
Q. In the matches here, how satisfied were you with the way you were hitting the ball?
ANDY RODDICK: Today?
Q. Overall in the tournament.
ANDY RODDICK: Um, it was okay. It wasn't the best. Definitely could have been better, but I just felt like my movement was so bad. When you don't get to a ball, it makes it real tough to hit it well.
As far as timing and practice and stuff, I feel fine. It's just a matter of, you know, when I was getting stretched here, I felt like my movement was horrendous.
Q. Worse than other years, or...
ANDY RODDICK: Sometimes. Maybe that's just match preparation coming in or whatever, you know. I mean, I was trying too much to put a Band Aid on a problem as opposed to, you know, an actual solution.
I didn't feel comfortable moving around. That made it real tough to feel like you hit the ball well. If you're not moving well, you're not gonna hit the ball well.
Q. Earlier in the week you talked about how you sort of have to go against form here on the slow clay.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. Can you describe what it feels like inside to go out on the grass the first time or two? Does it just give you more confidence? You're home free? This is home turf? What goes on inside?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it's not as much thought. You know, here there's a lot of thought, a lot of adjustments that have to be made, you know. I have to compensate in certain areas for, you know, weaknesses that I do have on this surface.
On grass, I don't feel like there's that many holes. I feel like my game automatically kind of translates well to that surface, you know. My chip stays down. My backhand goes through the court a little bit. Obviously my serve gets a little bit better.
You know, my returns don't get any worse on grass, and some people's do. They take big swings and have to step back to hit it. That's a real problem. But I don't really do that too much, so, you know, it's just maybe a more comfortable feeling.
With that comes a sense of confidence, I guess.
Q. Do you think you're a better mover this year than 12 months ago?
ANDY RODDICK: I'd say similar. I was moving well last year. Last year, you know, the offseason of '08 was when I felt like I made some pretty big strides. I was playing pretty good last year.
Q. When was the first time you were on grass? Did you say, Oh, this is for me?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, no. Actually, the club in Austin, I used to watch Rennenberg and it was Kevin Kerns and Rennenberg at Barton Creek, and they used to have two grass courts there. I think I was eight or nine years old. I used to watch them, and I'd sneak on before the pro would kick me off.
So that was a while ago. But, I mean, obviously you don't play on it too much. A decade goes by where you haven't hit on it at all. I just liked it.
Q. I wanted to ask about the XO in Dallas that's coming up in July. Any thoughts? Is it sort of a kick to play in that stadium? Do you have a relationship with Jones?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't. I haven't met Old Jerry. For me, it's easy. I can drive there, and I think just I think tennis getting into kind of mainstream venues like that more often is a good thing, you know. Selfishly, I like it.
My friends, they don't watch me play too much, my friends from home, so we might just make a weekend of it and have some fun. I think it will be cool. I don't know if we're going to fill it, but... (laughter.)
2010 AEGON-Queen’s Club Preview
“There’s not as much thought that goes into my movement on grass,” Andy noted regarding his clay-to-grass transition as he prepares for the the AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club in London. “I feel like my game automatically translates well to that surface. My chip stays down, my backhand goes through the court a little bit, obviously my serve gets a little bit better.”
As the No. 1 American aims to claim his fifth title in W14, previously winning from 2003-2005 and again in 2007, AEGON enters its second year as the lead sponsor, formerly known as The Stella Artois Championships. Last year, Andy retired in the semifinals against compatriot James Blake after sustaining an ankle injury at 2-1 in the first set. This year, West London welcomes 56 singles players from June 7th – June 13th, with Roddick being joined by these tops seeds- world No. 2 Rafael Nadal, Serbian Novak Djokovic, and Britain’s own Andy Murray, in addition to many other top performers.
The Queen’s Club, the first ever sports complex worldwide, was given it’s title when Queen Victoria was it’s first patron back in 1886. The Club boasts 28 outdoor grass courts, hosting 12 of arguably the finest grass courts in the world, and 10 indoor courts, among other racquet courts and facilities. To get the true feel for this ATP World Tour 250 Event, ride London’s infamous Underground Tube system, get off at Baron’s Court from the Picadilly and District Lines, and stroll through the breathtakingly historical homes on Palliser Road.
Stay tuned to AR.com for the draw release and Andy’s first round preview. Welcome to the warm-up of Wimbledon!
Rod u Jonathana Ross'a :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXeKdcX0WhI
Raddcik napisał:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXeKdcX0WhI
Świetny Roddick, powodzenia na Wimblu, nie miałbym nic przeciwko powtórce ubiegłorocznego finału :D
Roddick vs. Kunitsyn Preview
In his first match at the Aegon Championships and a long anticipated return the grass courts at Queens Club, Andy will face Russia’s Igor Kunitsyn. Andy has only played the 105th ranked Kunitsyn once before. The two met nearly a year ago at Wimbledon where Andy defeated Kunitsyn in four sets.
Kunitsyn battled Illya Marchenko in three sets 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 Monday to advance to the second round.
Check out some stats on Kunitsyn courtesy of the ATP World Tour:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play … itsyn.aspx
Check back to www.AndyRoddick.com for more from the grass courts at the Aegon Championships.
Andy Roddick looks to cover himself in glory at Wimbledon after Roger Federer heartache
“She was a good sport about it — she got in a little jab and then let go,” said Roddick, who finished as the runner-up to Roger Federer at last summer’s Wimbledon Championsh ips, when there was hardly a bra strap between them on Centre Court and he lost the fifth set 16-14. “I know I probably would have been on the cover if I had won Wimbledon last summer.”
Others call him A-Rod, the American sometimes calls himself “the best bad tennis player of all time” — he has heard all the comments over the years, the suggestion s that he is not a natural player, just has a serve and a forehand, and it is a funny line in self-deprecation — yet he might also be the greatest grass-court player never to have held that golden trophy at the All England Club. Three times Roddick has reached the Wimbledon final, and three times he has lost to Federer.
This week, he will be on the grass of Queen’s Club, at the Aegon Championsh ips, where he will be attempting to win the title for a record fifth time, and also to prime himself for Wimbledon again. “Yeah, at this point in my career, I would choose a Wimbledon title over winning the other grand slams,” said Roddick, who won his first slam title at the 2003 US Open, but has not added to it in the seven years since, largely because of that bloke from Switzerlan d, the greatest player of all time. “Having come close three times, with three finals, I feel like I can win it. I play well enough on grass to be a contender year after year.”
He is rightly proud of the tennis he played at Wimbledon last year, when he defeated Andy Murray in the semi-finals, and almost ensured that Federer’s tracksuit — the one with a '15’ embroidere d in gold, to celebrate his achievemen t of winning a record 15th grand slam — remained at the bottom of a kitbag.
“Most of my memories from last year are really good, even though I would want to change the result. I think my favourite thing about it is that, for a little bit of time afterwards, tennis was the thing that people were talking about back home in the States. That was a first for my career,” said Roddick.
A few days after the final, Roddick’s postman delivered a parcel and some opinions. He told Roddick that he had lost because he had not changed shirts often enough and had been weighed down by the sweaty clothes. So Roddick told everyone about that, and “I haven’t seen my mailman since”.
“He might have quit, or been moved to another round, after I made that knowledge public.”
If Federer were not on the scene, Roddick could already have three replica Wimbledon trophies back home in Austin, Texas. That is not an internal conversati on that Roddick, a former world No 1, likes to start during his quieter moments. “It makes zero sense to deal in hypothetic als.
"Thinking about 'what ifs’ isn’t going to help any situation or to help you to progress. It’s just the way it is. If you want to win a grand slam, you’re just going to have to go through Roger, and that’s just the way that tennis has been for the last seven or eight years.”
For now, all Roddick can do is work on his game in Kensington . “It’s a lot more intimate at Queen’s than it is at Wimbledon. You’re never going to have the hoopla of Wimbledon, as that’s the biggest tennis event in the world. I’m not sure that you would want all that hoopla in a lead-up event.
"For me, Queen’s is perfect preparatio n. You can get the matches, the fans come out, and it’s a place that I’ve really come to enjoy playing at.
“When you do well at a lead-up tournament and win it, that’s never a bad thing. Then you can go into Wimbledon on a confidence high.”
Roddick always feels at ease during the grass-court swing in London. On the court, with a serve that is made for the turf, with a top speed of 155mph. And off the court, too. “Some of the players get uncomforta ble with the tradition, and are a little uncomforta ble on the grass, and they don’t really get the predominan tly-white clothing rule and that whole deal. I’m one of the guys who buys in 100 per cent,” he said.
“I love the tradition. I love all the things about Wimbledon that make it unique. I look forward to walking around the grounds in the practice week the week before. There’s nobody around and you can just take everything in around the grounds. It’s one of my favourite moments of the whole year.
“I stay in a house, which is great. My trainer walks to the courts most days. If you want, you can go grocery shopping, make your food and do the whole thing.”
Back at Queen’s, Roddick’s week could be even more interestin g if the United States football team beat England in their opening World Cup game on Saturday. “I’m excited about it,” said Roddick. “Obviously, I won’t be going to some bar in London to watch that one. If we do actually pull it off and do something, it’s going to be kind of fun to actually be here in England. I know some of the American players,” said Roddick.
“I’d love to say that there has been more interest in football in the States because of David Beckham, but I don’t think that’s true. There are so many sports in the States, and football has been so dominant internatio nally that it has been hard to get our foot in the door. The American attitude is that, if you’re not the absolute best, it gets pushed towards the back a little bit.” Hence Roddick has never been a cover star for Sports Illustrate d.
Decker has said that her bikini shots should give her husband “a one-up in the locker room for the next year or so”. Perhaps. More than anything, he wants to win Wimbledon.
Brawo Radek :D, na stronie telegraph naprawdę można znaleźć dużo fajnych newsów i artykułów.
Roddick Impresses In Grass Opener
Playing his first grass-court match since finishing runner-up to Roger Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final, Andy Roddick impressed as he crushed Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-2, 6-1 on Tuesday evening in the second round of the AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club in south-west London.
In a devastating serving display, the fourth-seeded Roddick surrendered only eight points on his serve, fired 12 aces and recorded a first serve percentage of 74 percent.
Roddick broke through in the first game of the match and broke serve again in the fifth game as he raced to a 5-1 lead. Former World No. 35 Kunitsyn refused to let the set go without a fight and held a break point as Roddick served at 5-2, but in a game featuring four aces, the American held on to close out a one-set lead.
Kunitsyn made a strong start to the second set, holding serve to love for a 1-0 lead. However, it was to be the Russian’s last winning game of the match. Eager to finish the match before any more rain could delay proceedings at The Queen’s Club, Roddick raced through the next six games to seal victory in just 50 minutes.
For a place in the quarter-finals, Roddick will face either Israeli No. 14 seed Dudi Sela or Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for match reaction and a look ahead to the third round.
Tennis-Roddick not panicking despite early Queen's exit
By Martyn Herman
Tennis
LONDON June 10 (Reuters) - Andy Roddick was not pressing the panic button after an early exit at Queen's Club on Thursday left the American with a little too much time on his hands.
The 28-year-old American was beaten 6-4 7-6 by Israel's Dudi Sela in the third round of the tournament he has won on four previous occasions, denying him some valuable grasscourt play as Wimbledon looms.
"I'm not super concerned about the way I'm hitting the ball, I'm not stressing out about any one part of my game too much," Roddick, beaten in three Wimbledon finals by Roger Federer, told reporters. "It's basically getting over my own impatience as opposed to worrying about anything about my game.
"I would much rather spend the time getting some matches in. I'm not that worried about it, but I definitely would rather kind of have (the practice sessions) count for something.
"I'm not worried about being able to play on a grass court. I know how to do that. One match at Queen's isn't going to ruin what I've done on this surface for the last eight years."
Roddick only had one break point in the match, on Sela's opening service game, but after failing to convert that he immediately lost his own serve and struggled to stay with an inspired opponent from then on.
The fourth seed had two set points to take the third round clash into a decider, but Sela saved both with some tremendous stroke play and then claimed a notable victory on his second match point with a full-length diving volley.
"I think I could have done some things differently, but I thought he played a pretty perfect match," was Roddick's typically honest assessement of his performance on an overcast day at the elite west London club.
"I've played worse at this tournament before and gotten through and won it. I thought he played a really good match. He outplayed me today."
Roddick ruled out a quick dash home to Texas and said he would not ask for a late entry into next week's Eastbourne event despite playing just two matches on grass this week.
"I'm not gonna go into a panic mode and start doing that stuff," the former world number one said, adding that his wife was flying in to join him this week.
"I'll try to get some practice in. I'll probably get more time on the track or in the gym.
"Maybe I'll figure out if there's some shows or a concert to kind of get away and take my mind off the fact that I'm not playing here."
Roddick dreams of longer grass season
Roddick dreams of longer grass season American Andy Roddick weighs in on the lack of Wimbledon tune-up events.
Andy Roddick dreams of the ATP carving out more of a substantial grass season, saying four brief weeks is unfair compared to months and months each year on hardcourt and clay.
The American speaks with a particular interest having played three Wimbledon finals against Roger Federer and holding four title at the Queen's club warm-up, where he's beginning his grass preparation this week after basically writing off the just concluded clay.
"For the US Open Series (hardcourt), there are two-and-a-half months of lead- up and a thousand points on the line every other week for two months," said the American. "We have a couple 250s before Wimbledon.
"The ATP is very staunch in their rules, and I can respect that, but you should reward all surfaces. For me that's just a glaring issue."
Roddick said it is hardly justified that four of the eight Masters 1000 events takes place in the US and on outdoor hardcourt. For Roddick's money, grass should have its own Mastsers along with more of a season.
"I'm aware of the discrepancy between tournaments. That's not just someone's opinion. That's just the facts," said Roddick, adding that Queens' could easily became a Masters with a bit of planning and permission.
"London has proved, with this tournament, you go out there, it's 8:30 pm at night, and the grandstands are still three quarters full for a doubles match. Having been a spectator at World Tour Finals last winter (he was injured and could not play as one of the elite eight) , I thought it was a great event.
"There's no question that London supports its tennis.”
Roddick says he has told the ATP Player Council of his interest and will do it again. "I do think it's a realistic idea,” he stressed. “I don't think it's ridiculously far-fetched.
"All the guys who enjoy grass as much as we do wish we had three months of it or even a couple of extra weeks of it."
Roddick not worried after early Queen's exit
Andy Roddick was not pressing the panic button after an early exit at Queen's Club today left the American with a little too much time on his hands.
The 28-year-old American was beaten 6-4 7-6 by Israel's Dudi Sela in the third round of the tournament he has won on four previous occasions, denying him some valuable grasscourt play as Wimbledon looms.
"I'm not super concerned about the way I'm hitting the ball, I'm not stressing out about any one part of my game too much," Roddick, beaten in three Wimbledon finals by Roger Federer, told reporters. "It's basically getting over my own impatience as opposed to worrying about anything about my game.
"I would much rather spend the time getting some matches in. I'm not that worried about it, but I definitely would rather kind of have (the practice sessions) count for something.
"I'm not worried about being able to play on a grass court. I know how to do that. One match at Queen's isn't going to ruin what I've done on this surface for the last eight years."
Roddick only had one break point in the match, on Sela's opening service game, but after failing to convert that he immediately lost his own serve and struggled to stay with an inspired opponent from then on.
The fourth seed had two set points to take the third round clash into a decider, but Sela saved both with some tremendous stroke play and then claimed a notable victory on his second match point with a full-length diving volley.
"I think I could have done some things differently, but I thought he played a pretty perfect match," was Roddick's typically honest assessement of his performance on an overcast day at the elite west London club.
"I've played worse at this tournament before and gotten through and won it. I thought he played a really good match. He outplayed me today."
Roddick ruled out a quick dash home to Texas and said he would not ask for a late entry into next week's Eastbourne event despite playing just two matches on grass this week.
"I'm not gonna go into a panic mode and start doing that stuff," the former world number one said, adding that his wife was flying in to join him this week.
"I'll try to get some practice in. I'll probably get more time on the track or in the gym.
"Maybe I'll figure out if there's some shows or a concert to kind of get away and take my mind off the fact that I'm not playing here."
Roddick Looks Sharp Ahead Of Wimbledon Campaign
Andy was given a tough work out as he finalized his preparations for Wimbledon with an exhibition match at the BNP Paribas Tennis Classic at Hurlingham on Wednesday.
In very warm conditions on the beautiful lawns at the exclusive Hurlingham Club, Roddick delighted members and corporate guests as he produced fine tennis to defeat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6(7), 6-4.
The American was very comfortable on serve in the opening set, hitting the ball well and committing very few errors as he allowed his Swiss opponent no more than two points in each of his service games. In the deciding tie-break, Wawrinka’s level dropped just slightly and Roddick took advantage to seal the first set 7-6(7).
Roddick earned the first, and only, break of serve in the match in the fifth game of the second set after superb athleticism saw him chase down a drop volley from Wawrinka to hit a winning forehand. Strong serving then allowed him to comfortably close out the match.
Roddick will now have four more days of practice before The Championships at Wimbledon begin on Monday. The seedings were announced on Wednesday and, courtesy of his runner-up effort last year, Roddick has been seeded No. 5, two places higher than his South African Airways ATP Ranking of No. 7.
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news in the lead up to Wimbledon.
andyroddick.com
Wimbledon - Roddick looking to go one better
The reception given to Andy Roddick when he steps out to play at Wimbledon next week will speak volumes for the affection in which he is held at the scene of one of his, and the sport's, greatest near-misses.
The gritty American was public enemy number one at the All England Club last year when he dashed British hopes of a first men's winner since 1936 by ousting Andy Murray in the semi-finals at the All England Club.
But that quickly became a distant memory when Roddick got stuck into an epic five-set final against Roger Federer, before going down 16-14 in the fifth set.
While the Swiss basked in the glory of a record 15th Grand Slam title, Roddick slumped into his chair wondering if the defeat, his third in three finals against Federer, was his last chance of lifting the game's greatest grasscourt title.
The 27-year-old Roddick, whose realistic assessment of his own limitations endears him to the press and public alike, knows what he has achieved at Wimbledon will be meaningless come the tournament's start on Monday.
"I'm always anxious going into Wimbledon. Last year is last year," the American world number seven said.
"You know, I don't go in with any sense of entitlement or anything like that. I'm excited to get onto a surface that I actually feel that I can impose my game on a little bit more."
With his whiplash, wrist-snapping serve, much-improved physical fitness and shrewd shot placement on the skidding grass surface he is always a dangerman at Wimbledon, and it is a surface where he feels a comfort advantage over his rivals.
"I think grass probably has the least amount of guys who are really well-versed in the little things about this surface, the intangibles of a surface.
"That's probably chalked up to the fact that there's not much play on it, so it's only natural, I guess."
His love of playing on grass dates back to his early years when as an eight-year-old he sneaked into a local club in Austin, Texas to watch the likes of Kevin Curren and Richey Reneberg play -- until the local pro would 'kick me off'.
"On grass, I don't feel like there's that many holes (in my game). I feel like my game automatically kind of translates well to that surface.
"My chip stays down. My backhand goes through the court a little bit. Obviously my serve gets a little bit better. My returns don't get any worse on grass, and some people's do.
"It's a more comfortable feeling. With that comes a sense of confidence, I guess."
2010 Wimbledon Draw and Preview
“I’m a winner,” Andy repeated to British talk show host Jonathan Ross on Friday Late Night, and continued, “I’m going to win Wimbledon this year.”
Another shot at a dream, another chance to prevail on the most prestigious courts on earth- Wimbledon. London’s SW19 will be home to the number one American, Andy Roddick, for this year’s fortnight of June 21st to July 4th, America’s day of Independence.
Known for it’s luscious lawn courts with two main stadiums, Centre Court and Court 1, this year’s competition starts with six-time champion Roger Federer(1), followed by 2008 champion Rafael Nadal(2), Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (3), and hometown hopeful Andy Murray(4). Seeded fifth in the draw, Andy shares the top half with Djokovic, Davydenko, and his three time Final’s rival, Federer. Having made it to Final Sunday three times in his career (2004, 2005, 2009), with last year’s defeat being the closest taste at royal victory, Team Roddick is prepared to surpass the past.
The 124th Wimbledon Championships is proud to announce the return of Her Majesty, the Queen, to the Royal Box on June 24th. With royalty returning, the long-time traditions are as well. Wimbledon whites, strawberries and cream, sipping Pimms courtside, queueing overnight for daily seats, and crossing your fingers for sunshine will proudly be in attendance. The retractable roof will be fully operational for the second year in a row so Centre Court play will no longer be delayed.
Stay tuned to AR.com for a first round match preview against fellow American Rajeev Ram. Go Andy!
AndyRoddick.com
Never a Wimbledon Champ, Reliably a Favorite
It was an especially long afternoon of tennis when Andy Roddick last played at Wimbledon, and it did not end happily for him as Roger Federer — yes, him again — survived one of the performances of Roddick’s life and held him off, 16-14, in the fifth set.
It was devastating, no doubt, for Roddick, but as he sat on his chair on Centre Court last July, drenched in sweat and his latest disappointment, he suddenly found himself experiencing something much more positive as Federer took his latest victory lap with the trophy he had claimed for the sixth time.
Out of the stands rose a few voices that soon became an ode to the runner-up: “Roddick! Roddick! Roddick!”
“An amazing feeling,” Roddick said this week during a telephone interview. “It was humbling. It was one of the coolest moments in my career.”
Wimbledon has a custom of embracing the gallant loser, the player who wears his desire to win the tournament on his short sleeves and keeps slamming into a higher power. The timeline stretches back to Gottfried von Cramm of Germany, who lost three consecutive finals in the 1930s, and includes Ken Rosewall, Ivan Lendl, Tim Henman, Goran Ivanisevic and Patrick Rafter, the popular Australian who was the collateral damage when Ivanisevic finally broke his Wimbledon losing streak in 2001.
But Roddick, a three-time finalist, is now the veteran player with sentimentalists on his side. He is well aware of the feelings, but still not entirely sure what to make of them.
“Something definitely changed after Wimbledon last year,” he said. “It did surprise me. It’s weird, because I got credit for a lot of stuff after that tournament that I felt like I’ve been doing for a long time, and I’ve never really tried to make any secrets about who I am and what I do.”
Roddick, still just 27 but a fixture on tour for nearly a decade, felt that fans at last fully connected with his work ethic and his deep respect for the sport — a sentiment sometimes obscured by his on-court sniping with umpires and sardonic sense of humor.
But he has been hearing how much last year’s final meant to people for nearly a year now. The question is whether all that accumulated good will help him hold serve any more often.
“Obviously, it’s certainly appreciated if it’s there, but I don’t feel like I’m entitled to it, and I’m not going to expect it,” he said of the crowd support. “We’ll see how it shakes out.”
Roddick long ago laid out his main career goals: reaching No. 1 in the rankings and winning the United States Open, Davis Cup and Wimbledon. Wimbledon is the only box that remains unticked.
“I’m not going to be pigeonholed into considering my tennis career a failure if I don’t win Wimbledon,” he said. “If I do, I think I will have surpassed a whole lot of expectations.”
Many other minds are dwelling on the possibility. Even Federer, the instrument of Roddick’s torture by beating him all three times he has made the finals, is behind Roddick, with certain conditions.
“I think Goran proved that your luck can change eventually, and hopefully Andy one day will as well,” Federer said in an interview. “Not through me, hopefully, but we’ll see.”
Federer said that if he can’t win, he wants Roddick to do it. “I would think so; I mean it was so close last year,” Federer said, still sounding relieved. “This is one of those matches you don’t even want to watch the end anymore, because you feel like, ‘Oh my God, how close was I to losing this match, really?’ It’s hard, because at the end, it really felt just like a coin toss.”
Federer has often maintained that Roddick is underappreciated, which is, in part, Federer’s fault for beating him 19 times in 21 matches. But Federer said he admires Roddick’s staying power.
“You don’t always need to beat the best, but you need to be there in contention, and that’s what he’s done over and over again,” Federer said. “I think that’s what I did at the French Open before I won, and I think that’s why I’ve been so respected in Paris. And I think he’ll be respected as much in Wimbledon, and I think it’s going to be nice for him.”
Roddick said he appreciated Federer’s sentiments. “Obviously, that’s what you want to hear from one of your peers,” he said.
They have faced each other only in hit-and-wisecrack charity matches since last year’s final, and if they play again at Wimbledon this year, it will be in the semifinals. They are in the same half of the draw, and the fifth-seeded Roddick is in the tougher section, with Novak Djokovic and the resurgent Lleyton Hewitt in his quarter.
Roddick has done his best to conserve his resources for this tournament. With mixed emotions, he swore off Davis Cup this year for the first time and was rewarded with the best spring hardcourt season of his career, winning the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells, Calif., and Miami. But he missed the entire clay-court season except for the French Open, in part because of a stomach virus and in part because of a desire to spend time with his wife, the model and actress Brooklyn Decker. After losing in the third round of the French Open (no surprise), he was beaten in the same round on grass at Queen’s by Dudi Sela of Israel (big surprise).
It is hardly the ideal buildup for a man who likes lots of matches and victories before a Grand Slam event. He has appeared edgy of late, even if he said he “feels great” after a good week of preparation in London with his coach, Larry Stefanki. But one thing seems clear: Roddick will not lack for positive reinforcement this year at the All England Club, or outside its gates.
Jonathan Ross, the British comedian and talk show host, had Roddick on his television program earlier this month and chided him for being too self-deprecating about his game and asked him to look deep into his eyes and repeat the mantras “I’m a winner” and “I’ll win Wimbledon this year.”
Roddick, caught off guard, obliged.
Roddick vs. Ram Preview
In the opening day at the 2010 Championships, Andy will take on Rajeev Ram. While Andy is well acquainted with the courts at SW19, he is not as familiar with his first round opponent. Andy and the 26 year old Colorado native have never played each other before.
While Andy is favored over the 93rd ranked Ram, he won’t that clutter his focus. “You go out, you play a match, you play the guy across the net from you. I think it’s a little presumptuous to look anywhere past that,” Andy told the press on Saturday.
The Number One American is confident in his grass court preparations and shared that it has been “practice as usual. I’ve gotten in a lot of court time, which has been good. I’m definitely not short on repetitions right now or set play or anything like that.”
Andy is ready and so are tennis fans worldwide. Check your TV listings and visit back to AndyRoddick.com for more from Wimbledon.
Check out some stats on Rajeev Ram courtesy of the ATP World Tour:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play … v-Ram.aspx
AR.com
Roddick confident on Wimbledon return
It would surely be impossible to come closer to the Wimbledon men's title than Andy Roddick did at the 2009 Championships. One year on from his five set defeat in the men's final to Roger Federer (including the longest deciding set in Grand Slam history at 16-14), the American returns to the All England Club, healthy and confident of his chances at this year's event.
"Higher expectations this year?" was the first question he fielded at his pre-tournament media chat, and such expectations would need to be met if he is to overcome the domination the Swiss has exerted over him, and not only at Wimbledon, since they are in the same half of the draw and the fifth-seeded Roddick would meet the defending champion in the semi-finals this time.
Not that a canny customer like the 27-year-old Roddick would ever be found discussing his semi-final prospects before a ball has been hit. "At this point in the tournament you are just worried about getting through the first one. I don't think that ever changes.
"I don't really get too caught up in expectations. I get caught up in how to win three sets on Monday."
Roddick is quite prepared, however, to be placed among the short list of favourites to win the 2010 Championships. He regarded that list as the "normal cast of favourites.- Roger is always a favourite when he comes here, Rafa [Nadal] is in form, [Andy] Murray will have the home court. I could have given you the same answer last year."
As for the 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt's chances of doing well this year following he victory over Federer in the Halle final last weekend, Roddick said "I have always put Lleyton in the top echelon on grass. Last year I barely beat him in the quarters, it was a match I felt fortunate to get out of. I don't think anyone inside the locker room was super shocked about Halle or that he's in form on this surface."
Of his own chances Roddick said, "I have proven that I know how to navigate my way to the later rounds of this tournament. It's a place I feel comfortable, it's a surface I feel good on."
As for last year's close-run final, he added, "I'm always going to remember it, it's always going to be there. Everyone talks about a match like that but it takes two weeks of playing pretty good tennis to get to that match. I played some of my best stuff. It's a tournament that as a whole I''ll always be extremely proud of."
Still-hungry Roddick carries hopes for USA at Wimbledon
Andy Roddick has been the best American player of his generation, and he's the only active American man with a Grand Slam title. He returns to Wimbledon, one year after his loss to Roger Federer in an epic final, determined to win.
A tentative backhand volley might have separated Andy Roddick from the thing he covets most: a Wimbledon championship.
But the epic loss to Roger Federer in last year's final — including a Wimbledon record 30-game fifth set — framed Roddick's positive attributes more in defeat than in victory.
Roddick did not crumble after misplaying the high volley on his fourth set point in the second-set tiebreaker, which could have given him a commanding lead. He continued to execute his game plan flawlessly. He often outplayed Federer and was gracious in defeat. Many felt he deserved to win.
"It reminded me of my brother's loss to (Bjorn) Borg," says Patrick McEnroe of older sibling John McEnroe's classic five-set defeat in the 1980 All-England Club final. "He gained more fans and respect with that loss than with any other win that he had."
Wimbledon begins today, and the big-serving Texan is coming off one of his better half-seasons in years and again sits on the short list of top contenders. Roddick, the No. 5 seed, opens against fellow American Rajeev Ram. But he is on the same side of the draw as top-seeded Federer, meaning a rematch, if it happens, would be in the semifinals.
A year after the cruel but memorable performance, Roddick spoke to USA TODAY about the transformative loss, his altered public perception and the deep-set belief he can bag a Wimbledon title.
Dressed in a gray hoodie and sweatpants, the 6-2 American opened up at his hotel near the Champs E'lysees the morning after his third-round exit at the French Open.
Curled up on her laptop nearby was his wife, model/actress Brooklyn Decker, who this year became the first in the Roddick household to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated.
"It was probably as mixed a set of emotions as I've had," said Roddick the four-hour plus marathon loss, in which he held serve 37 consecutive times until the last game. "I'm not saying it didn't hurt. It hurt like hell."
He has no regrets — almost. "Well, obviously you can say I would have broken (Federer's serve)," he quips.
Wimbledon remains the only goal he almost jokingly jotted down as a 17-year-old that he has not accomplished. The others were Davis Cup and U.S. Open titles and reaching No. 1. Two months shy of his 28th birthday, Roddick admits that he yearns for a Wimbledon crown more than anything else.
"I don't think there's getting around that," he says.
Since being pegged as the heir apparent to Sampras and Agassi a decade ago, Roddick has been squarely in the public crosshairs. He says image and reality often didn't mesh.
Media spin jobs, marketing campaigns and his own churlish behavior failed to capture the whole picture.
"I think I was dealt with in extremes," he says. "When I was 18, 19, I was presented as the 'aw shucks' Nebraska kid who's coming up with a big serve, and then I flipped out a couple of times, and then I was über-brat, when I feel like there's parts of both, but I don't think I am either one, if that makes sense."
Roddick says his various public iterations — from brash No. 1 to the embarrassing "mojo" ad campaign to criticism in his struggle to keep pace with Federer — presented him "in a different light than who I actually was on a day-to-day basis."
When the dust settled after his 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 16-14 Wimbledon effort, fans suddenly found an appreciation for Roddick's never-say-die attitude and tireless efforts to improve.
Support poured in from avid and casual followers wherever he went, including Roddick's postman, who famously told him one morning while delivering a parcel that he should have changed his shirt more often since the sweaty attire weighed him down. It helped him get over the sting of disappointment.
"Since that final for some reason, something clicked there, and I think people kind of view me as what I've tried to be," he explained. "I'm never perfect with the way I handle things, but I feel like I try to do what I think is right at the time, I go about things the right way, I'm pretty professional. I've stayed out of trouble and I've done things what I consider the right way, and I think for maybe the first time, maybe that might've been the consensus among the general public."
Carrying the mantle for USA
Whether it is loyal Davis Cup duty, schmoozing sponsors, taking a stand for the sport or getting the best out of his ability, Roddick has rarely disappointed. No American player has carried the mantle of American tennis more faithfully, and Roddick has done so during the unceremonious decline of U.S. hegemony in the game.
If Roddick finishes the season as the top-ranked American as expected this year it will mark the seventh time he has done so. Only Jimmy Connors, with eight, has more. In Davis Cup play, Roddick is 10-0 in clinching matches and is second all time in victories (31) behind only John McEnroe (41).
"He's been the ultimate warrior," U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe says.
Beyond that, Roddick has "grown into his skin and his game" and learned to accept his place in the sport without letting it hold him back, longtime tennis observer Mary Carillo says.
"He understands where he fits into this hierarchy of (Rafael) Nadal and Federer and all the other guys around him, and he seems OK with it," she says. "I think at times he's pushed to get results, and he hasn't gotten them, and yet he never stopped pushing to get better. And that is something to really admire about him."
Roddick's fellow Americans have nothing but praise for his leadership, work ethic and dedication.
"He is role model to most guys," says Sam Querrey, 22, ranked 21st in the world.
"In my opinion, he's somewhat of an overachiever and that's because he works so hard," chimes in No. 19 John Isner.
Roddick, a top-10 mainstay since 2002, says he could easily have floated around the top-50 on his serve alone. It's not his nature.
"It's something that I have taken a lot of pride in, not to give the short end of effort," he says.
Roddick has heard the criticism about being lapped by Federer and Nadal. He has listened to comments that he is not a natural player, is equipped with nothing more than a serve and a forehand and is destined to be another one-Slam wonder.
He's even laughed about it, self-mockingly calling himself "the best bad tennis player of all time." In truth, the three-time Wimbledon finalist is arguably the greatest grass-court player without a Wimbledon trophy.
The main reason? Federer, who has been more nemesis than rival. The Swiss maestro owns a 19-2 career record against Roddick, including all four meetings on grass. Three of those were Wimbledon finals in 2004-05 and 2009. The other was in the semifinals in 2003.
Some have likened Roddick to Goran Ivanisevic, the big-serving lefty from Croatia who could not get past Pete Sampras but finally won Wimbledon in 2001 as a wild card.
Like Ivanisevic, Roddick has kept the faith. At a stage in his career where others might coast or lose motivation, Roddick has done neither. Under the tutelage of coach Larry Stefanki, he has bolstered his fitness and movement and learned to better harness his nervous energy and drive.
His core understanding of the game also has improved, perhaps never so vividly than in his last two matches at Wimbledon.
In beating favored Andy Murray in the semifinals and pushing Federer to the brink, Roddick showed he could step into returns, flatten out his weaker backhand side, slice effectively and attack the net at the proper moments.
"It was as if the different things he's worked on in his career were almost in bits and pieces and they came together," says Patrick McEnroe, who calls them the two best matches Roddick has ever played. "While still having certain physical limitations and technical deficiencies, he's become a more complete player."
At peace off court
On the court and off, Roddick is settling into himself.
He has not been shy about reshuffling his team to try to improve, but in Stefanki, a loquacious ex-pro who has coached a range of top players with disparate personalities, Roddick says he has found the right chemistry.
"I don't think I'll have another coach," he says.
In Decker, 23, the hyperkinetic Roddick has found a companion who shares his bound-out-of-bed energy, understands the demands of celebrity and is secure in her own identity.
"I love her independence; I love that she's self-motivated; I love that she has her own things going on," says Roddick, who has "no issue" with being beaten to the cover of SI. "Whatever success she has is success for both of us."
That Roddick takes his new responsibilities seriously was evident this spring when he purposely took off several weeks to rest up and celebrate his one-year anniversary with Decker. He also traveled to Hawaii, where Decker was shooting a movie with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. The two are also building a new house together in Austin.
"Now he's married, got a wife, he's got other responsibilities, and he wants to give himself the best shot of winning a Slam," Stefanki says. "He's getting a lot more diversified and mature."
It's no secret that the speed of grass is a boon to Roddick's power game. But his comfort in London goes beyond surface.
As he says, "The vibe at Wimbledon is just cool."
Roddick digs the intimacy of staying in an apartment rather than a hotel and strolling through the village. He likes the traditions of the All England Club, with its mandatory whites and hordes of fans queuing up to see tennis. He enjoys a mutual rapport with the British press.
Following his surprising third-round loss to Dudi Sela at the Queens grass-court tuneup this month, Roddick challenged the media to "inundate" him with ideas on how to fill his unexpected dead time before Wimbledon.
They obliged with a top-10 list of sarcastic suggestions, which Roddick in good humor then posted on his website.
Roddick is no lock to reach another final.
Against his four biggest potential foes — six-time champ Federer, resurgent No. 1 Nadal, and Nos. 3 and 4 Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray — the American is a combined 12-32 lifetime, including 2-6 on grass.
Roddick also arrives with just five matches since early April. Patrick McEnroe says that shouldn't matter since the American is fit and ready. The bigger concern is running into a big hitter or getting tight early.
"There is a danger of him putting too much pressure on himself," McEnroe says.
With renewed self-belief, an increasingly appreciative public — and of course, his serve — no one is counting him out.
"With Andy's serve, his chances are always great," American Taylor Dent says.
Having pushed the greatest grass-court player of this generation so valiantly last year can only bolster his chances.
"What Andy came very close to proving last year was that he doesn't need someone to beat Roger to win Wimbledon, because he very, very nearly beat him himself," Carillo says. "That's got to be heartening."
Wimbledon 2010: wywiad z Rodem po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
Q. Feel pretty good about that first round, getting that out of the way, picking up where you left off the last year?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, it was a good start. It was pretty solid all around. I thought I served pretty good percentages. I thought I returned pretty well. And, you know, it was probably a little more straightforward than I thought it might be.
So it's a good start.
Q. How long have you known him?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, obviously you know all the guys from the States pretty well. We never played. But, I mean, we've all practiced together enough to know what to expect.
Q. He wanted to try to attack you, but you returned pretty well, too.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I did. You know, I felt like I returned and I hit pretty good passes today. You know, I think that forced him to maybe try to go for a little bit too much. You know, I don't think he wanted to stay out there and rally too much today and make it about movement, moving the ball around and stuff.
You know, that allowed me to get the upper hand and put him in maybe some tough spots.
Q. You get another attacking player in the next round. He's been playing well.
ANDY RODDICK: He's been playing great, you know. It's a very, very dangerous match. You know, not a lot of mystery to what he's going to do. He does it pretty well. You know, if he serves well, it's going to be a tough one. It's going to come down to some points here and there.
So, you know, I am happy with the way I returned today. You know, if I'm close to that, then I should get myself some looks. No, it's a tough one. But I'm sure he's not happy about it either.
Q. A little bit more nervous coming back into this tournament because you left Queen's a little bit earlier than you planned to?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, I didn't ‑‑ I wasn't too, too panicked. I was definitely ready to play a match, you know. There's only so much practice that can be done. You know, especially it was never a question of how I felt I was hitting the ball. You know, so I wasn't too worried.
But, you know, I was ready to start playing in a tournament, that's for sure.
Q. You had to wait over four hours to get on Court 1 today. What did you do in that time?
ANDY RODDICK: Play some Monopoly. Dominated some Scrabble. I watched some tennis. Watched some football. That was pretty much it.
Q. Which tennis match were you watching?
ANDY RODDICK: Challenger that was going on, a future back home in the States.
Q. You were watching Roger's match?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I think everyone was watching that one.
Q. When you watch, does it get you tense at all? Do you think, maybe I should stop watching this?
ANDY RODDICK: No, not really. You know, I think everyone else gets real excited about, you know, looking down the road, looking down the road, looking down the road. That's just not the way most of us are programmed.
I think, you know, I said ad nauseam, it's probably boring to all of you, it is true: you play the next one. That's all I really worry about. Obviously, if a guy comes up with a huge shot at a big time, everyone in the locker room kind of gets excited. But as far as like being tense, I think I was more relaxed watching it.
Q. What was the buzz like watching that match, Federer down two sets?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean, I don't think anyone expected it. We were probably all ‑‑ I don't think the sentiment was much different than where you guys are watching it from. I think everyone was pretty surprised, especially when it became very, very real there in the latter stages, I think Love‑40 in the third, and then when he was serving for it in the fourth.
Obviously, everyone was pretty surprised that it was at that point.
Q. Given how last year concluded for you, you said you were ready to play a match. How eager were you to get back here and get this underway again?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it's weird because I can answer that question, but it doesn't have everything to do with last year. I'm always eager to get back and play this tournament. You know, that hasn't changed. You know, I'm always eager and anxious to start a slam. You know, that doesn't change it.
You know, obviously you just kind of put a lot more in the memory bank. But, you know, I think I would have been excited to start either way.
Q. There are seven men in the draw who are fathers. With all the pressures and demands of tennis, do you look at these guys and wonder how they do it, be fathers, play tennis?
ANDY RODDICK: You know what, I normally comment on stuff that I have some sort of idea about. And I don't have an idea about that as far as I'm aware (smiling).
You know, it's got to be demanding. But for me to sit here and give you my opinion on fatherhood when I have no idea about it I think would be a little presumptuous on my part.
Q. Have you felt a different reception coming here after last year?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I think so. But I felt that everywhere. It wasn't just coming here into London that kind of sparked it. You know, obviously when I talk to people, that's what they want to talk about most times. But I think it would have been pretty dumb of me to come over here and be surprised by that, that people wanted to talk about it.
I think I have a pretty good grasp of it, you know. I certainly realize that it had an effect on some people. You know, so it is different. It is different. But, you know, it's nice, too.
Q. You've been around Mardy the last month quite a bit. Do you want to assess the state of his game, where you think he could be headed in the tournament. You might face him in the fourth round. Do you think his level has been pretty good?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, yeah. I mean, regardless of where we both are, whatever, a week from now, you know, Mardy is probably as motivated as he's been.
You know, he's doing everything the right way right now. You know, I'm real proud as a friend of the progress that he's been able to make.
You know, he got hurt last year. He really took that as an opportunity to, you know, treat his body right and do the right things. You know, I've always told him, You do it long enough, things start tilting your way a little bit. It seems like that's the case right now.
So, you know, he certainly deserves this patch of success that he has going right now.
Q. Is it fair to say now that you're back here, it's a new day, a new tournament, that you kind of want to bury the memory from last year and not use it as some inspiration?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know that I deal in extremes. I said the first day I got here, people are, How are you going to forget it? I'm not going to forget it. That's an impossibility. It was a huge moment in my life.
It's a tournament I'm very proud of as far as, you know, closing my eyes and thinking real hard and making my forehand better today by thinking about last year, I don't know how to do that either. You know, I'll remember it, but this is a separate tournament. You know, the goal is the second round here.
So, you know, I can talk about it, it's fine, it's no problem.
Q. People are talking about it. They bring it up. You want to put it aside and focus on what you're doing. Is that fair to say?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, you want to focus on this year's event, but I'm fully aware that's not the reality of the situation. Therefore, I'm not going to let it bother me. I'm not going to act agitated. It was a privilege to play in that match. I'm not going to act like it's a burden now, that's for sure.
Q. Do you get the impression that Rafa is maybe back to where he was two years ago where he can seriously challenge for the title again after what happened in Paris?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I don't know that I ever have gone into a Grand Slam and said Rafa can't challenge for the title. You know, it's a very fine line between playing okay and playing really well. And right now he's kind of found that 'really well' again.
I guess for me, I look at it, you know, I see ‑‑ the way it's presented as far as Rafa's success is a little bit predictable to me as far as what I read. It's like he hasn't won a tournament for this long, all of a sudden he gets on the clay, he wins everything, everyone changes him into a different human being. He's the same human being. He's the most dominant clay court player that's ever played. He's the best clay court player in my opinion that's played. And obviously winning matches creates confidence. You know, so obviously he uses that as a bit of a springboard.
But, you know, I don't think anybody in the locker room has ever said, Rafa is not the same. It's just a matter of him getting into a groove. He lost one match last year. It's one match in six years. Everyone acted like he was finished, it was the end, it was this. We don't deal in headlines or extremes again. He lost one match.
Roddick faces tough competition in Llodra
Andy Roddick will take on tough grass courter Michael Llodra as the top half moves into round 2.
American Andy Roddick could not have gotten a more difficult second round opponent. France’s Michael Llodra is ranked 37 in the world, just 5 spots from being seeded at the All England Club – and his lack of seeding meant that he had a fairly good chance of meeting a top seed early. Enter Roddick.
Llodra is at his very best on grass courts. The big-serving Frenchman won the tournament in tune-up tournament in Eastbourne. The courts at Wimbledon are slower and the Slazenger balls heavier than he would prefer, but he is still a threat on the lawns.
Roddick played better in his first round match than Llodra did. The American breezed past countryman Rajeev Ram in easy straight sets, while Llodra took a more difficult 4-set route against Jesse Witten.
Roddick has a better all-court game and should squeeze past Llodra, though he may drop a set in the process. For Llodra to have any chance at all against the American, he’ll have to keep the points short and defeat Roddick at the net.
The American in 4 sets.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
Q. Have you been watching Isner?
ANDY RODDICK: I've been. There's so much stimulus going on right now between the World Cup and Isner's match and everything else.
Q. And your match.
ANDY RODDICK: I can't watch my match, but... Yeah, I've been kind of trying to dabble in a little bit of all of them.
Q. NBA draft coming up.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, but that's easier. You don't need to watch that. You can just kind of check it.
Q. Do you want to talk about the match today. Tough first set. You escaped an early game in the second set and seemed to kind of gain control of the match.
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, yeah. I mean, that was as tough of a second round as there is I think in this tournament right now, considering the surface. You know, it's a quick day out there. You know, he's well‑versed on how to play on this surface, and he's confident right now.
So, uhm, I mean, if you look at the stats, we both had 55 winners and about 10 errors. You know, so that's a pretty decent stat line.
I had to make an adjustment. In the first set, I played fine. I played well. The game he broke me was one of the best return games someone played against me. I had Love. He played good points. Off of my serve, I had to start coming in and serving and volleying behind it. He was pretty comfortable chipping and kind of coming in at random spots. You know, he was dictating the way the points were going. So I think that was a key adjustment.
Q. Is the court faster? That seemed like a match 20 years ago.
ANDY RODDICK: It's going to be weather‑dependent. You know, when it's colder out, it slows up a bunch. When it's really warm ‑‑ it was really warm last year almost the whole tournament, and it was pretty quick.
I'd put more stock into the weather as opposed to the actual court.
Q. John and Mahut are in an incredible marathon. You had your marathon last year. What happens when you get deep into a fifth set and it just goes on and on? Do you go to a different place? Is it harder to focus?
ANDY RODDICK: I played a couple. Obviously last year, Davis Cup with Tursunov, the El Aynaoui match way back when.
It's so important to stay there mentally, especially on grass. You know, you got to harp on those first points of every service game, try to get that. Love‑15, 15‑30, that starts becoming dicey. So they're doing a pretty good job of putting themselves in good position as far as serving with a lead.
Beyond that, you know, you always kind of try to convince yourself it's only going to be another 10 or 15 minutes, even if you might not believe it at the time.
Q. When did you make of your return to Centre Court today? Do you appreciate how popular you've become in this country over the years?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, it's real nice. I mean, it really is. You know, certainly I feel, you know, whether it's right or wrong, that they kind of maybe appreciate the body of work that I've put together at this tournament. It's always gratifying.
It's humbling, as well. I mean, you know, you never feel like you're entitled to anything. For people, you know, they can choose whether or not to support you or not. The fact that they kind of were vocal about it and have been since I've been back over here, it's a nice thing.
Q. You've been here a couple of weeks, Jonathan Ross, anyone come up to you particularly nice, said anything particularly nice to you?
ANDY RODDICK: A lot of it has been. Even Ross himself, you know, I really feel like he was genuine when he said he wanted me to do well here. You know, that's been the case more often than the other way since I've been back over here.
You know, for whatever the reason is, I'm not sure, but, you know, given the two options, it's the better place to be (smiling).
Q. After you lost to Roger a few years ago, you talked about the kitchen sink, the crowd really seemed to get in with you on those remarks.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, I think it was probably more to do with last year. To be honest, afterwards was kind of a blur for me. But, uhm, I've been told I said the right stuff.
It's funny, because the whole time I was waiting there, I was praying that Sue Barker wasn't going to ask me to say anything. Sometimes it works in weird ways.
Q. Sam has had some good success at the 250 level. Can you talk about what a player needs to do to make the transition to have success at the bigger tournaments?
ANDY RODDICK: There's no substitute for getting out and doing it one time. I'm pretty confident that it is something, you know, you all have probably reminded him about. I'm sure he knows about it himself. He's acknowledged it. I think that's a good step.
When you ask him about it, his first response isn't getting defensive, it's saying, I need to do better at these events. I think that's a big step right there, acknowledging what it is.
Once you know what a problem is, then you can go about doing your best to make it right. So he'll be fine. I mean, he's got too much game for that to be an issue for too long.
Q. How worried were you in the first set after what happened with Roger Federer? Did you think at all about going out?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, what happens to other players, you know, doesn't really have an effect on my match, you know. You play who you can that day. I was more concerned with Michael Llodra at that point. He was playing flawless tennis. He played an almost perfect first set.
Coming off of a win last week, I mean, he certainly was very confident. I mean, it took some of my best stuff today to get through that. I thought I played really well. I think I had to.
Q. Is that your best serve‑and‑volley performance do you think?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I did it pretty well against Rafa in Miami this year. But, you know, it's just nice that I can go to that play not out of desperation but because I think it's the right thing to do at the time, you know. I think that's a nice adjustment to be able to make now.
Q. Another inspired and very accurate job of officiating in World Cup soccer. Any comments on what just occurred?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I got to learn when to comment and not. After my little display the other day, they cut into the coverage, ESPN did, to say what I said about the muggings that were going on.
Q. So it's safe to say...
ANDY RODDICK: It's safe to say we may or may not be getting screwed again today, but (laughter).
Q. Llodra is working with Mauresmo. What do you make of that?
ANDY RODDICK: That's fine. It seems to be working. Listen, a lot of times if someone can communicate and get through to you, then that's the person you need to be with. If they communicate in the right ways, and you get along with them, you can handle being on the road with them, then it's a good fit.
A couple of people have talked to me. I think they think it's a lot weirder than I do. I think so far it's been great. To Michael's credit, down two sets to one, he started getting maybe a little frustrated, came back. The first point of the fourth set, he was vocal, C'mon, right away. He kind of kept it together out there real well.
So far I would consider it the right move.
Q. How long did it take you to learn how to manage yourself in five‑set matches where you're not just out there playing but you have an awareness of where you are in the match, what you have to do?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm still learning all the time. Definitely my five‑set record is not as good as it probably should be. But, you know, I think just overall in the last couple of years I've been able to manage matches better.
Dropping the first set today, I kind of kept it together and stayed the course. Then when it turned, it turned quick. I was up 5‑4 in the second, but he had been getting most of the looks. All of a sudden we're a set all.
Probably the last couple years I've probably done a better job of match management.
Q. You spoke earlier about the appreciation others have of what you did here last year. How has last year's experience affected this year's for you, if at all?
ANDY RODDICK: It doesn't. I mean, it doesn't. Yeah, besides more questions in press conferences (smiling).
You know, any time you get to an extended part of the tournament, it's nice because it gives you the confidence in the venue that you can do it. You know you've been there.
Obviously doing something in any field of work, if you've done it before, you feel more comfortable kind of going through it.
But, uhm, you know, I've been very conscious I can't play these matches for last year. It's a separate tournament. You know, like I said, there's no sense of entitlement. I have to get through and go one match at a time.
In my head they've been completely separate. It's just everywhere. Outside of my crew, it seems like they're running together for some reason.
Q. You may have noticed that Britain has had its worst ever Wimbledon this year. Does it strike you as odd or amazing that a country of such wealth in the sport cannot be able to produce players?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. Yeah.
Q. Do you think perhaps there's a reason?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm not going to sit here ‑‑ I think it is surprising. I think, obviously, the facilities are in place and everything. Everything's there. I don't know enough about the inner workings to act like I know, you know, what the reasoning is, you know, behind I guess the lack of players in the top hundred or whatever it is.
You know, I don't know.
Q. Other than the Federer match last year, is there any match in particular here you'd want back, a replay on?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, that's easy. The Gasquet match that I let slip away. I mean, besides finals. You always want a shot at a final. But one I had completely in my grasp and let slip. Through the course of my career, I haven't let that many slip from positive positions. You know, that one I let get away.
Q. What about Sam being on the council?
ANDY RODDICK: It will be entertaining. He's going to try to get a vote for burritos in the lunchroom.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
Q. John...
ANDY RODDICK: I want to make you ask a question about my match first. Any one you want.
Q. How was the match?
ANDY RODDICK: It was good (smiling). Go.
Q. John was complimentary in how you helped him. I'm wondering, what did it mean the way he played, what did it mean to you, to American tennis?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I think that match went past what country you're from. It was kind of like this global event. I mean, it was ridiculous. I mean, you don't get past 20. And to get to 70, I mean, it's never, ever gonna come close to happening again.
Like normally records in sports you say, you know, Okay, eventually it will be broken. That will never be broken, ever, ever, not even close.
Q. John mentioned that you helped him out Wednesday night with some food. I'm wondering how that came about. Were you around here and watching some, checked on him? You came back here?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I was watching. Went to dinner. John's best friend is my assistant with my foundation back home. She was texting us, you know, every point what was going on.
You know, basically got to 35‑All. Basically, it's, Okay, we settle in, eat in, which I do every single night before I play a match. I was on a run of about five straight nights of not leaving the house. I was like, I've got to get out of the house. So we were getting updates, update, updates. Then it came back. It finally got called.
We were sitting there seven‑and‑a‑half hours. I'm staying close by. I said, Let's at least go over there and see if we can do anything.
We offered Doug's help, Georgia who is here, helps with massage. He didn't want to eat this stuff seven‑and‑a‑half hours later. We just went and grabbed him some food that he could actually kind of refuel his body with.
I didn't have to play the next day. You know, so it wasn't a big effort by me. My team was really good about wanting to help John. I thought that was pretty cool of them.
Q. Today's match you looked particularly relieved at the end. Was that really the case?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, yeah. I mean, you're always relieved. Kohlschreiber, I think I had one of the tougher second‑round draws. For the slotted seeds that I could have played, 25 to 32, he might be the most dangerous one there. Obviously I'd lost to him in a slam before. He comes to play at slams.
So, yeah, I mean, I knew it was going to be tough. I was relieved to have gotten through.
Q. You seemed to pick up your game in the third and fourth sets. Talk about that uptake.
ANDY RODDICK: I got a little bit more aggressive. I started hitting my forehand return well, and that was the difference. You know, I started sticking that return.
Then all of a sudden, even if I wasn't breaking, I was 30‑All every game. You put yourself in a position at 30‑All every game, you're making returns, uhm, you know, you don't have to just convert that one time. You're going to have opportunities to make him come up with the goods.
In the third and the fourth set, I felt like I did that pretty well.
Q. What was your internal dialogue like during the changeover after letting that second set get away?
ANDY RODDICK: I went to the bathroom, so I didn't actually have a changeover. I walked out.
No, I mean, after a tiebreaker, when the difference is one set all, two sets to love, that's pretty high intensity. The crowd gets really into it. But there's always a lull after that where, you know, someone can kind of take momentum back. It definitely dies down a little bit. He played a bad game. I was aware of that opportunity.
I've done a good job of not saying a word out there this whole tournament, just going about my business the right way, you know, so I just tried to play the next point.
Q. How do you approach the two days off? Are you happy about that extra day's rest or would you rather keep it one day off and back to action?
ANDY RODDICK: Either way, I'm not too bothered. You know, I feel like, you know, you play three matches in a slam, it's a pretty good workload regardless. So I don't feel like I'm going to be short of practice or match play come Monday.
Might even get to go into the city for dinner tomorrow night, so that might be nice.
Q. Which ticket do you pick, Super Saturday at the US Open or Super Monday here?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, man, that's tough.
Q. What are the pros and cons?
ANDY RODDICK: You mean to play?
Q. No, as a fan.
ANDY RODDICK: To spectate?
Q. Yes.
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, maybe Monday just because there's more matches. You can see more players. Purely on the basis of numbers, I think. I think that's probably what I'd base it on.
Q. How was acting in American Pie?
ANDY RODDICK: It was good. It was awesome.
Q. Are you serving now about as well as you can? Did you feel out there like you were sort of in that rhythm of having your serve be at its best?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, the numbers don't lie, I guess. I had 28 aces, no doubles, served over 70%. So, uhm, that's good. To not get broken against him, I mean, he jumps on returns, especially second‑serve returns. He takes pretty good cuts and can land them in.
To get through, whatever it is, whether it's a serve or the rest of the game, I'm getting through service games well right now. So I hope I can continue that.
Q. The English soccer team have a ban placed on their wives and girlfriends staying at the same hotel as them. In tennis, the wives play a huge part of the team. How important is the support of your wife at a tournament like this?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, it's different. It's a team event versus an individual event. Having a person there is great. Having 25 wives, you know, having to account, that's 25 more meals, that's 25 more things that the team has to kind of worry about.
I don't know if this is a wives/girlfriend issue or a numbers issue that we're dealing with. Personally, I obviously love having Brooke here.
Q. Who do you think would win a WAG‑off between the tennis WAGS and the soccer wags?
ANDY RODDICK: That just sounds dirty. You just said 'WAG‑off.' I'm not going to answer that.
Q. That match obliterated every longevity record. Why did that last so long?
ANDY RODDICK: It's a combination of things. I mean, obviously it's a fluke‑ish thing. Everything had to go the right direction. I mean, you have two guys who were serving great, not returning that well.
One thing, they were playing really good tennis, but they weren't consistently putting enough returns in the court to make someone feel the pressure. They were both serving from ahead the whole time. Seemed that entire fifth set, they had a 15‑Love, 30‑15 lead. That's a lot easier to serve from than if you're Love‑15 down and all of a sudden hitting a second serve. It makes it a little more, you know, urgent.
But even with all that, it should never, ever go to what it did. I mean, everything has to go either the right or the wrong way, depending on how you're looking at it. You guys are probably thinking the right way. When you're out there, you're probably thinking the wrong way.
Yeah, there's no logical explanation for 70 to 68.
Q. Did you know John had that in him spiritually as well as physically?
ANDY RODDICK: He's a good competitor. You see a big guy, you see a guy 6'9". You like to put the competitor thing on someone who's little and scrappy. They normally get the benefit of kind of the scrapper title a little bit easier.
But he always competes. He always competes. He is a great pressure server. You know, that's why his tiebreak record has been great throughout his career. You know, he's pretty relaxed. You know, in a big moment, he doesn't play worse. You know, I'm not that surprised by it.
I don't know that I would have said he could go eight hours in one day, but he did.
Q. US Open match flash through your head at all?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, it's so ‑‑ for a different reason. Like all the reasons I mentioned before, he served well at big moments. You know, he adds 15 miles an hour on his second serve and it seems like it doesn't really affect his percentages at all.
You know, but that was a different match. 7‑6 in the fifth, you can't really compare it to 70 to 68 in the fifth.
Q. If you didn't have to play a tiebreaker, you might have been there a while.
ANDY RODDICK: It will never happen again. No one has even gotten to 30.
Q. 16‑14 was epic.
ANDY RODDICK: You just ruined my final from last year. Never even come close. Never to 50 again. Never to 40 again.
Q. More generally, pretty wild first week if you're a spectator or one of us.
ANDY RODDICK: Sure.
Q. How much does that seep into the locker room? How much do you get a sense of the vibe?
ANDY RODDICK: No, we were talking about it in our house yesterday from the first match out of the gate with Roger being up against it, you know, to the Isner‑Mahut trilogy, to the Queen coming, to Rafa in five. If you guys are struggling for story lines, you need to get a different job fast.
Q. Wimbledon seems to be on steroids recently with the final with Federer and Nadal, then your final, and then Isner. Those are three of the most memorable matches in tennis history in a pretty close cluster.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. Again, it's one of those things that I feel, you know, is a small percentage of good things, and then a large percentage of fortunate coincidences.
It's on a good run, and I'm glad that stuff is happening here. You know, it's the Mecca of our sport. So, you know, that only adds to the spectacle and the drama of everything that takes place inside of these grounds.
Q. A view on changing the final‑set rule in terms of a tiebreak?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm torn. I can definitely understand both ways. The only reason why I would say, you know, Put a cap at 10‑all or 12‑all, put a breaker there, is maybe just because of what you saw today from John. I mean, you can't go any longer. It's not a conditioning issue. No one can play 11 hours and then come back and go straight into an event again where you're playing three out of five sets.
So from that angle, you know, it would make sense. But then, you know, all the matches you're talking about ‑‑ in fairness to players, they should probably put a cap, but as far as general interest and drama and everything, they probably shouldn't.
I'm torn like probably everyone else is.
Q. He was so worn out, obviously. I guess no one was really surprised what happened today after the three days.
ANDY RODDICK: I'm going to tell you guys this because he probably wouldn't: his toes were just torched. I mean, they looked like deli meat. They're disgusting. I don't know if it was from playing that long or doing whatever.
They were shredded. I don't know how he could have looked, and then throw in serving for that long. It's not surprising that he couldn't go out there.
I mean, credit to him, he knew he didn't have his best stuff. He was finished. I thought that was a classy move. He could have easily not given the guy the opportunity. We've seen enough guys down two sets and 4‑1 and bag it.
He probably knew, down two sets, he knew he didn't have enough in him.
But to go through it, I thought that was a pretty classy thing of him to do.
Q. Do you think all the drama from the last week is just a credit to the players and shows how much Wimbledon means to all the tennis players?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, sure. Again, I don't think there's a reason. I think there's a lot of reasons and a lot of weird things that have made up this week at Wimbledon, the last couple years at Wimbledon.
But it's no secret to know how much the players respect and enjoy playing in this event.
Q. You mentioned there was a sense of relief getting through today. With a couple days off, what kind of mental reset do you undertake on Monday?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, same thing you always do. Tomorrow will be probably be very relaxed. Kind of hit a little bit. You know, like I said, enjoy a night in town, actually getting out of the house. Then you kind of reset on Sunday and start kind of maybe working your way towards what you're going to try to do on Monday.
It kind of gives you that day of maybe a little bit of downtime. Even slams on days off, you're still in your mode, still trying to get ready for the next one. I guess this scenario gives a little bit of a relief.
Q. Putting aside the history and the freakishness of that match, what do you think of the aesthetics of that match?
ANDY RODDICK: Aesthetics as far as what?
Q. How they were playing?
ANDY RODDICK: How they were playing? I told you, great serving, unbelievable pressure serving. You know, the aces count was unbelievable.
You know, I mean, let's call a spade a spade. If you don't break someone in 68 games, you're not returning well. That's just fact, you know, and they would have to tell you the same thing.
Once they got into the points, I thought they were playing great. I thought Mahut was hitting the ball well. I thought John was hitting the ball pretty well. But there was a lot of clutch serving. It was a combination of great serving and probably not the best returning.
Q. Do you think with John's game he can get to slam finals with that power game that he has now?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, he got to get to a slam quarter before you get to a slam final. Let's give him a little bit of time.
But, I mean, obviously with that serve, I mean, on a given day, he could beat anyone. You know, you can't put a tangible thing on a serve like that. It's just something that he has on a daily basis that's a huge advantage.
Q. Are you planning your day around the World Cup tomorrow? Planning to watch the U.S.?
ANDY RODDICK: Yes, I will watch, for sure.
Q. How come you were so sort of even and placid about Nebraska leaving the PAC‑12?
ANDY RODDICK: No, they left the Big 12, which has 10 teams to go to the Big Ten which has 12 teams.
I don't know. I feel like when they did the divisions, north and south, we stopped playing Oklahoma every year, it sort of diminished the rivalry a little bit. So if I had to leave to go to somewhere, you want to go to a place that has storied programs like Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Indiana. Those are serious schools with tradition. Selfishly, my in‑laws are either hardcore Ohio State fans or Michigan fans. It's on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXeKdcX0WhI nie wiem czy ktoś to wstawiał ale to jest bardzo przyjemny wywiad z Roddickiem ;)
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po porażce w 4 rundzie
Q. Always the fifth set in Grand Slams. Do you dread the fifth set in a slam these days?
ANDY RODDICK: No.
Q. Obviously a tough one. Anything he did towards the end? Is it just one of those things the ball bounced certain ways, shots went certain ways?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, yeah. The ball bounces and shots land.
You know, I thought he did a good job of controlling the middle of the court all day. You know, his ball was coming in with a lot more behind it than mine. He was switching directions, you know, keeping me off balance, not letting me get set. You know, he was able to execute that for a whole day.
You know, I thought he served better than he has against me before.
That being said, you know, I had shots. I didn't take advantage of 'em.
Q. Did you play as aggressively as you wanted to?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, no. But, I mean, through three sets I was playing horrendously, I mean really, really badly. I mean, to the point where I was trying to think of how to put balls in the court.
Actually, I mean, I think the fifth set was probably the best set that I played as far as hitting the ball, you know, making him struggle to actually get through service games sometimes.
But when you dig yourself a hole, it's tough to get out, when you've given someone confidence, when they have their feet under them a little bit more.
Q. You've played him before. Was he a new guy this time?
ANDY RODDICK: He's not a new guy. He's very good on surfaces that bounce low. He's very good inside of his slot. You know, unfortunately here it's tough to get it out of there. You know, you play high, you run the risk of leaving it short and hanging.
You know, like I said, I think the thing that he did very well ‑ better than times that we played in the past ‑ was serve. I thought he served a lot better than normal.
Q. Are you a bit stunned after something like this or just down?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't think 'stunned' is the right word. You know, I don't view what happens today as an impossibility. I take every match very seriously.
You know, I don't know. I always struggle with how to describe my mood. I mean, there's only so many ways you can say it. So, you know, I'm sure you can use your intuition and reach out and come up with something.
Q. After the fourth‑set breaker, where he got a little bit nervous, you had a couple big serves, thought that maybe in the fifth he'd tighten up a bit. He hasn't been in that position. What were you expecting going into the fifth?
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, you know, honestly if you would have told me I hit the ball like I did in the fifth, I would have liked my chances at the end of the fourth.
Credit to him, because I got into some games. I make him hit a good pass on breakpoint. He stuck a volley. He hadn't taken a first ball and came in all day and he did it down breakpoint. He played high‑risk, but he executed very well. You know, he had a game plan, he stuck to it, and he deserved to win more than I did. That's for sure.
Q. Any reason why you felt you were down in the first three sets in terms of quality?
ANDY RODDICK: What's the question?
Q. Any reason why you were not hitting the ball that well in the first three sets?
ANDY RODDICK: If I would have had a reason, I probably would have figured it out, right? It didn't feel clean. It didn't feel good.
Q. Was he controlling too much real estate where you couldn't get into net as many times as you wanted to?
ANDY RODDICK: It's tough to come in against a ball that stays low and flat like that. You need some time to set and go. You know, you get him on a surface that is conducive to his swings, he can keep the ball down. It's tough charging off of a ball that's not coming off the ground too much.
So, yeah, I mean, he did a good job of, like I said, controlling the middle of the court. You know, if I was through the middle, he was getting length and driving the ball.
Q. There were patches in the match where you felt like he was reading your serve pretty well? You hit a lot of aces.
ANDY RODDICK: I didn't get broken for five sets. It wasn't my serve. It wasn't my service games. It was my returning. That was crap. It was really bad.
I haven't been broken since the first set against Llodra. So I don't think it was my serve.
Q. Reasonably new court. Does it play different to the other show courts here?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, I think it's different. I don't know how much is the court or just the surroundings and stuff. It's definitely a different feel. You know, but we played the same court. It's the same lines. It's the same deal.
If I want to consider myself a contender for this tournament, I've got to get through that match.
Q. Back to the returning. Were you not reading him the way you wanted to or the ball wasn't coming off the racquet?
ANDY RODDICK: It wasn't coming off the right way. I was fighting it all day. You know, seemed like games where I got good swings on it, he was playing from ahead. He did a good job, as well. I don't know.
I had I think one second serve on a breakpoint. That was there in the fifth when I hit a decent return. He cold‑cocked one, came in, hit an inside‑out stick volley. That was a pretty impressive volley at that point.
You know, I just wasn't doing a good job of converting.
Q. So tomorrow when you wake up, you think you're going to be pissed off, disappointed?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm going to be thrilled. I mean, c'mon.
Q. You've been through these slams before.
ANDY RODDICK: And it never gets easier. Of course I'm going to be pissed off when I wake up tomorrow. I mean, if you got fired from your job, you probably wouldn't wake up the next day in a great mood. I mean, c'mon, let's go. We're better than those questions.
All right, thank you.
:/
Czyli gramy 1r w Toronto, a w 3r trafiamy na Robina. :]
Bo nawet jeżeli Del Potro nie zagra, to Verdasco odrobi 15pkt (zagra 2 turnieje na ziemi + DC). :]
Trzeba mieć nadzieję, że na USO to "8" będzie.
Come on Andy !
Andy Roddick and wife Brooklyn Decker Spend 4th of July in 'Kingspin Suite' at The Palms
Tennis star Andy Roddick and his wife, 2010 Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl Brooklyn Decker spent the 4th of July at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas (Photo credit: Shane O’Neal).
They stayed in the Kingpin suite which is located in the Fantasy Tower. The suite comes with two regulation size bowling lanes.
They dined at Simon at Palms Place for brunch on Sunday and N9NE Steakhouse for dinner where Andy enjoyed a 8oz Filet and Mac & Cheese.
http://www.vegasnews.com/27214/andy-rod … palms.html
Coś Ty z włosami zrobił ?! xDDDDDDDD
Normalnie jak w Madrycie, przed dwoma laty. :D
World Team Tennis Up Next!
On Wednesday, July 14th and Thursday, July 15th, our No. 1 American steps foot back onto his home hard courts as a part of World Team Tennis’ Philadelphia Freedoms. Commencing his sixth season with the WTT, Roddick will rally against both the New York Sportimes on Randall’s Island, NY and the Boston Lobsters at the Villanova Pavilion in Philadelphia at 7pm.
Andy started his WTT career on the Idaho Sneakers when he first turned pro in 2000, and then hopped south to play for the St. Louis Aces from 2001-2003 and again in 2005. The Texan’s new team is compiled of tenacious talent- Coach Craig Kardon, Assistant Coach Josh Cohen, Prakash Amritraj, Ramon Delgado, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, and Courtney Nagle.
For 2010, he’ll be representing the City of Brotherly Love in the Big Apple where he and his team will face Kim Clijsters’s team, consisting on John McEnroe, Ashley Harkleroad, Robby Kendrick, Abigail Spears, and Jesse Witten. Traveling to be the home team on Thursday, the Freedoms are set to take on James Blake’s team, with Coach Bud Schultz, towerhouse John Isner, Eric Butorac, Jan-Michael Gambill, Racquel Kops-Jones, and Coco Vandeweghe.
The Philadelphia Freedoms, as Smash Hits’s cohost Sir Elton John sings in his song, was actually inspired by this melody. Billy Jean King held this name so closely to her heart that she began her event playing for the Freedoms back in 1974, and was named the league’s first MVP that year. Now entering it’s 35th season, Billy Jean King is a proud co-founder of WTT’s longevity, popularity, and success.
To see Andy kick off his U.S. summer tour, go to www.wtt.com for a full schedule and all ticket sales. Go Freedoms!
Reklamowy Andy Roddick
Są tenisiści, którzy za parę groszy więcej zmieniają reklamowane marki prawie tak często jak naciąg w rakiecie. Andy’emu Roddickowi jest dobrze Lacoste’m, a i francuska firma chyba jest zadowolona z dotychczasowej współpracy z Amerykaninem, skoro mianowała go ambasadorem swoich zegarków.
Roddick reklamuje ubrania tej marki od pięciu lat. Nowa umowa będzie ważna do 2013 roku.
Roddick still the best of U.S.
Long weary of being America's great male tennis hope, Andy Roddick moves into his second decade waiting to be relieved by the cavalry.
James Blake is now ranked 115th in the world. Marathon John Isner, already tennis middle-aged 25, and Sam Querry, 22, currently stand 18th and 19th, respective ly. Seven years off Roddick's only Grand Slam title, no one has come close to removing him as the American standard-bearer.
Except for his occasional sarcasm -- he once defended his No. 2 ranking by asking the journalist if he, too, could say he was ranked No. 2 in the world -- no apologies are necessary from Roddick. In the era of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who could make it all the way to No. 1, which Roddick did in 2003, let alone hold it? Currently ninth, he is the only ATP Tour player besides Federer to have maintained top-10 status in every year-end ranking since 2003.
Federer, the greatest player in the game's history, has beaten Roddick in all four of the slam finals he has reached since his triumph at Flushing Meadows. He has won $18.5 million, still holds the record for the world's fastest serve (155 mph), saved lives in a 2004 Rome hotel fire and goes home to Brooklyn Decker. We should all be so disappoint ing.
If more seemed promised by a No. 1 world junior ranking and a U.S. Open title at age 21, it went undelivere d because Roddick, now on his fourth coach, doesn't think the game as instinctiv ely as the very top players, has a mediocre backhand, and has had his share of injuries.
But on behalf of U.S. tennis, Roddick hardly has let go of the rope, in fact, dangles it off the side of his one-man kayak like a fishing line awaiting a promising tug.
"I've always accepted it," he said of his burden last night on Randalls Island, where, on behalf of the Philadelph ia Freedoms, he dueled John McEnroe and the New York Sportimes. "I don' t think I'll ever run from it."
Problem is, nobody is chasing him.
"The thing that was so good about the golden ages of American tennis was there was always somebody right behind them," Roddick said. "I got the time of Andre [Agassi] and Pete [Sampras] and [Jim] Courier and [Michael] Chang and [watched] the tail end of John [McEnroe] and Jimmy [Connors], so I was pretty lucky.
"First and foremost, I would like U.S. tennis to do well and would like to lead it to a good spot. I'm not as comfortabl e with my career if, as you say, the cavalry isn't coming up behind. But I do think we are in better position than a year ago or even two years ago."
If so, it is barely improved, and still seriously short of inspiratio n.
"When Chang won the first time then Courier won, and when Andre was the latest one with Pete at age 19, they all propelled each other to greater heights," said McEnroe. "But a lot of countries have put more effort into it and made the game more accessible to more kids and better athletes.
"That's what we need to do. At least Isner and Querry could be top 10. After Wimbledon, migod, people like Duracell should [offer Isner] endorsemen ts. Hopefully some of the attention that [11-hour match] got, we will benefit from.
"But we have to work a lot harder, can't just assume it's going to happen. It's not good for the sport if there are not more Americans contending for majors. That's going to be a problem for tennis."
It already is, little fault of the great hope.
Roddick Takes Atlanta Wild Card
Andy Roddick, America’s top men’s player, has accepted a wild card into the Atlanta Tennis Championships. Roddick won the last ATP World Tour tournament in Atlanta in 2001. The Atlanta event, owned and operated by USTA Southern, will serve as the kick-off to the 2010 Olympus US Open Series.
The 2003 US Open champion and current world No. 9 Roddick will be the tournament’s top seed. He won the Olympus US Open Series in 2005 and 2006.
On Apr. 29, 2001, the 18-year-old Roddick was ranked No. 89 when he defeated Belgian Xavier Malisse 6-2, 6-4 in the Atlanta clay court final. He was the first American teenager to win an ATP title since Michael Chang in 1992.
Malisse also returns to Atlanta and is projected to be seeded seventh.
Roddick will also play doubles with American Mardy Fish.
“Bringing the best tennis player in America back to Atlanta, where he won his first ATP World Tour title, is extremely exciting,” Tournament Director Bill Oakes said. “In speaking with Andy, he expressed how happy he is to return to the site of his first victory, a city that is truly devoted to playing and watching tennis.”
Roddick comes into Atlanta with a 32-7 match record in 2010. He opened the season with a title in Brisbane and, in April, he won the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Miami. He leads the ATP World Tour this season with a 26-4 hard court record (most wins).
The former World No. 1 has 29 career titles on the ATP World Tour, He and Roger Federer are the only active players to finish in the Top 10 for the past eight years and are also the only active players who have won at least one ATP World Tour title the past 10 years. He’s appeared in five Grand Slam finals, including three at Wimbledon.
Fish won his fourth career title Sunday, defeating Olivier Rochus to take the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport. The victory advanced Fish 30 spots to No. 49 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP rankings.
James Ward of Great Britain will receive the third wild card.
Taking place from July 19-25, the Atlanta Tennis Championships will feature some of the world’s top ATP players, plus the US Open National Playoffs – Men’s Championship.
The Atlanta Tennis Championships will feature a 28-player singles draw and 16-team doubles draw. Roddick joins John Isner, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake and Robby Ginepri in the main singles draw. Concurrently, the men’s winners from 16 US Open National Playoffs Sectional Qualifying Tournaments will battle for one spot in the 2010 US Open Qualifying Tournament in Flushing, N.Y.
About the Atlanta Tennis Championships
The Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Ga., will be the tournament site. The ATP formally awarded the ATP 250 sanction Atlanta Tennis Championships to the USTA Southern Section in December 2009.
Premium tickets and daily tickets are now on sale. To order daily tickets by phone, call 866-840-8822. For an order form or other ticket info, call (678) 527-2138 or visit www.atlantatennischampionships.com.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … -Card.aspx
A to niespodzianka :o Chyba się nudzimy w Austin :D
Buzz-cut Roddick ready to mow down Atlanta opposition
Andy Roddick is sporting a new shaven-headed look ("my Britney Spears moment") as he begins his US Open preparation at the re-born ATP event in Atlanta, which he won when it was last played nine years ago.
"The haircut was my idea," said the three-time Wimbledon finalist joking: "I guess I'm also the defending champion here."
Roddick felt the urge to return to the courts last week a fortnight after crashing at Wimbledon in the fourth round to Taiwan‘s Lu Yen-Hsun.
Roddick, a leading 26-4 on ATP hardcourt this season, said he made a late decision to play in Atlanta, site of the first title of his career achieved nearly a decade ago as a raw teenager.
"I‘ve only played eight events this year, I was sitting around late week and made the decision - I want to play again. There is something that can only be achieved in playing real matches that count for something."
"I hadn‘t thought much about playing but there is definitely room for improvement in my game. Having a late start (and a bye in the first round) made the decision to play here a lot easier," said No. 9.
Hot conditions are assured on court. "I‘ve been three or four places in the past few weeks, everyone brags about their heat," joked Roddick. "But hot is hot, you always deal with it in summer in the States."
Tramlines: The ups and downs of Andy Roddick
Little over a year ago, Andy Roddick seemed finally to be catching up with the current big guns on the ATP Tour.
The American had enjoyed his best-ever run at the French Open, despite playing only one warm-up tournament in the build-up, before reaching his third Wimbledon final.
Had he not come up against a similarly happy and healthy Roger Federer in the final, Roddick would surely have lifted his second Grand Slam title - especially after going four hours and 16 minutes and only dropping serve once.
At the time this was all put down to Roddick's relatively new coach Larry Stefanki, who, upon taking the job, tasked the American with getting back down to the weight he had been when he won his only Grand Slam - the 2003 US Open.
That goal achieved, Roddick looked fit, healthy and just as importantly happy - having taken some time out in spring 2009 to marry Brooklyn Dekker.
This season, however, Roddick has suffered a series of disheartening losses, particularly in big tournaments, and has slipped back down to number nine in the world after getting himself up to fifth midway through last year.
Now, some might not consider being the ninth-best tennis player in the world a bad thing. It's not - it's very impressive. But you can see in his body language that for a perfectionist like Roddick it simply isn't good enough.
You could argue that the 27-year-old (Roddick will be 28 on day one of the US Open in August) has been unlucky. Like Lleyton Hewitt he burst on to the scene as a youngster and seemed destined for multiple Grand Slam wins and a lengthy stay at the top.
But along came a couple of players that go by the names of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. You might have heard of them?
Federer in particular has been Roddick's nemesis. The American has a 19-2 losing record against the Swiss player, including all three of those Wimbledon finals, a US Open final and two Masters Series finals. 19-2. That's not unlucky. That's simply coming up against someone who is better than you.
Very early on this year, Roddick made himself unavailable for Davis Cup action for this season in a bid to prevent himself from suffering any further recurrences of a pesky knee injury.
But, despite winning in Brisbane and at the Miami Masters this year - not to be sniffed at - Roddick has racked up losses to Sam Querrey, Teimuraz Gabashvili, Dudi Sela, Lu Yen-Hsun and, last week, Mardy Fish.
Is the depth of men's tennis just getting much, much better? Is Roddick getting bored of having the same coach for more than a year? Are his priorities shifting to such an extent that he is no longer giving tennis the concentration required?
Or has he been so affected by that epic loss to Federer in last year's Wimbledon final that he simply can't get his confidence back in the tight matches, despite knowing he ought to win them?
Whatever the reason, being relatively newly married, with an appearance on Saturday Night Live already under his belt (he became just the second tennis player to host the show back in 2003 after Chris Evert) and with the Andy Roddick Foundation, you have to wonder how much longer a frustrated Roddick will continue to play if he can't start winning these matches.
Roddick eases past Zemlja in Washington
Second seed Andy Roddick used his powerful serve to overcome the steady ground-strokes of Grega Zemlja and defeat the little-known Slovenian 6-4 6-4 in the second round of the Washington Classic.
Roddick blasted just four aces but won 90 per cent of his first serves and never faced a break point in beating the 128th-ranked Zemlja in 84 minutes.
"Tonight it was like a pitcher's count in baseball," Roddick said. "I wasn't behind. I wasn't battling the love-15, 15-30 games. I was control of my own service games, which was good.
"I didn't dig myself many holes out there."
In other matches at the US Open warm-up, Spanish third seed Fernando Verdasco staved off two match points in the second set before emerging with a 4-6 7-5 7-6(6) victory over gritty left-handed German Michael Berrer.
Fourth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia eased past Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-4 6-2, while American Mardy Fish won his 11th successive tour match with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Viktor Troicki of Serbia.
American John Isner, who played the longest match ever at Wimbledon in June, defeated 21-year-old Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 7-6(6) 7-6(8), winning the final-set tiebreaker 10-8 to gain revenge over the man who knocked him out of the grass-court Grand Slam.
Despite being a qualifier, the 23-year-old Zemlja did not back down against Roddick, relentlessly firing his crisp ground-strokes against the ninth-ranked American.
Zemlja had eight aces but was broken once in each set to suffer defeat in his first career match against Roddick.
"The points he was winning he was having to come up with really good shots," said the 27-year-old Roddick, bidding for his fourth title at the Washington tour stop.
"I wanted to put the ball in spots that made it difficult for him to attack in.
"I did that pretty well. The balls that he was aggressive on were low balls that he would have to get down the line, switching directions. That becomes a high-risk shot for him.
"He pulled a fair amount of them off. He looked real good on a lot of points but in the end he lost four and four."
Roddick has played just one tournament since his disappointing five-set loss to unheralded Taiwanese Lu Yen-hsun in the round of 16 at at Wimbledon.
"I accomplished what I wanted to tonight," he said. "I wanted to get into some rallies early, get my feet under me and move the ball around, mix up paces and with different heights."
In the third round, Roddick will face talented Frenchman Gilles Simon, who needed only 52 minutes to blitz Igor Kunitsyn 6-1 6-2.
Isner lasted 74 minutes the last time he met De Bakker a day after completing his 11 hours and five minute epic against Nicolas Mahut, but was far from happy with his performance despite winning the match.
"He served great, just like I did," said Isner, who drilled 15 aces. "I didn't play horrible out there. I just wasn't that sharp. But I competed pretty well, that's what kept me in it.
"But honestly, he was probably the better player tonight."
Reuters
"It was just a bad night, I don’t have much of a defence for it and I don’t think you can defend it, I didn’t feel right physically or mentally, it was just a pretty bad effort."
Jak się nie mylę to Rod ma bilans 9-5 po Miami. Słabo, ale na pocieszenie pozostaje fakt, że poszedł śladami niektórych kolegów z czołówki. :]
Doubts plague Roddick in US Open run-up
Andy Roddick is plagued by doubts in his game after crashing out of the ATP event in Washington, a tournament he has won three times, the last in 2007.
The admittedly listless second seed is keen to lift his level with next week's Masters 1000 in Toronto and the Cincinnati date the last chances for salvation before the August 30 start of the US Open.
Roddick's only Grand Slam honours came at Flushing Meadows in 2003, where the then-youngster was tipped for greatness. "I don't have much of a defense for this showing," said the disappointed American. " I didn't feel right physically. I didn't feel right mentally. It was a pretty bad effort."
Roddick was unable to really explain what went wrong as he lost for the fifth time in 14 matches.
The 27-year-old called his showing in a contest which did not start until nearly 11 p.m. after a day of rain "a bad night. "Feeling lethargy and not all there — that's not fun for me."
But he vowed: "I promise you, I'm going to figure this out before I do that again. That's not what I built my reputation on.
Roddick wife ready to end career as bikini babe
Bikini babe Brookyln Decker, wife of Andy Roddick, has revealed she's keen to have kids and quit the high-flyer life after little more than a year in the tennis mix.
The 23-year-old Sports Illustrated 2010 cover girl told Women's Health magazine: "I want to live a normal life - drive my kids to school, have tons of animals running around, be barefoot and pregnant."
Decker married Roddick, who drops from the ranking Top ten for the first time in four years after a Washington tournament loss this week, in spring 2009. The player took a lengthy holiday earlier this year in Hawaii on a film set set where his wife featured in a Jennifer Aniston project.
Decker's feature film debut in the romantic comedy Just Go With It is due in cinemas next year.
The tennis wife says she's trying to dispel the image of models as thick: "When people hear 'bikini model,' they have one thing on their mind," she told the magazine. "Then they see you're someone who shows up to the set in pajamas and no makeup, watches sports and belches."
Roddick met Decker after discovering her in a magazine and getting his agent to ring her up and propose for a date for his shy client.
Andy przyznał, że ostatnimi tygodniami nie czuł się najlepiej. W internecie pojawiły się pogłoski, że Roddick wykazuje objawy...mononukleozy :|.
Sam tenisista nie wyklucza przerwy przed US Open:
Roddick said he not felt his full energy for the past few weeks and wants some tests to see if a health problem is at the root of his troubles, which he said could lead to pulling out of upcoming Toronto or Cincinnati events.
No to lipa.
When Roddick retires, American tennis will face star problem
As last week's Legg Mason tournament in Washington D.C. staggered to a connoisseu rs-only conclusion, we heard a familiar lament: Where are the Americans, with all that hard-court talent? To me, this was the more pressing question: If Andy Roddick is about to vacate his post as the No. 1 U.S. player, where will we find the panache?
I've never watched a Grand Slam event with even a single thought about Americans -- who's doing well, who's been eliminated, any of that. If they're all gone within two days, no problem, as long as compelling characters remain. If the world's Top 5 fit the molds of Rafael Nadal, John Newcombe, Patrick Rafter, Yannick Noah and Boris Becker for the rest of time, I wouldn't care if an American ever crashed the party.
It helps the sport, though, if David Letterman, Time Magazine or Rolling Stone can reach out to the top American player for an interview, any old time. Roddick definitely fits that bill. He was a bit of a smart-*censored* in his earlier days, quick to belittle anyone who dared question his ability and not always kind to opposing players. With maturity came some perspectiv e, and a more measured sense of humor, but he remains a terrific interview. Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser took advantage of Roddick's D.C. visit to get him on ESPN's Pardon The Interrupti on last week, and he was everything they desired: bright, witty, charming.
Consider the barren landscape when Roddick retires, or slips so far down the rankings that he loses his competitiv e edge. Who's next in line for a high-profile interview? Sam Querrey? John Isner? Mardy Fish? These are some decent guys, but does their appeal transcend the sport of tennis? Hardly.
In lamenting Roddick's early exit from the D.C. tournament, Washington Post columnist Mike Wise noted Roddick's "very gracious interview, given the circumstan ces." But Wise went on to write, "Isner, when asked about the longest match in the history of tennis he played at Wimbledon less than two months ago, was less expansive and more monosyllab ic than Patrick Swayze in Road House. Excuse me. You play tennis for 11 hours over three days in your sport's cathedral ... and you're ready to stop talking about how you made history? Memo to Isner: Being shaggy, 6-foot-9 and unable to move well laterally does not qualify as intriguing ."
Wise is not a year-round tennis follower, but that's just the point. To interest a national columnist, network talk-show host or splashy magazine, you need to offer something more than an inside-out forehand. (Roddick, by the way, doesn't need the presence of his supermodel wife, Brooklyn Decker, to qualify as a player in this league. It helps, but he has always done quite well on his own.)
I'm just wondering what happens to American tennis, from a marquee standpoint, when Roddick departs. Isner just doesn't have the desire, or the personalit y, to get on that stage. Querrey can be astonishin gly dull, and half the time, he's talking about wanting to get off the court and go home (that happened again in L.A., before he handsomely recovered to beat Andy Murray in the final).
It's clear that American men's tennis has been in severe drought since the winter of 2003-04, right after Roddick won the U.S. Open. Once Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi retired, the U.S. was left without at least two dominant, internatio nally successful men since Bill Tilden popularize d the game in the 1920s.
It's not just the talent that has gone missing, though. It's the presence of a strong, undeniably radiant personalit y. That covers a lot of ground, from class to crass, and controvers y most certainly counts. The tennis boom of the 1970s wouldn't have carried nearly as much steam if Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe weren't torching the bastions of tradition like a couple of rebellious punks.
It goes all the way back, again, to Tilden, whose singular elegance put tennis in the company of Babe Ruth, Red Grange, Jack Dempsey and other sporting heroes of the Roaring Twenties. From there it progressed through the stylish Ellsworth Vines, the innovative Don Budge, the hustling Bobby Riggs, the commanding Jack Kramer and the fiery Pancho Gonzalez, among others, before giving way to Connors, McEnroe and Arthur Ashe. Nobody ever called Pete Sampras the life of the party, but he had Agassi as his foil, and a rivalry for the ages.
Put it this way, any time tennis staged a high-class social gathering -- think London, Zurich or Monte Carlo -- top American players have turned heads. Perhaps they triggered thoughts of utter disdain ("Oh my God, I despise that guy"), but they got people's attention. I doubt if Isner or Querrey could even dress for such an occasion, let alone bring any kind of star power.
Is it their fault? Of course not. Credit those two for cracking the world's Top 20 and aiming for the top. Beware the residue, though, when Roddick descends from relevance. Beyond the baseline, American tennis will be duller than a knit-off.
Ill Roddick withdraws from Toronto
Reuters - Tue, 10 Aug 22:18:00 2010
Eighth seed American Andy Roddick has pulled out of the Toronto Masters because of illness.
Following a lopsided loss to Frenchman Gilles Simon in the third round of the Washington Classic last week, Roddick had said he felt lethargic and might need time to figure out what was wrong ahead of the US Open.
A winner in Canada in 2003, Roddick's place in the draw will be taken by lucky loser Paul-Henri Mathieu of France.
Chile's Fernando Gonzalez has also withdrawn due to a left calf injury. He will be replaced by Somdev Devvarman of India.
Roddick's departure leaves Sam Querrey and Michael Russell as the only Americans in the main draw.
With the US Open looming, Roddick's illness is more bad news for American tennis which, for the first time since the ATP rankings began in 1973, has no players in the top 10 after Roddick slipped to number 11 after his loss in Washington.
"Following Washington, D.C, I was not feeling a hundred percent and returned to Austin. As of this morning, I still do not feel well enough to compete in Toronto. I am disappointed to be missing the Rogers Cup."
Podobno Andy'emu na jakiś czas zakazany jest "wysiłek fizyczny", co jest równoznaczne z tym że na 99.9 % z Cincy również się wycofa. :(
Paskudna sprawa. Się coś przyczepiło i w zasadzie nikt nie wie, ile czasu potrwa odbudowa organizmu. Centralnie do mnie to przypomina mono.
Tired Andy Roddick to miss US Open?
Betting Press Staff - 12 Aug 2010
American Big Hitter Andy Roddick has been forced to withdraw from this week's Rogers Cup after complaing he was feeling lethargic.
Roddick said he felt tired and lethargic after his surprise loss to Gilles Simon in Washington last week and he has been too ill to compete in Toronto this week.
Roddick has not confirmed exactly what he is suffering from but it is a suspected viral infection. The American’s fans will be concerned in case he has a possible case of glandular fever, something which has afflicted Roger Federer in the past.
It makes the American a potential doubt for the US Open which begins at the end of August.
It is a big blow for Roddick’s chances of getting back into the top ten. His early defeat in Washington saw him slip to 11 in the rankings and it marks the first time there has been no American in the men’s top ten since 1973.
No to dupa zbita po całości... Dobrze że udało się Rodowi wygrać Miami w tym roku, wygląda na to że będzie to jedyny pozytywny aspekt tego sezonu. Jak tak dalej pójdzie, aż boję się pomyśleć gdzie w rankingu będzie Roddick po Miami 2011 :|
Roddick US Open hopes shaky after Toronto pull-out
Andy Roddick's US Open preparation looks bleak after the No. 11 pulled out ill form the Toronto Masters before his first match.
The decision leaves the American with one major event left in Cincinnati before the start of the Open on August 30.
Roddick lost Toronto finals in 2002 and 2004. He cited illness after hinting at his health situation a week ago after loss in Washington. "I didn't feel right physically. I didn't feel right mentally. It was a pretty bad effort."
It's been a summer of trouble for the one-time No. 1, with Roddick losing in the Wimbledon fourth round a year after playing his third final at the All England club. He then switched to his favourite hardcourt only to lose in the Atlanta semi-finals before going out early in Washington.
Andy Roddick practices at 2 p.m. today on Court 9. RT @nickyyang: @CincyTennis andy roddick practices today?
"Mild" case of mono for Roddick
Andy Roddick, who pulled out of the Toronto tournament last week, arrived in Cincinnati and met the media today.
The unexplaine d lack of energy that has plagued him the last little while turns out to be a mild case of mononucleo sis.
"I got some blood work done in Washington, and then again in Texas, and one of them came back positive for - I guess I've been dealing with a mild, mild case of mono for the last couple of months that I wasn't really sure about," Roddick said. "So they think I'm fine now. They think I'm most of the way through it, you know, if not all the way through it. So I think more than anything else, it's kind of a mental relief opposed to wondering why, if I was out of shape, this that, and the other."
"It's weird not ‑‑ the fear of kind of the unknown and not knowing what's going on. There were some days where it was good and some days where it was real bad. So it was like you would have those two or three good days, and it was like, okay, you're just being kind of a wimp. So it's nice to just have a little bit of clarity moving forward."
"I normally ‑‑ I enjoy training all day and running all day and doing all that stuff. You know, I opted out of probably four or five workouts this summer that I've never done that before. So that wasn't fun. It was just me wondering if I was out of shape or what was going on, why there was this lethargic feeling. You know, like I said, it is what it is, and you move forward."
"I mean, if we get these (tests) back and nothing's wrong and I'm just tired, that's something you go play. Toronto was nice enough. We explained the situation. They were great. They said, We can try to guarantee as late of a start as possible, 3:00 on a Wednesday or whatever it was. So that gave us the flexibilit y we needed. Washington I think I lost at Thursday night, so there was an a little bit of wiggle room as far as trying to come up with what our plan was. I think we worked with the ATP to see what our options were. Toronto accommodat ed, and then we got kind of our answers back. From that point, I wasn't gonna play Toronto. But I didn't want to pull out on Friday and then not give myself any chance or any form of mental clarity, I guess. "
Cincinnati
Konferencja --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hzAiZQteQk
Trening --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu9QJdnMHMc
Roddick attributes troubles to mononucleosis
MASON, Ohio (AP)—Andy Roddick says his recent struggles on the court are the result of a mild case of mononucleosis.
Roddick lost in the third round at Washington on Aug. 6, saying afterward that he didn’t feel right. He withdrew from the Rogers Cup in Toronto and had blood tests to figure out why he was sluggish. He said Saturday that one of the tests came back positive for mononucleosis—a mild case.
Roddick’s doctors told him he’s probably had it for the last couple of months and should be just about over it. He practiced Saturday in preparation for the Cincinnati Masters next week.
ANDY RODDICK RECOVERING FROM MONO
Boy, what a tough break for Andy Roddick: after feeling fatigued for most of the summer, a recent blood test revealed that he’s been suffering the withering effects of mononucleosis. Andy Roddick explained his health problems to reporters in Cincinnati, where he is preparing to play in next week’s ATP Masters event (the AP):
“I guess I’ve been dealing with a mild, mild case of mono for the last couple of months that I wasn’t really sure about,” he said. “So they think I’m fine now. They think I’m most of the way through it, if not all the way through it.”
Roddick said he tired more easily this summer, prompting him to cut back on his workout schedule.
“I enjoy training all day and running all day long and doing all that stuff,” Roddick said. “You know, I opted out of probably four or five workouts this summer—that I’ve never done before. So that wasn’t fun. It was just me wondering if I was out of shape or what was going on, why there was this lethargic feeling.”
The good news is that the current World No. 11 is on the mend. He’s playing Cincy next week and has no plans of skipping the upcoming US Open.
Roddick 'Ready To Rock' Cincinnati
Andy Roddick revealed Saturday that he recently tested positive for mono [glandular fever], but said that his condition had much improved as he prepares for the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, which begins Sunday. Roddick withdrew from this week’s Rogers Cup in Toronto, but his doctor says that the former World No. 1 is ‘probably ready to rock’.
Roddick had blood work done in Washington following his surprise loss to Frenchman Gilles Simon and again when he returned home to Texas. One of the tests came back positive for a mild case of mono.
“I've been dealing with a mild, mild case of mono for the last couple of months that I wasn't really sure about,” Roddick said in Cincinnati Saturday. “They think I'm fine now, that I'm most of the way through it, if not all the way through it. So I think more than anything else, it's kind of a mental relief [of knowing]."
For the past two months Roddick suspected something was wrong as he often felt low on energy after training. “I enjoy training all day and running all day and doing all that stuff. I opted out of probably four or five workouts this summer that I've never done that before. So that wasn't fun. It was just me wondering if I was out of shape or what was going on, why there was this lethargic feeling.
“I'm feeling better. I felt a lot better in Washington than I had training. So [the doctor said] ‘The good news is you're probably ready to rock. Be a little careful, but you should be fine to go.’ So that was a relief.”
Roddick won the Cincinnati title in 2003 and 2006 and was a finalist in 2005. He suffered an opening-round loss to fellow American Sam Querrey last year but said that he always enjoyed playing in Cincinnati and praised the venue’s enhanced facilities.
“I’ve always had great support here, it's probably my favorite surface and I normally enjoy pretty hot conditions. No one really enjoys them, but I don't hate them as much as most. I have family close by here. You know, it's just a place that I enjoy coming to.
“[The redevelopment] looks great. Looks like they did a really great job. I'm happy about that for two reasons: Obviously selfishly, we enjoy the spoils of it; and beyond that, they've shown a commitment to keep this tournament here for long after I'm done playing.”
Roddick, who will play Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky in the first round, is seeded to meet Robin Soderling in the third round, with the winner seeded to meet Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
Roddick chory na mononukleozę
Wyjaśniła się przyczyna słabej postawy jednego z czołowych amerykańskich tenisistów. Badania krwi wykazały, że Andy Roddick cierpi na mononukleozę.
- Ciszę się, że w końcu udało nam się odkryć przyczynę mojej słabszej postawy - wyjaśnił Roddick, który na początku tygodnia wycofał się z turnieju Masters 1000 w Toronto. Obecnie tenisista przygotowuje się do Cincinnati Masters.
- To było bardzo dziwne. Nie wiedziałem co mi dolega i nie ukrywam, że odczuwałem pewien strach - wyznał Amerykanin. - Miewałem dobre i złe dni. Kiedy miałem dobre dni wszystko było ok, kiedy złe mówiłem sobie: "Dobra, jesteś po prostu ofiarą" - skomentował.
- Na szczęście nie jest to bardzo poważne i nadal będę mógł kontynuować swoją karierę - zakończył.
Mononukleoza powoduje przemęczenie organizmu. Na tą samą chorobę cierpiał Roger Federer w 2008 roku. Po półfinale w wielkoszlemowym Australian Open Szwajcar notował zdecydowanie słabsze wyniki.
http://sport.onet.pl/tenis/roddick-chor … omosc.html
Absolutnie nie jest mi do śmiechu, ale witamy w klubie. :]
Andy To Face Stakhovsky
Andy Roddick will open his campaign at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters on Monday evening when he faces Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky in the first round of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati.
In an interview over the weekend, Roddick announced he had been suffering with a “mild, mild case of mono for the past couple of months”, but assured the media and fans that he is “ready to rock” in Cincinnati, where he has twice before lifted the winner’s trophy in 2003 and 2006.
World No. 46 Stakhovsky does not come into Cincinnati on top form, having won only one match in his past five tournaments since winning his third ATP World Tour title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch at the beginning of June. The 24 year old, who reached the second round in Toronto last week, is making his main draw debut in Cincinnati.
In their only previous meeting, Roddick enjoyed a thumping 6-2, 6-1 victory over Stakhovsky in the third round in Miami earlier this season.
The match is scheduled to take place not before 7:00pm ET on Stadium. Check out the full order of play here: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2010/422/op.pdf
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news from Cincinnati.
Quarterfinals Up Next – Roddick Passed Soderling Test
Starting promptly at 7pm, America’s Andy Roddick and Sweden’s Robin Soderling battled for a quarterfinal spot in the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters, and our home-turf player captured the win in three tight sets, 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(5).
Early in the first set, the No. 1 American broke the fifth seed and ran away with the lead, taking it 6-4. With momentum on his side, Roddick broke again early in the second, but Soderling proved why he’s a Top 10 ATP player and shortly after, broke right back. From that game, the tides turned and the Swede stayed in control to edge out the second set in a ‘breaker, 7-6(7). The third and determining set displayed top tennis with both players flattening out their forehands and swinging fiercely. At 5-6, Roddick had three break and match points, but Soderling saved them and sent the victory to be decided by another tie break.
Even though the French Open finalist earned the first mini-break with a down-the-line forehand on Roddick’s approach, the 2003 US Open champ immediately broke back and earned a crucial mini-break to have double match point at 6-4. However, Soderling held with a reliable forehand winner, which meant that Roddick would serve for the win, and that first serve closed this match and sent our American to his eighth quarterfinal of 2010, 6-4, 7-6(7), 7-6(5), after two hours and 45 minutes of play.
Today, Roddick served 27 aces, earned 12 break points, and faced only one break point the entire match. Stay tuned to AR.com for the Order of Play as Andy takes on Djokovic tomorrow, Friday, in Cincy.
Roddick To Duel Djokovic
Ninth seed Andy Roddick will face World No. 3 Novak Djokovic on Friday afternoon in Cincinnati for a place in the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters.
Roddick is looking to reach his third ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final of the season, following a runner-up effort in Indian Wells and title success in Miami in the spring. Standing in the way is an in-form Djokovic, who has progressed steadily through the draw, not dropping a set against Viktor Troicki or David Nalbandian. The Serbian is hoping to reach the Cincinnati final for the third year in a row; he lost to Andy Murray in 2008 and to Roger Federer last year.
The second-seeded Djokovic is coming off a semi-final effort in Toronto last week, when he lost a tight match to Federer. His other highlights this season include capturing his 17th tour-level title in Dubai, and semi-final showings at Monte-Carlo and Wimbledon.
Here are some extra stats about Djokovic, courtesy of the ATP:
Age: 23 (22.05.1987)
Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6′2″ (188 cm)
Weight: 176 lbs (80 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2003
Coach: Marian Vajda
Roddick can draw on the confidence of having beaten Djokovic in their past three meetings, and leading their head-to-head 4-2. Their last match came in the quarter-finals of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Montreal last year; Roddick won in straight sets.
Looking ahead to the clash with Djokovic, Roddick said: “He brings a lot to the table. He returns great and he’s great off the ground and he’s pretty solid and he toughs out a lot matches. It doesn’t get easier from here.”
“I think each match is getting a little better,” added Roddick, who came through a tight match with Robin Soderling on Thursday night. “To put three good matches together here was extremely necessary for going into the US Open. All three of them were pretty tight. That’s what you’re looking for. I came here with not a whole a lot of expectation. This probably exceeds what my confidence level was coming in. So I’m gonna leave this tournament, regardless of what happens, a lot more confident than I came. That’s the first time I’ve been able to say that for a little bit.”
The quarter-final match is scheduled for not before 2:00pm on Stadium. Check out the full order of play here: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2010/422/op.pdf
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news from Cincinnati.
Roddick Outlasts Soderling in Epic Night Match
Two-time Cincinnati champion Andy Roddick battled to a 6-4 6-7(7), 7-6(5) win over World No. 5 Robin Soderling on Thursday night at the Western & Southern Finacial Group Masters.
Roddick fired 26 aces in the match that featured just three breaks of serve. On his serve, Roddick was explosive, winning 73 percent of the points and facing just one break point.
In the opening set, Roddick's serve was definitely on. The American fired 13 aces while scoring a break of Soderling's serve in the fifth game.
The players exhanged breaks midway through the second set before battling through a very tense tie-break that Soderling claimed 9-7.
Roddick had chanced to finish the match off during the third set. In the eighth game alone, Roddick had five break chances. In all, Soderling saved eight break points during the final set.
In the decisive tie-break, Roddick prevailed 7-5.
The win earns Roddick a Cincinnati quarterfinal berth for the sixth time in his career. He's now tied with Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Mats Wilander for the most quarterfinal appearances in the Open Era.
Roddick is now 28-7 all-time in Cincinnati, making him the winningest active player and placing him seventh among all players during the Open Era.
Roddick to return to the top 10
Andy Roddick will return to the top 10 next week at No. 9 after reaching the semifinals of Cincinnati, ending the inaugural absence of Americans in the top 10 after two weeks.
Roddick leaves his name off US Open title hope list
Andy Roddick, last American to win the US Open seven long years ago, fears nothing is about to change at this upcoming edition of the major in New York.
Despite climbing back into the ATP Top10 after a two-week absence, Roddick can only tip the usual suspects as title hopes at Flushing Meadows.
"Everything is different at a Slam," said the loser of a Cincinnati semi-final at the weekend against good friend Mardy Fish, "You're gonna have the normal cast of characters as the favorites, and then that next kind of tier of four or five guys."
Roddick is realistic enough to leave himself out of any victory calculations."Obviously you've got to favor the guys that have been there and done it before.
"A Slam is a little bit of a different animal. So (2009 winner Juan Martin) Del Potro pulling out, I don't think that has much impact. It would have been a pretty tall ask for him to come back and his first tournament be a major player."
"That's something that's built up over time. So I don't think it's that much different than what we've seen over the last year or so."
Roddick wraca do Brisbane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnPFM-b40As
Roddick To Begin Monday In New York
American No. 1 Andy Roddick will open his US Open campaign in a first-time meeting with France’s Stephane Robert on Monday at Flushing Meadows in New York.
Ninth seed Roddick goes into the final Grand Slam of the year after a very strong showing in Cincinnati, where he reached the semi-finals and rediscovered his best form after suffering a mild bout of glandular fever over the summer.
World No. 78 Robert is coming off a first-round exit at last week’s Pilot Pen Tennis in New Haven, which was his first tournament since losing in the second round on clay in Umag last month. The 30 year old enjoyed better fortune at the start of the season, reaching his first ATP World Tour final in Johannesburg and winning an ATP Challenger Tour title in Tanger in February. He is making his main draw debut at the US Open.
Find out more about Robert from these stats, courtesy of the ATP:
Age: 30 (17.05.1980)
Birthplace: Montargis, France
Residence: Montargis, France
Height: 6′1″ (185 cm)
Weight: 170 lbs (77 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
The match is scheduled for third on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, following two ladies’ singles matches featuring Melanie Oudin and Kim Clijsters. Play for the day begins at 11am ET (4pm BST). Check out the full order of play here: http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/sche … omo=subnav
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news from Flushing Meadows.
Go, Andy!
Rod właśnie postarzał się o kolejny rok, kończy dziś 28 lat. :)
Życzę ci, tego samego co zawsze : Zdrowia, szczęścia, małego Roda :D, WIMBLA ! (A jak sie nię uda, to byle jakiego innego szlema :P ).
Przyłączam się do życzeń, zdrowia przede wszystkim ;)
Przy okazji wrzucam osiągnięcia w dniu 28 urodzin:
Ranking: 9
T/F: 29/19
WS/F: 1/4
TMS/F: 5/4
Bilans spotkań: 546 - 173
Zarobki: $18,658,823
Oj tak, małego Roda xDDDDD
Szlema mistrzu, czego ja Ci mogę życzyć, zdrowie jako takie jest do tej pory, szczęście też, pieniądze też.
haha małego Roda!! Jak nic :D:D No i Wimbledonu...
US Open 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Could you talk about the conditions out there today and what you learned about the state of your game, how you feel about it?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, like I said before, I felt better since Cincinnati. The conditions, they're a little hot, but it's not too bad. The stadium court is always tricky because that wind always gets down there and you're playing always playing downhill on one side, and it feels like uphill on another side. It's a complete 180 adjustment every two games. So it's kind of almost like two different matches depending on what side you're on. You know, but I handled it okay. I made returns and got through it pretty comfortably.
Q. How have you been practicing? How do you feel? Do you feel 100% or 98? Where are you?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm not sure percentages. I mean, I have my days. You know, I feel, you know, 80% better than I did five, six weeks ago, that's for sure. It's going the right way. To be honest, once you decide to play, I think you throw all the excuses and everything else out the window. If I decide to play, then it's up to me to give 100% of what I have. So it's not something I really want to discuss too much from this point forward. It's something that's there. You know, I'm not going to analyze it every day. It's not perfect, but it's fine. You know, it's going the right way.
Q. Aside from how you might say it felt on the court today, in terms of your preparation, have you been able to prepare at least in the last week or so the way you would have liked to?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, I was out here hitting every day. You know, I took a couple days off after Cincinnati, because that was a lot more than I was advised to play at that point. You know, he told me I was supposed to play an hour a day for that week, and I failed at that. (Smiling.) So, you know, I took it easy a couple days when I got here, but I have definitely gotten plenty of time in on the stadium. I was out there every day for five days. Everything should be fine.
Q. What does 28 years old mean to you? I mean, right in your prime. How do you look at that?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't really think about it, because it makes no difference what I think about it. It's like you go out there and give the best of what you got on that day. I'm not going to that's kind of the way I've always done my career. You wake up in the morning and you put what you can into that single day. So, you know, obviously I know I'm probably closer to finished than I am to the start. But I don't know. It's a number. I'm barely older than I was yesterday, so... (Laughter.)
Q. You're still a big Miami Heat fan?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. Just your reaction to what this team...
ANDY RODDICK: I'm fine. I'm just sick of defend might go fanhood. I was going to the games in '01 when they were paying people to come. You know, I was obviously in Boca for a long time and went to four or five home games a year. Obviously I'm excited, you know. My big thing was I just hope I was just hoping and praying they resign Dwyane. And then when Bosch came I was ecstatic. Then when LeBron came it was bordering on ridiculous. Like everyone else, I'm excited to see how it all goes together.
Q. It looks like James, you know, might be winding down his career. Can you talk about his career a little bit, and also what you remember about his match with Agassi in 2005.
ANDY RODDICK: Sure. I'm extremely bias. I'm a massive James Blake fan. His career is one thing, but I also like his character. I like the way he goes about his business. He's been a real good friend to me. I think my biggest hope for James from this point forward is he can get healthy enough to have a run that he would like. You know, have a fair shot at playing continuously for a window, whatever that might be. You know, obviously I think we all remember the match against Andre. It was just great. It was great tennis. The storylines were great, because with James coming back and everything, you know, the drama of a night session at the US Open is about as good as you can get. It had all the makings for a great match, and it lived up to it. I think that night Andre said afterwards that tennis won, and I think that was you know, he's pretty good at putting words together, and I thought that was right.
Q. He's gonna be honored tonight. So many years that the two of you were a tandem in Davis Cup. Talk about that synergy, having each other's back and so forth.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, yeah. I think more than anything, you know, the guys on the team, we all played for each other. I think we were all for, you know, whatever it was, 16, 17 ties we had the same lineup, and I think that we all felt a sense of responsibility to each other. We were all accountable to each other, you know, until we kind of reached that goal when we finally won it was a great moment. For me, I was really happy that James won probably the biggest match of that tie. You know, he had, you know, kind of been up and down a little bit that year in Davis Cup. For him to come up against a top 10 player with the Bryans on the next day, that was probably the match that we had circled as far as the biggest match of the tie. So that's the match I personally will remember. You know, I felt real good about our chances of winning Davis Cup once he won that match against Youzhny.
Q. Do you feel good about your role in American tennis? As it was, Andre sort of gave you a lot of advice, and then you were the leader of the Davis Cup team. Now you've been real helpful to Sam and John. Can you talk about that a little bit.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I've always it's tough for me to be objective about my role in U.S. tennis. I've certainly tried. You know, I have felt like it's my responsibility to try to do what I can as far as helping those guys out. I mean, they probably needed it a couple years ago more than they need any advice now. I think all the young guys know that if they have a question, I'm always happy to answer it. I think that's pretty consistent with how Andre was with me, you know. So I kind of followed his lead on that.
Q. When you come back to play this tournament, how much do you think about 2003, what happened then?
ANDY RODDICK: A little bit. You know, there's little reminders. Obviously the walkways and you get the little deal on your locker that says you're special. (Laughter.) And then I think about '06 just as much, because I was in a rough kind of career transition that summer. You guys were trying to kick me out at 23, so it was like you know, that one, I got just as much joy out of that kind of run to the finals as I did when I won. So there are a lot of good memories. Obviously a bunch of night matches, and those are always really good memories for me.
Q. As a huge sports fan, what were your thoughts when you first heard that Roger Clemens was indicted? You may have heard that today he entered a not guilty plea.
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. You know, I mean, I can't really speak specifically because I know nothing about it's all about he said/she said. The thing that's unfortunate is there has been a problem in baseball; therefore, everyone is and I'm not saying it's not deservedly so -- but everyone is kind of guilty as far as the accusations and everything like that. So that's disheartening. It's kind of the group that I grew up watching, you know, so it's you never I don't think you ever want to see it play out like this. It's just an ugly scene now. And, you know, if he is innocent, it sucks because he is guilty in the court of public opinion; if he is guilty, it's really unfortunate because you don't want to see someone kind of in denial. So it's just an ugly mess. I don't think anybody wins right now with this whole thing going the way it is much. There's not really a positive that can come out of it. Because I think even if he gets off or gets proven innocent in the court of law, I still feel like most people might not give him the benefit of the doubt, which is unfortunate.
Q. For those of us who haven't seen the lockers, can you just briefly describe what it is...
ANDY RODDICK: It has your name and the year.
Q. Name and the year you won?
ANDY RODDICK: Yep.
Q. You spoke before about James' character. When you think of Nadal and Federer and their rivalry, how much do you think about character and how much do you think of their performances against one another?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, first and foremost, you know, you have to get to a certain level in the game before people really care about your character. It's unfortunate, but that's just the way it is. You know, they have to be you have to be around long enough for people to get to know you, and not just on a superficial level. You know, kind of get to the meat and potatoes of you. When I meet people, they always ask -- one of the first questions, How are Roger and Rafa? I say, They go about their business the right way. They're respectful. They take care of their responsibilities with the media. They're very involved in everyday kind of things with the council. They've been very, very good leaders for our sport.
Q. Do you still have a place in New York?
ANDY RODDICK: Yes.
Q. Do you spend a lot of time here or...
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, my home is Texas. You know, my wife is probably here more than I am. Yeah.
Q. Do you feel more like a New Yorker now than maybe three or four years ago?
ANDY RODDICK: I certainly pay enough taxes for it. (Laughter.) So, yeah, that buys me... I don't know. I mean, it is nice having a place here and having a kind of quasi home. I always feel comfortable here in New York even when I didn't have a place. I stayed at the same hotel and everything for years and years and years and years, so I don't mind New York. People tell you what they think, and I've always kind of appreciated that.
US Open 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Could you talk about the conditions out there today and what you learned about the state of your game, how you feel about it?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, like I said before, I felt better since Cincinnati. The conditions, they're a little hot, but it's not too bad. The stadium court is always tricky because that wind always gets down there and you're playing always playing downhill on one side, and it feels like uphill on another side. It's a complete 180 adjustment every two games. So it's kind of almost like two different matches depending on what side you're on. You know, but I handled it okay. I made returns and got through it pretty comfortably.
Q. How have you been practicing? How do you feel? Do you feel 100% or 98? Where are you?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm not sure percentages. I mean, I have my days. You know, I feel, you know, 80% better than I did five, six weeks ago, that's for sure. It's going the right way. To be honest, once you decide to play, I think you throw all the excuses and everything else out the window. If I decide to play, then it's up to me to give 100% of what I have. So it's not something I really want to discuss too much from this point forward. It's something that's there. You know, I'm not going to analyze it every day. It's not perfect, but it's fine. You know, it's going the right way.
Q. Aside from how you might say it felt on the court today, in terms of your preparation, have you been able to prepare at least in the last week or so the way you would have liked to?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, I was out here hitting every day. You know, I took a couple days off after Cincinnati, because that was a lot more than I was advised to play at that point. You know, he told me I was supposed to play an hour a day for that week, and I failed at that. (Smiling.) So, you know, I took it easy a couple days when I got here, but I have definitely gotten plenty of time in on the stadium. I was out there every day for five days. Everything should be fine.
Q. What does 28 years old mean to you? I mean, right in your prime. How do you look at that?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't really think about it, because it makes no difference what I think about it. It's like you go out there and give the best of what you got on that day. I'm not going to that's kind of the way I've always done my career. You wake up in the morning and you put what you can into that single day. So, you know, obviously I know I'm probably closer to finished than I am to the start. But I don't know. It's a number. I'm barely older than I was yesterday, so... (Laughter.)
Q. You're still a big Miami Heat fan?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. Just your reaction to what this team...
ANDY RODDICK: I'm fine. I'm just sick of defend might go fanhood. I was going to the games in '01 when they were paying people to come. You know, I was obviously in Boca for a long time and went to four or five home games a year. Obviously I'm excited, you know. My big thing was I just hope I was just hoping and praying they resign Dwyane. And then when Bosch came I was ecstatic. Then when LeBron came it was bordering on ridiculous. Like everyone else, I'm excited to see how it all goes together.
Q. It looks like James, you know, might be winding down his career. Can you talk about his career a little bit, and also what you remember about his match with Agassi in 2005.
ANDY RODDICK: Sure. I'm extremely bias. I'm a massive James Blake fan. His career is one thing, but I also like his character. I like the way he goes about his business. He's been a real good friend to me. I think my biggest hope for James from this point forward is he can get healthy enough to have a run that he would like. You know, have a fair shot at playing continuously for a window, whatever that might be. You know, obviously I think we all remember the match against Andre. It was just great. It was great tennis. The storylines were great, because with James coming back and everything, you know, the drama of a night session at the US Open is about as good as you can get. It had all the makings for a great match, and it lived up to it. I think that night Andre said afterwards that tennis won, and I think that was you know, he's pretty good at putting words together, and I thought that was right.
Q. He's gonna be honored tonight. So many years that the two of you were a tandem in Davis Cup. Talk about that synergy, having each other's back and so forth.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, yeah. I think more than anything, you know, the guys on the team, we all played for each other. I think we were all for, you know, whatever it was, 16, 17 ties we had the same lineup, and I think that we all felt a sense of responsibility to each other. We were all accountable to each other, you know, until we kind of reached that goal when we finally won it was a great moment. For me, I was really happy that James won probably the biggest match of that tie. You know, he had, you know, kind of been up and down a little bit that year in Davis Cup. For him to come up against a top 10 player with the Bryans on the next day, that was probably the match that we had circled as far as the biggest match of the tie. So that's the match I personally will remember. You know, I felt real good about our chances of winning Davis Cup once he won that match against Youzhny.
Q. Do you feel good about your role in American tennis? As it was, Andre sort of gave you a lot of advice, and then you were the leader of the Davis Cup team. Now you've been real helpful to Sam and John. Can you talk about that a little bit.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I've always it's tough for me to be objective about my role in U.S. tennis. I've certainly tried. You know, I have felt like it's my responsibility to try to do what I can as far as helping those guys out. I mean, they probably needed it a couple years ago more than they need any advice now. I think all the young guys know that if they have a question, I'm always happy to answer it. I think that's pretty consistent with how Andre was with me, you know. So I kind of followed his lead on that.
Q. When you come back to play this tournament, how much do you think about 2003, what happened then?
ANDY RODDICK: A little bit. You know, there's little reminders. Obviously the walkways and you get the little deal on your locker that says you're special. (Laughter.) And then I think about '06 just as much, because I was in a rough kind of career transition that summer. You guys were trying to kick me out at 23, so it was like you know, that one, I got just as much joy out of that kind of run to the finals as I did when I won. So there are a lot of good memories. Obviously a bunch of night matches, and those are always really good memories for me.
Q. As a huge sports fan, what were your thoughts when you first heard that Roger Clemens was indicted? You may have heard that today he entered a not guilty plea.
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. You know, I mean, I can't really speak specifically because I know nothing about it's all about he said/she said. The thing that's unfortunate is there has been a problem in baseball; therefore, everyone is and I'm not saying it's not deservedly so -- but everyone is kind of guilty as far as the accusations and everything like that. So that's disheartening. It's kind of the group that I grew up watching, you know, so it's you never I don't think you ever want to see it play out like this. It's just an ugly scene now. And, you know, if he is innocent, it sucks because he is guilty in the court of public opinion; if he is guilty, it's really unfortunate because you don't want to see someone kind of in denial. So it's just an ugly mess. I don't think anybody wins right now with this whole thing going the way it is much. There's not really a positive that can come out of it. Because I think even if he gets off or gets proven innocent in the court of law, I still feel like most people might not give him the benefit of the doubt, which is unfortunate.
Q. For those of us who haven't seen the lockers, can you just briefly describe what it is...
ANDY RODDICK: It has your name and the year.
Q. Name and the year you won?
ANDY RODDICK: Yep.
Q. You spoke before about James' character. When you think of Nadal and Federer and their rivalry, how much do you think about character and how much do you think of their performances against one another?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, first and foremost, you know, you have to get to a certain level in the game before people really care about your character. It's unfortunate, but that's just the way it is. You know, they have to be you have to be around long enough for people to get to know you, and not just on a superficial level. You know, kind of get to the meat and potatoes of you. When I meet people, they always ask -- one of the first questions, How are Roger and Rafa? I say, They go about their business the right way. They're respectful. They take care of their responsibilities with the media. They're very involved in everyday kind of things with the council. They've been very, very good leaders for our sport.
Q. Do you still have a place in New York?
ANDY RODDICK: Yes.
Q. Do you spend a lot of time here or...
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, my home is Texas. You know, my wife is probably here more than I am. Yeah.
Q. Do you feel more like a New Yorker now than maybe three or four years ago?
ANDY RODDICK: I certainly pay enough taxes for it. (Laughter.) So, yeah, that buys me... I don't know. I mean, it is nice having a place here and having a kind of quasi home. I always feel comfortable here in New York even when I didn't have a place. I stayed at the same hotel and everything for years and years and years and years, so I don't mind New York. People tell you what they think, and I've always kind of appreciated that.
Roddick out of the US Open in second round stunner
Andy Roddick summer of woes continued in New York with a second round ouster at the hands of Janko Tipsarevic.
American Andy Roddick finds himself out in the second round of US Open for the first time in his career. The No. 9 seed was ousted in 4 sets by Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic, ranked 44 in the world.
This match started with Roddick playing well and Tipsarevic making his customary errors. The American was able to secure a 6-3 first set, and went up an early break in the second set. Just when the match appeared as though it was going to be a routine win for Roddick, the Serb found his game.
Tipsarevic broke back to level the match, and with Roddick getting increasingly defensive in his play, The Serb broke again at 5-6 to take the set and level the match at a set a piece.
The drama increased in the third set. Roddick had a highly vocal disagreement with a lines judge when she called a foot-fault, and then claimed it was his right foot (his back foot) that touched the line. Instant replays showed that the American had foot-faulted, but with his left foot.
Roddick managed to stave off 3 break points to hold in that game, but Tipsarevic won the set anyway on a passing shot that Roddick decided not to play, thinking it would go out.
The foot-fault incident seemed to wake Roddick up. The fourth set was much more lively from the American, though his shot selection was still questionable at times.
Tipsarevic was the better player through the fourth set, but Roddick served well enough to stay in the set and force the tiebreaker. The first mini-break of the match went to Tipsarevic, and excellent play from the Serb set up match point at 6-4 in the breaker. A good first serve and then a clutch volley at the net gave the Serb the upset win.
Roddick przegrywa z nierozstawionym Serbem
Były triumfator US Open Andy Roddick pożegnał się z tegoroczną imprezą już w drugiej rundzie. Amerykanin grając na korcie centralnym został sensacyjnie odprawiony wynikiem 6:3, 5:7, 3:6, 6:7(4-7) przez nierozstawionego Serba Janko Tipsarevicia.
Sklasyfikowany obecnie na 44. miejscu listy ATP Tipsarević wspaniale serwował przez całe spotkanie. W wielu przypadkach kończył piłki potężnymi forehandami. Wreszcie wyrównanego czwartego seta zakończył efektownym, wykonanym na luzie wolejem, który dał mu wynik 7-4 w tie-breaku i niespodziewany awans.
Andy Roddick, który do turnieju przystąpił z 36 wygranymi przy 9 porażkach w historii swoich występów w US Open, dał się ponieść emocjom w trzecim secie. Złość i irytację, które później być może odegrały swą rolę w decydujących fragmentach meczu, wywołała u niego decyzja sędzi liniowej. Dostrzegła ona w pewnym momencie błąd stóp u amerykańskiego tenisisty.
26-letni Tipsarević, dla którego wygrana z Roddickiem była dopiero trzecim zwycięskim pojedynkiem w dziewięciu rozegranych w karierze na kortach Flushing Meadows, w następnej rundzie zagra z Gealem Monfilsem.
Andy Roddick - Janko Tipsarević 6:3, 5:7, 3:6, 6:7(4-7)
A Calmer Roddick Accepts Call, if Not Explanation
Considering his sustained level of anger on the court after a disputed foot-fault call during his four-set loss to Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia at the United States Open, Andy Roddick was slightly regretful, if not apologetic afterward.
Roddick was called for the foot fault in the third set of his 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (4) second-round loss to Tipseravic. After the call, he berated the lineswoman who made it.
Roddick, the No. 9 seed, explained that he was not angry with the call so much as the explanation and acknowledged he should have let it go long before he ultimately did.
“In hindsight, did I let it go too far?” he said. “Yeah, probably. I think it was a very correctable mistake, and I probably let it get to me more than it should have. Yeah, sure.”
Roddick said what made him so angry was not the call itself. In fact, television replays showed his left foot clearly touched the line, and he accepted that. What incensed him, he said, was that when he asked the lineswoman which foot crossed she said it was the right, which would be most unlikely with Roddick’s form on his serve.
Roddick said all she had to do was say the correct foot and he would have accepted it and moved on, and the evidence of that, he said, was that there were two more foot-fault calls afterward and he did not dispute them.
“There would have been no discussion,” he said. “There would have been zero discussion. It was the fact that I couldn’t get her to admit that it wasn’t the right foot just infuriated me.
“The lack of common sense involved in that was unbelievable to me. I just have trouble when they stick to an argument that obviously isn’t right. It’s her job to call it. There were two after that and they said front foot and there was no argument. I mean, we’ve got to have a test, like point to your right foot; point to your left foot. O.K., now call lines. I think maybe that would be standard.”
Roddick said the dispute, while giving him some energy, had no effect on the match, mainly because Tipseravic played so well. Tipseravic, who beat Roddick two years ago at Wimbledon, played both aggressively and precisely all night, hitting 66 winners compared with only 30 unforced errors. Roddick simply hoped the onslaught would miraculously end.
“I kept telling myself, ‘You know, this has to have an expiration date on it,’” Roddick said. “Unfortunately, I needed another set for that.”
Appearing relatively calm after the loss, Roddick’s first ever in the second round here, Roddick said he was resigned to the fact that Tipsarevic simply played too well to lose. At the net, he told him so.
“I just said, ‘Too good,’” he said. “You know, he’s a pretty good guy. I just said, ‘The last time you beat me at a Grand Slam second round you lost the next match, so don’t do that.’ Then he head-butted me, which was fun.”
Tipsarevic said he thought Roddick, who was trailing by 2-5 in the third set at the time of the call, was using the dispute as motivation.
“He never moves his right leg, so it was just a stupid call,” Tipsarevic said. “But I feel he was trying to do something to change the match to get the crowd involved. But if I remember, it really didn’t.”
US Open. Roddick wyżywa się na sędzi
Andy Roddick przegrał swój mecz z Janko Tipsarevicem w drugiej rundzie i odpadł z US Open. Zapamiętane z tego meczu zostaną jednak jego kłótnie z sędziami, którzy podjęli słuszną decyzję w sytuacji, gdy Amerykanin nastąpił na linię podczas zagrywki.
W trzecim secie, gdy Roddick przegrywał już z Serbem 2:5, podczas serwisu popełnił tzw. "błąd stóp", który słusznie odnotowała mu pani sędzia. Kobieta pomyliła się jednak w interpretacji, twierdząc że tenisista nadepnął linię prawą stopą. Amerykanin tymczasem serwuje prawą ręką, więc oczywiste jest, że linię nastąpił stopą lewą.
- Czy kiedykolwiek w swojej karierze postawiłem swoją prawą stopę dalej niż lewą? - pytał wymownie głównego arbitra Ericha Molinę Roddick. Gdy to nie pomogło skupił się na pani sędzi, która odnotowała jego błąd. - Dlaczego nie zatrudnicie kogoś, kto wie co robi? Trzeba wynajmować swojego własnego sędziego? Może zadzwoń na bezpłatną infolinię? - wykrzykiwał.
Po zakończeniu seta liniowa została zmieniona, ale Roddick i tak przegrał cały mecz stosunkiem 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4). Po spotkaniu tłumaczył, że poprzez tę sprzeczkę starał się zmotywować i dodać swojej grze trochę więcej energii.
Prasa: "Roddick stracił panowanie nad sobą"
"Biorąc pod uwagę jego ciągły poziom gniewu na korcie po popełnieniu tego błędu, Roddick tylko nieznacznie wyraził swoją skruchę. To zdecydowanie za mało jak na takie strofowanie sędzi liniowej" - czytamy w New York Timesie.
"Tyrada 28-letniego tenisisty trwała jakiś czas, zanim zatrzymała się na niewiele przed poziomem osławionego wybuchu Sereny Williams, jaki miał miejsce podczas zeszłorocznego półfinału z Kim Clijsters" - tak komentuje sprawę angielski The Guardian.
"Roddick stracił panowanie nad sobą. Wpierw zmierzył się z sędzia Erichem Moliną, by później niezgrabnie zademonstrować sędzi liniowej serwis, jaki musiałby wykonać. W efekcie trochę adrenaliny zostało wpompowanej w jego grę, ale nie wystarczająco dużo, by wygrać cały mecz" - to z kolei komentarz Sports Illustrated.
Q. and A. With Larry Stefanki
Before Andy Roddick lost at the United States Open Wednesday night, before a foot fault whipped him into a fury, I sat down with Larry Stefanki, Roddick’s coach. We talked about mono and marriage and Roddick’s place in tennis history. Here are some excerpts from the 20-minute interview.
Q.
When do you think Roddick first showed signs of mono?
A.
I go back and think it started in Madrid, when he was in bed for like five days. I mean, he was flying all over the planet. He went from Hawaii to Texas to Madrid. He’s been on a roller coaster ride, to speak, in the sense of what his energy level’s doing. He’d go two or three days, and all of a sudden, he hits a flat spot. That’s not like him. That’s not his personality. That’s not his energy level. He has the kind of personality, that if he misses a day or two, he wants to double it up to gain the time that he’s lost by not training. So that personality is OK when you’re young, but now that he’s 28, and he’s been on the Tour 10 years, you have to make some adjustments.
Q.
When did it get really bad?
A.
So in Washington, we were on the court two hours in the morning, this is 106 degrees, hotter than here. So two hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon and an hour on the track. So he was beating himself up for like six straight days when he got to Washington. I could see that his eyes were getting sunk into his skull. And I’d been noticing that from the French Open, even at Wimbledon, when he worked too hard, and I said, dude, are you alright? He looked like the life was getting sucked out of him. I don’t know if it was dehydration, or what.
Q.
Like he hadn’t slept in days?
A.
So when he got to Washington, it just kind of finally hit him, like, I just can’t go. He’d never had a blood test. Ever. He had no track record of blood tests. So we finally got one in Washington and one at the University of Texas with a sports medicine guy. And he finally broke the thing down. And he said he’s probably on the tail end of mono, and that’s why I trace it back to the Madrid time all the way through.
Q.
Did you find the timing unfortunate, with how well he played in winning Miami?
A.
Well, he was the best player on the hard courts, through Indian Wells, Key Biscayne. Sure. And playing great. And he is still playing very well. It’s just sustaining.
Q.
Has he changed anything since the mono diagnosis?
A.
He’s now finally taking a lot of vitamins, which he’s never taken, which I’ve been recommending, because that’s what I do. So now, basically, the deal is a lot more quality workout, an hour to an hour and a half a day, tops. Saving it until the match. Until he feels like his engine, and his reserve, is built back up. That was recommended by the guy in Texas.
Q.
Did you see an immediate change?
A.
And it was good for Andy’s mentality, his psyche, when he finally found an answer. And in that sense that’s helped him a lot and put him at ease. Because he was thinking, what’s going on? Am I turning into a wimp? Because his idea, his mentality is, if I’m not working hard enough than anybody else, I’m falling behind.
Q.
If you looked at Roddick’s career as a football game, what quarter is he in?
A.
He’s just starting the fourth quarter. There is plenty left. He’s in the fourth quarter. He’s 28. He’s got about three or four years, and that’s how I see it. To have a legitimate shot. He’s got four years, as well as he serves, as long as his body holds up physically, he’s got a major weapon. And he’s getting smarter using it, with the variety on the serve.
“Everyone started panicking. The guy leaves the top 10 for a week and everyone starts all this, like the guy’s over, he’s old, he can’t play anymore. I’m thinking, well, wait a second. Eight years he’s been in the top 10, and that starts after he’s out for a blink.
Q.
Have we appreciated that consistency?
A.
No. They haven’t at all. Because he’s a guy, he’s gotten so much out of his game. Because he’s not a gifted athlete. He didn’t come out of the shooter like a Pete Sampras, all these gifts, taking balls and just flipping it around and just hitting it wherever he wants, you know, the Federer types. Maybe, as time goes by, they will appreciate how much he’s gotten out of his game. He is, over the last eight years, probably the best server, day in and day out that’s played. But besides that, he’s worked awfully, awfully hard to try to get better every day. And he’s not, you know, the most gifted guy. In that sense, they very much underappreciated him.
Q.
You could argue that he was also unlucky. He played at the same time as Roger Federer. His serve isn’t as much of a weapon these days with the racket and string technology and quality of returns.
A.
He could hit that serve with a badminton racket. Because he hits with wooden rackets, and he can serve just as well with that as he can with the racket he’s using. He’s had to keep up with the Joneses, because he’s not a phenomenal mover. He has to push himself, to get quicker. He’s not a fast-twitch muscle guy. He’s a guy that has had to do this by training. Commitment. And perseverance. And will not be denied. That’s his personality. And that’s what has gotten him to be the best player in this country for the last 8 years.
Q.
How has marriage changed him?
A.
He loves it. His wife has her own life, her own career, movies, taking all the pictures, the modeling. And she’s very independent, her own boss, and he loves that. She’s helped him immensely. He’s very introspective. Wives get you to take a look at yourself. You know, from the inside, out, and in more of a realistic manner, rather than whatever the press says, the blogs, the Facebook, the Twitter, all that, which I don’t really pay attention to. She’s very grounded. So that really helps Andy.
Q.
What do you see in his future?
A.
I think his best tennis is ahead of him. I really do. He works really hard. He’s starting to really understand the game. And he’s made adjustments and not become this one-dimensional tennis player. He had to become multi-dimensional. He doesn’t blow people out of the water anymore. These guys are all moving the ball bigger than he is. So he’s had to make adjustments to compete at the high level. So in that sense, he definitely has another Slam in his belt. I’m just telling you.
“Twenty eight is the male prime. I mean, he’s in his prime right now. He does have 10 years under his belt, beating pavement. Now, that affects your body. Like Nadal. Oh, my knees and my back. Hey, join the club! But some just talk about it more than others. So I mean, when I hear a lot of these guys, they just talk about it more than Andy does. Everyone has a lot of ailments. When you beat on concrete for 10 years, when you’re on there, I mean, it’s really rough. The compression in the joints, from the spine, knees, hips, ankles. It’s rough on your body. So everyone has ailments, but you are in your physical prime at 28. The next few years are going to be some of his best years.
Też Larry na to liczę, a czasu ma mało. Ciężko mi widzieć Roda jako Agassiego i w wieku 34 lat wygywać szlemy...
Roddick gracious despite early exit
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. - One of the most touching scenes of the U.S. Open to date occurred at about midnight Wednesday, well after many viewers had turned off their TVs.
It was the brief post-match exchange between Andy Roddick and Janko Tipsarevic at the net following the Serbian's 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) upset of the American.
The second-round loss, coming on the heels of Roddick's third-round ouster at last year's U.S. Open, was particularly disappointing given the effort Roddick had made in hopes of making a deep run in the tournament he won in 2003. He bowed out of Davis Cup to make the hard-court season a priority. And he had worked himself into peak hard-court form in the spring, only to develop a mild case of mononucleosis that wasn't diagnosed until early August.
Then, in the U.S. Open's second round, he drew Tipsarevic, with whom he had split two previous meetings and a formidable competitor, despite his modest size, who plays a high-risk game.
On this night, Tipsarevic was clearly the superior player, and Roddick had no trouble conceding the stark truth in his post-match interview and at the net afterward.
"I just said, 'Too good!' " Roddick recounted. "You know, he's a pretty good guy. I just said, 'The last time you beat me in a Grand Slam second-round, you lost the [next] match. So don't do that!' "
Tipsarevic, touched by the generosity of the comment - particularly after such a loss in Roddick's favorite tournament - said afterward that he had an impulse to hug him.
"But then it probably wouldn't be so good," he explained. So he bopped him in the chest with his forehead.
"I think he's a very nice guy," Tipsarevic said. "To say those nice things after probably being really, really disappointed - it was like an emotional thing. . . . That just brings up a big champion in him."
On Thursday, Roddick's high-school buddy, 19th-seeded Mardy Fish, rolled on to the third round with a 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 win over Argentine clay-court specialist Pablo Cuevas.
"This is his favorite tournament," Fish said of Roddick. "You are sort of bummed out for a friend. And you know how badly - how much he puts into all the weeks that he plays. He has certainly had a spectacular career, so there's nothing to dwell on by any means. He'll be back."
Also Thursday, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki needed just 47 minutes to dismiss Kai-Chen Chang of Chinese Taipei, 6-0, 6-0. Third-seeded Novak Djokovic handled Germany's Philipp Petzschner, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6). American James Blake turned back Canada's Peter Polansky, 6-7 (7-1), 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
www.andyroddick.com
Nowy "Wystrój" oficialnej strony ;)
Na + W końcu jest info o planach startowych. :D
Na - Problemy z wejściem na forum. :[ Mam nadzieję że to naprawią.
Ogólnie jest OK. :dobrze:
U Roddicków nowy członek rodziny (chociaż sam nie wiem czy taki nowy). Mam zaszczyt przedstawić Billy Jean Roddick: 
:heart: :heart:
Bille Jean mieszka u Roda już jakiś czas :o Tak ze dwa lata przynajmniej. :D
A no ale jakoś ostatnio ją wytropiłem :P Śliczna jest.
Hehe, jakie imię, brawo! :D
#3 na mojej liście ulubieńców
Roddicka lubię, bo po prostu lubię. Nie ma jakiejś specjalnej przyczyny. Może dlatego, że był to jeden z trzech tenisistów, których znałem kiedy jeszcze nie interesowałem się tenisem? Sam nie wiem. Mimo tego jest on bardzo interesującym zawodnikiem. Ma bardzo miły dla oka styl serwowania (przynajmniej dla mnie).
Ranking ATP: Roddick wrócił do "10"
Amerykanie, który przeżywają olbrzymi tenisowy kryzys, znów mają swojego przedstawiciela w czołowej dziesiątce rankingu ATP.
Na 10. miejsce powrócił Andy Roddick, który zluzował Hiszpana Davida Ferrera. Na czele zestawienia niezmiennie z wielką przewagą znajduje się Hiszpan Rafael Nadal.
in san diego working with coach larry.. feeling 100 percent again and cant wait to get back out on tour
:o
YEAAAAAHHHHH !! :D
:applause: no nareszcie
Andy the Aggressor: Does A-Rod Need New Tactics?
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Andy Roddick will have time for some soul searching following his earlier-than-anticipated second-round exit at the U.S. Open. The Texan, who turned 28 on Aug. 30, had hoped to make the most of the Slams this year, which is much of the reason why he opted out of Davis Cup play. Seven years removed from his one U.S. Open title, he knows the clock is ticking. But the American surely had more in mind than a quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open.
In his upset loss to Janko Tipsarevic, Roddick, who may still be suffering the lingering effects of mono, appeared to lack gusto, and was unable to overpower the Serb. His shots simply lacked penetration. Afterward, some, including Tipsarevic, seem to question his tactics.
“He needs to be more aggressive,” said Tipsarevic. “He needs to change his game style a little bit, in my opinion, going for a little bit more, especially from his forehand…If he recuperates and starts being a little more aggressive — I’m not here to give tips – but definitely he needs to change something to win a Grand Slam.”
“He played well in Indian Wells and Miami. You figure he knows what he’s doing,” said Roger Fededer. “If he keeps that up, he’s going have a shot at another title. Obviously, it’s a big surprise for me to see him go out, even though Tipsarevic is a good player. I beat [Tipsarevic] at the Australian once 9-7 in the fifth. That was the phase I had mono, and so it’s kind of somewhat of a similar situation, I guess. Andy had signs of it now, as well. Him and his coach need to know what’s best for him.”
While his old roomie Mardy Fish noted Roddick’s lack of aggressiveness, the suddenly svelte Floridian pointed to Roddick’s considerable work ethic and said he still believes the former No. 1 can win another Slam or two.
“I’ve watched some tape of him when he won the U.S. Open in 2003. He’s certainly played a more aggressive style,” he said. “But I think he’s fitter now than he was back then, so he can rely on his legs a little bit more now. He’s no dummy. He’s going to play how he feels best suits him. He’s got a great team behind him that Larry [Stefanki]. They put together a game plan, and I guarantee you that’s how he’s going to play. That’s how they think that he can best play.”
Don’t hold your breath if you’re waiting for Roddick/Stefanki to completely retool their approach. A decade into his pro career, the ’03 USO champ will more likely take a good, hard look at the schedule the next two years, choosing his spots carefully in order to peak at the two Slams he desires most – Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
on my way to airport to go to seoul korea in 6 hours.. exo against djoko saturday and then on to the tourney in tokyo sunday morning!
http://twitter.com/#!/andyroddick/status/25950922637
Z tą pokazówką to nie ściema jednak. :D
RODDICK TO PLAY DELRAY BEACH IN 2011
Andy Roddick is coming back to "The Beach." The former Boca Raton resident and 2003 US Open champion will return to the tournament where he made his pro debut when he plays in the 2011 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (ITC) ATP World Tour event next February.
Roddick's signing was announced Thursday as the Delray Beach ITC was accepting the 2010 Providencia Award from the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau for its lead role in contributions to the area as a tourist destination.
The 19th annual Delray Beach ITC will be held Feb. 18-27 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center, and will include both the ATP World Tour event alongside the 2nd annual ATP Champions Tour event featuring John McEnroe.
"It's so great to have Andy come home where he started," said tournament director Mark Baron, who gave a 17-year-old Roddick his first wild card into an ATP-level event in 2000. "Everyone has been asking for the last six years 'When is he going to come back?' We're expecting the phones to be ringing off the hook."
To celebrate Roddick's signing, the ITC is running a discounted ticket promotion from October 1 -17. All single session reserved seats are 20% off (reg price $35-$85) while single session box seats are 10% off (reg price $65-$85). Reserved series ticket packages are also discounted 10%. Fans can order online through www.YellowTennisBall.com or by calling 561-330-6000.
Roddick's 2000 pro debut began a string of four appearances in Delray Beach. The Boca Prep grad won the 2001 ITC doubles title with Jan-Michael Gambill, and in 2002 reached the singles final - and by season's end became the youngest American to finish in the Top 10 since Michael Chang in 1992.
"I am excited to return to Delray Beach," said the 28-year old Roddick. "I received my first wild card as a professional tennis player in Delray so the tournament certainly has a special significance in my career."
The Grand Slam champion became the youngest American to finish No.1 in the world when he achieved that ranking in 2003 as a 21-year-old. He has finished in the ATP's Top 10 for eight straight years and enjoyed a five-year run in the Top 5 during that time. Roddick is a three-time Wimbledon runner-up, a 2006 US Open finalist, and has won 29 ATP titles in 10 years as a pro. His 41 US Davis Cup singles wins ranks second all-time behind McEnroe.
Roddick joins 2009 ITC singles champion Mardy Fish and Wimbledon record-setting John Isner in committing to play in the ITC's ATP World Tour event, setting up a draw with three of the top four-ranked American singles players. Also returning to Delray Beach are the ITC's defending doubles champions and world No.1 Byran Brothers while the ATP Champions Tour event has already received commitments from McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Pat Cash, Mark Philippoussis, Greg Rusedski and, most recently, Boca Raton's Aaron Krickstein. McEnroe, Wilander, Cash and Krickstein played in the inaugural event in 2010.
The tournament's reserved series ticket packages that are discounted 10% during this special promotion include the following: The $490 (reg price) Diamond package including all 18 sessions of ATP Champions and ATP World Tour action; the $290 (reg price) Champions package (sessions 1-9) combining all ATP Champions Tour matches and four ATP World Tour sessions; the $390 (reg price) World package (sessions 6-18) giving fans all ATP World Tour matches plus two days of ATP Champions Tour matches (including the final); and the popular $200 (reg price) Weekender package including tickets for the ATP World Tour quarterfinals, semifinals and finals (sessions 14-18).
The ON-COURT "Best Seats In The House" are priced between $150 and $250, depending on the session.
Roddick Ready for Asia’s Tournaments
“(I’m) on my way to the airport to go to Seoul, South Korea in 6 hours,” Andy tweeted early Thursday morning on returning to competition after training in California with Team Roddick. “(I have an) exo against Novak Djokovic on Saturday and then on to the tourney in Tokyo Sunday morning!”
The “Hyundai Card Supermatch” took place earlier today, October 2nd, as Roddick’s homeland slept, and we awoke to see that the Serbian won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. This is the fourth time this exho has taken place- previously in 2005 (Sharapova – V. Williams), 2006 (Federer – Nadal) and 2007 (Federer – Sampras).
Hopping a plane and preparing to commence his Asian ATP circuit, Roddick landed in Tokyo, Japan for the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships, one of Asia’s longest-running tournaments (1973). The Ariake Colosseum boasts 48 hard courts and a retractable-roof stadium, which our No. 1 American has only played under once before (2008- lost to Berdych in semifinals). This year, Roddick will be playing both singles and doubles, pairing with Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands, in this ATP 500 event.
Andy’s Asian Swing includes stops in Tokyo and Shanghai for the Shanghai Rolex Masters, beginning October 10th. As always, one match at a time- stay tuned to AR.com for match previews, reports, and exclusives from Tokyo.
Tokyo Draw Released
Andy is returning to competitive action next week as the tour moves to Asia. Andy has signed up to play in the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour 500 event.
Seeded second, Andy has been drawn to face to Japanese wildcard Tatsuma Ito in the first round. This will be Andy’s first meeting against Ito, who is ranked 181. Andy is in the bottom half of the draw and, should he progress, is seeded to meet Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals. Headlining the event is top seed, Rafael Nadal, who is in the top half of the draw.
See the full singles draw here:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2010/329/mds.pdf
In his first tournament since the US Open, Andy is keen for matches and has also entered the doubles draw in Tokyo, partnering Thiemo De Bakker from The Netherlands. In the first round, they face the fourth seeds Cermak/Mertinak.
See the full doubles draw here:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2010/329/mdd.pdf
As the season enters into autumn, there are still six coveted places available for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the end of the year. Andy, currently seventh in the battle for London, will be hoping to add to his points tally in Tokyo this week.
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the latest from Tokyo!
"You never want to lose, but it was one of the best matches I have played since the spring," said Roddick, who suffered from mononucleosis during the summer. "I feel more comfortable leaving this week than I did coming in."
Roddick Keen On London Showdown, Advances To Second Round
"London is something I want to be a part of," said Andy Roddick at the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Tuesday.
"I qualified [for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals] last year and didn't get to play 'cause of my knee that I hurt here. It just looked like an amazing event. It's a goal at the beginning of every year. It's in my hands now. I'm in the position I need to be in."
The 10th-seeded American advanced to the second round when Philipp Kohlschreiber retired due to illness in the early stages of the second set. Roddick, who was leading the German 6-3, 2-1 after 53 minutes of play, improved to a 43-12 match record on the season.
"I feel good," said Roddick, who will play in Basel and Paris through to the end of the season. "I don't feel like I'm fighting myself out there right now. I feel like, after the US Open, I was kind of able to train the way I want to for the first time in a while."
Roddick’s compatriot John Isner, who is No. 16 in the year-to-date ATP Rankings, narrowly avoided an early exit after he saved match points in the second set and third set tie-breaks to overcome Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot 4-6, 7-6(9), 7-6(7) in two hours and 50 minutes. Isner hit 24 aces and saved five of six break point opportunities for his 35th win of the year.
Chinese wild card Yan Bai, currently No. 465 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings, converted all four break point opportunities he created to defeat No. 30-ranked Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes.
“It's my first time in a top level tournament, so it's really an unexpected performance for me,” said 21-year-old Bai. “My club gives me some opportunities to play overseas. They cover the cost. The national team also provides me with some support because I'm somehow different.”
Pilot Pen runner-up Denis Istomin was also a casualty, falling to lucky loser Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain, who hit 10 aces, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, while Serbia’s Davis Cup hero Janko Tipsarevic outclassed Hamburg champion Andrey Golubev 6-3, 6-4 in 83 minutes.
Andy Through in Shanghai
Andy is through to the second round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters after Philipp Kohlschreiber was forced to retire due to illness in the second set. Andy was leading 6-3, 2-1.
Andy looked strong in his opening match at the ATP Masters 1000 event and produced a high level of serving. Following the untimely finish to the match, Andy spent time signing autographs before leaving the court.
Speaking after the match, Andy said,
“Obviously first and foremost you don’t want to see that happen. We’ve all been on the bad side of having to pull out of a match. It’s not fun. But I thought I hit the ball well in what we did play today. I started to hit the ball pretty well last week also, even though the match I lost to Gaël, I thought was a really high level. I’m glad that I can kind of get through today and keep trying to build on it.”
Andy also spoke about his desire to do well this week in Shanghai so as to add valuable points in his bid to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. “London is something I want to be a part of. I qualified last year and didn’t get to play because of my knee that I hurt here. It just looked like an amazing event. I’m not sure how many years in a row I’ve qualified for it…but it’s something I’d like to keep going. It’s a goal at the beginning of every year. It’s in my hands now. I’m in the position I need to be in. It’s just a matter of taking care of my end of things.”
Next up for Andy in Shanghai will be Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. The Spaniard defeated Eduardo Schwank in the first round and a couple of weeks ago in Bangkok caused a massive upset when he knocked out World Number 1, Rafael Nadal.
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all latest from Shanghai!
Andy Forced Out Of Shanghai
Andy was forced to pull out of his second round match against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Andy was leading 6-3, 2-3, when an injury to his right groin meant he was unable to continue.
Andy had been playing a high level of tennis before the injury occured, dictating the match with his serve and forehand.
Following the match, Andy updated the media on his injury:
“I did this last week against Monfils in Tokyo. You know, last couple days in practice, I feel like I’ve been kind of moving like an elephant, kind of slow, just trying to protect it. I didn’t have full confidence, but it was holding on.
I don’t know. I mean, it’s probably pretty confident I’ll be back by Paris. I hope I’ll be back before then.
“I’m going to try to go home to Austin. I’m not going to be able to do much for the next, you know, week to 10 days. I hope to play in Basel. I’m going to do everything I can to get back for Basel.
“I think the fact that I still have a shot at London, even after the last year and everything, I think it would be an accomplishment for me. I certainly haven’t given up hope of that. ”
Injured Roddick hopes to be back in Basel
Andy Roddick is out of Beijing with a leg injury, retiring up 6-3, 3-2 against Guillermo Garcia Lopez in the second round.
Roddick said he suffered a groin strain in his match against Gael Monfils in Tokyo.
"The past couple of days in practice, I feel like I've been kind of moving like an elephant, kind of slow, just trying to protect it," he said, "[Today] I strained it a little bit worse, and it was to the point where moving at all felt like I was getting stabbed in the leg.
"It's really tough to get hurt or tougher to get hurt up a set and a break."
Roddick, who is trying to qualify for London, hopes to be back in two weeks. "I'm going to try to go home to Austin," he said. "I'm going to do everything I can to get back for Basel. I think the fact that I still have a shot at London, even after the past year and everything, I think it would be an accomplishment for me."
Roddick heads home injured from China again
Andy Roddick has fallen victim to more injury bad luck in his season to forget.
The American's quest for a place in the year-end finals - he currently stands seventh - took a hit when he was forced to quit the Shanghai Masters with an abductor strain.
After stopping in Shanghai with a left knee problem in the 2009 second round, Roddick was treated for the groin strain during the fourth game of the second set against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
"It's been just a really frustrating year," said Roddick, who had a mild case of glandular fever over the summer. I missed three months at the end of last year, the mono in the middle of this year, little things like that. I feel like I've had two or three legitimate months.
"It's really tough to get hurt or tougher to get hurt up a set and a break." The incident came a year to the day of Roddick's previous pullout in Shanghai with a knee problem.
The American will return to Texas for an MRI but does not expect to be out for more than a few weeks. He said the suffered the problem last week in Tokyo but had tried to play through it in Shanghai.
"I haven't had an MRI yet. But in that part of the leg, on muscle strains, even if it's a tear, it's not a surgical procedure.
"I'm going to try to go home to Austin. I'm not going to be able to do much for the next, you know, week to 10 days. So hopefully get some food, get some steak, get some vegetable tempura at home, reassess where I'm at in seven or 10 days."
ATP Szanghaj: Roddick i przeklęty 13 października
Obie edycje turnieju Masters 1000 w Szanghaju kończyły się dla Andy'ego Roddicka tego samego dnia i w obu przypadkach schodził z kortu przedwcześnie, z kontuzją. Ex lider rankingu jest przepełniony frustracją.
Dokładnie rok po kreczu przeciw Stanowi Wawrince poddał spotkanie z Guillermo Garcíą: - To był po prostu prawdziwie frustrujący rok - powiedział 28-latek z Nebraski. - Straciłem trzy miesiące pod koniec ubiegłego roku, jeden w tym roku. Takie małe
rzeczy. Frustrujące rzeczy.
A-Rod czuje, że miał w zmierzającym ku finałowi sezonie tylko dwa lub trzy miesiące, kiedy mógł grać
nie myśląc o problemie kontuzji. Ta dała o sobie znać w Szanghaju: - Nawet w I rundzie, choć Philipp [Kohlschreiber] skreczował, czułem, że uderzam piłkę znakomicie. Ciężko sobie coś zrobić, gdy gra
się tylko seta z okładem - powiedział.
Diagnoza to naciągnięty mięsięń trójgłowy uda. - Przez
ostatnie kilka dni podczas treningu czułem się wolny jak słoń, chciałem tylko chronić tą część nogi. Pierwszy raz poczułem, że coś jest nie tak w ubiegłym tygodniu przeciw Monfilsowi w Tokio. Nie byłem zbyt pewny siebie, ale się trzymało. Co teraz? Do Paryża [7 listopada] wrócę, ale mam nadzieję, że wcześniej.
Po pierwszych oznakach zaniepokojenia pogorszył uraz podczas treningu z Tipsareviciem. - W pewnym momencie czułem kłucie w nodze. Gdybym tego nie pogorszył, chyba byłbym w stanie wytrzymać teraz - przyznał. - Bo szczerze, z setem i przełamaniem w drugim, powinienen był ten mecz wygrać - dodał.
Triumfator US Open 2003 wraca do domu
w Austin. Nie będzie trenował od tygodnia do dziesięciu dni. Ma nadzieję zagrać w Bazylei, od 1 listopada. Chce grać, bo walczy o Masters: - To, że wciąż liczę się w walce o Londyn, to jest dla mnie osiągnięcie. Z całą pewnością nie straciłem nadziei na kwalifikację.
Podobno Rod sparował ostatnio z Markiem Philippoussisem, co by znaczyło że jest już gotowy do gry... ;)
E: Taa... trenowali razem przed "Asian Swing" :]
Roddick healing, hoping to play Basel next week
Andy Roddick is hoping to return to the tour next week in Basel. The American retired with a thigh injury at the Shanghai Masters earlier this month.
"The injury is healing nicely and Andy is making the necessary preparations to play in Basel," said Roddick's agent, Ken Meyerson, in an email. It is nothing 100% but crossing my fingers."
—Ed McGrogan
Roddick zagra w Bazylei !
cleared...... basel-bound tomorrow...... lets go
Roddick to return in Basel
Andy Roddick has confirmed he will return to competition next week after being sidelined with injury since Shanghai.
"Basel-bound tomorrow," Roddick wrote on his Twitter account.
Roddick is aiming to remain among the year's top 8 players and qualify for the season-ending World Tour Finals in London.
:D
Jedziesz Andy, oby nic nie dolegało i może końcówka sezonu będzie przyzwoita ;)
Roddick Ready To Ramp Up Finals Bid In Basel
Top American Andy Roddick made his return to the Swiss Indoors Basel for the first time in seven years, and shared his goal of qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season.
“It’s important for me just because I’ve qualified every year for a long time,” said Roddick, who opens his Basel campaign Wednesday against countryman Sam Querrey. “It’s something that I want to continue. It’s a goal at the beginning of every year... I have a chance to accomplish it even with injuries and everything else that’s happened this year. It’d kind of be nice after all that to still accomplish that.”
Roddick has qualified for the season-ending championships the past seven years, and currently holds the coveted eighth spot in the year-to-date ATP Rankings, leading Fernando Verdasco at No. 9 by less than 200 points coming into the week. Players can gain up to 500 points at this week’s ATP World Tour 500 tennis tournaments in Basel and Valencia.
“I’m aware if I do my job I’ll be okay,” Roddick said of the tight battle for the remaining three spots in the eight-man field.
The 28-year-old American, who struggled with a mild case of mononucleosis this past summer, spent the past few weeks recuperating from a thigh injury that forced him to retire from his second round match at the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
“Obviously a lot of it was centered around trying to get healthy, physical therapy sessions, etc.,” he said. “I didn’t play much for the first eight, nine days that I was home. Primary concern was just making sure I was better to try and play here.
“You make a choice to play, and I’m healthy enough to play and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Roddick reached the semi-finals on his last appearance in the Swiss Indoors Basel (l. to Nalbandian), and lost to Roger Federer in the quarter-finals on his other two visits. He said of being back in Basel, “My biggest memory is I played my first Davis Cup here in 2001. It didn’t count, but I don’t think that’s something you ever forget, so that was a really nice experience for me.”
Roddick Keeps Pressure On London Rivals
With no more room for error in the battle to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Andy Roddick did not falter as he returned from a three-week injury lay-off with a 7-5, 7-6(6) win over Sam Querrey in the first round of the Swiss Indoors Basel Wednesday.
The top American has returned to the ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard court tennis tournament in Basel for the first time in seven years as he looks to clinch one of the three remaining berths at the season finale with strong showings this week and also next week at the BNP Paribas Masters. The 28-year-old has qualified for the year-end championships for the past seven years and is currently in eighth position in the year-to-date ATP Rankings, in line to take the last place in the eight-man field.
Playing his first match since retiring with a right groin injury in the second round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on 13 October, Roddick edged Querrey in a close first set as he earned the only break of serve in the 12th game. He was spared on a set point for Querrey at 6-5 in the second set tie-break, as his younger countryman squandered the chance to hit his forehand into a near-open court, before clinching victory on his first match point in one hour and 38 minutes.
This year’s Brisbane and Miami champion improved to a 44-13 match record on the season and next will face Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev.
World No. 38 Radek Stepanek, a semi-finalist in Basel last year, registered his 15th tour-level win of the season as he defeated Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 7-6(5) in 88 minutes. The Czech wild card was sidelined for two and a half months due to mononucleosis earlier in the season and is playing just his 14th tour-level main draw in 2010.
In a contest between two qualifiers, in-form Finn Jarkko Nieminen defeated German Daniel Brands 6-3, 6-2 to set a second-round clash with defending champion and second seed Novak Djokovic. Former World No. 13 Nieminen has reached the quarter-finals or better in his past five tournaments, including finishing runner-up in Bangkok (l. to Garcia-Lopez).
Roddick Upstaged By Wife In IQ Test
Andy Roddick's IQ is an impressive 133, but it falls short of his first serve speed regularly in the high 130s and the IQ of his supermodel wife, Brooklyn Decker.
Roddick and Decker both took the abbreviated IQ test on the Bobby Bones morning show this past summer in their hometown of Austin, and Decker scored three points higher.
“I was just behind my wife, unfortunately,” said Roddick when asked about the result following his first round match Wednesday at the Swiss Indoors Basel.
The World No. 9 was quick to point out a factor he believed affected the outcome, asserting, “She had a [136], but she was using paper for the first half of it!”
Roddick and Decker, the 2010 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model, have been married since April 2009.
Roddick Races Into Round Three
Andy Roddick kept pace with his London rivals Wednesday as he raced into the third round of the BNP Paribas Masters with an emphatic 6-1, 6-4 victory over in-form Finn Jarkko Nieminen at the Palais Omnisports in Paris-Bercy.
The American No. 1, who is currently in eighth position in the year-to-date ATP Rankings, raced through the first set in just 22 minutes. In an utterly dominant display, Roddick yielded just 11 points in total as he took advantage of the fast-paced surface to break serve twice.
Nieminen was forced into employing a high-risk strategy just to stay level with Roddick in the second set, but he over pressed in the third game and the eighth-seeded Roddick broke through before going on to seal victory in 62 minutes.
“I’m not allowed to complain about slow courts and fast courts,” joked Roddick afterwards, “so when they put a fast court down I figured I might as well take advantage of it. It’s something I’m pretty comfortable on and I felt good.”
The 28-year-old was forced to miss the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals last year due to injury and is keen to make sure he is involved in the elite eight-man field at The O2 in London this year.
“I’ve qualified [for London] many, many years in a row so it’s still important to me. I was only able to watch last year in London for a couple of days and it looked like an unbelievable event that I want to play in. There’s only a handful of guys who have qualified eight times in a row, I’m certainly humbled to be with the names that have done it and I’d like to put myself there again.”
Next up for Roddick at the final ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the year is Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who has fallen away somewhat after impressing during the spring clay-court season in Europe. Roddick takes a 2-0 career lead into his third meeting with the No. 26-ranked Gulbis.
“There’s not going to be a lot of long points [against Gulbis] on a fast surface,” assessed Roddick. “It’s going to be a matter of doing little things, winning second serve points and putting serves in.”
The match will be played on Thursday in Paris. Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news on Roddick’s progress and the Battle for London.
Roddick pewny gry w WTF. Amerykanin zakwalifikował się już po raz 8 z rzędu.
Andy Roddick booked his place in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals when he beat Latvia's Ernests Gulbis 6-3 7-6 to reach the Paris Masters quarter-finals.
Soderling Set as Quarterfinal Opponent
“He plays big and so aggressive,” Roddick noted on his BNP Paribas Masters quarterfinal opponent, Robin Soderling, “but it’s a matter of standing course, I’ve been holding onto my serve pretty well, so that’ll be important.”
The fourth and eighth seeds in Paris will meet at 2pm CET (9am ET) on Center Court for the fifth face-off. These two Top Ten competitors have battled four times before, with each capturing two wins. Our No. 1 American prevailed victorious in their two most recent encounters, both being this year and on hard courts (Indian Wells-semifinals, Cincinnati-R16). Over the summer, Soderling reached No. 5 in the world and has been a force to reckon with for the past year. Luckily, our Texan is familiar the Swede’s powerful game.
Here are more stats on the BNP Paribas Masters fourth seed:
Age: 26 (14.08.1984)
Birthplace: Tibro, Sweden
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6’4″ (193 cm) Weight: 192 lbs (87 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2001
Coach: Magnus Norman
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for the quarterfinal results and Barclays ATP World Tour Finals updates.
andyroddick.com
Roddick tells it straight after Paris loss
Andy Roddick had beaten Robin Soderling in ATP Masters 1000 events at Indian Wells and Cincinnati earlier this year, but the big Swede turned the tables in the quarterfinals here at Bercy and won decisively, 7-5, 6-4.
Roddick was honest when he described his performance as “pretty average” which, in sporting terminology, means not very good. Having qualified for the ATP Tour World Finals in London the day before, Roddick admitted that he might have had a bit of a let down.
“Obviously you want to do well here but there was probably a little bit of an edge missing today,” he said. “The last two weeks, you’re kind of on pins and needles trying to qualify (for London) and it might have been a little bit of a mental let down today, which is completely on me. That’s my fault. I should be professional enough not to have that but…….”
You always get it straight from Roddick and he was also speaking from the heart when he talked about the satisfaction of reaching the eight-man Finals field for the eighth time in his career — a remarkable feat of consistency.
“It certainly doesn’t get any easier to qualify for these things,” he said. “And this time is probably as proud as I have been of making it because I feel as if I only had three or four healthy months this season with getting sick and having nagging injuries here and there. So it feels good. Feels like I got something out of it.”
Before retiring to the player’s lounge and another session of Stieg Larsson novels, Roddick was asked what he thought about the upcoming Davis Cup final between Serbia and France in Belgrade.
“I’ve talked about this a lot and, you know, I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” he said. “Serbia has the best player in the tie (Novak Djokovic) but one of France’s strengths is their depths and options. I’m glad I’m not Guy Forget (the captain) and have to decide who the second player is going to be. I don’t think that’s going to be an easy decision.”
A couple of hours later, Michael Llodra had made it a little easier for his captain. Continuing in the rich vein of aggressive form that he displayed while beating Djokovic the day before, Llodra served Nikolay Davydenko off the court 7-6, 6-1 to reach an ATP Masters Series semifinal for the first time in a career that stretches back 11 years.
As one of the few natural serve and volleyers in the game, Llodra is relishing the exceptional speed of this court and is backing up his big left-handed serve with some decisive volleys. Davydenko, who won this title in 2006 as well as the ATP Finals in London last year, is recognized as one of the best returners in the game, but even he couldn’t handle the Frenchman’s delivery.
This week Llodra had been chatting informally to an old friend, the former French No. 1 Pierre Barthes, who scrawled down some angles on a piece of paper to demonstrate how the angle of delivery could be improved by standing a foot closer to the center of the service line.
Llodra seemed to get the message. Taking the Russian out of the play with bombs down the center line to the deuce court, Llodra won 91% of his first serves and 60% of second deliveries. Match-winning stuff. Captain Forget will be impressed.
Roddick ready to fight any London boredom
Andy Roddick weighs in on his appearance at the London year-end championships.
Andy Roddick, lone American along with seven Europeans in the World Tour Finals field, appears annoyed that he has to cool his heels for four days between his exit at the Paris Masters and the required arrival time for competitors to the London year-end spectacular.
The ATP wants competitors in the British capital four days before the start next Sunday. For Roddick, the time is too short for a dash home but too long to easily avoid boredom in London.
"Considering the ATP sent out an email saying we have to be in London for Wednesday, it doesn't leave much time for me to get home and back now, does it?" he complained.
But once he let that slip, Twitter erupted with suggestions ranging from museum visits to restaurant recommendations. But Roddick will try to at least get in some live music. "It should be fun. I'll see if there are any concerts, shows, whatever. I don't think I want to sit around all week."
Amid talk of shortening the 11-month ATP season, Roddick suggested staging Paris and the year-end event a bit closer together. "It would add, you know, 25, 30 percent more to an off season, so I think it would make sense. I'd rather have it that way."
Andy Roddick slams year-end ATP schedule
ANDY Roddick has expressed his dissatisfaction with the timing of the final two tournaments of the 2010 ATP season.
The American world number eight, beaten in straight sets by Robin Soderling in the Paris Masters quarter-finals in Paris, has five days off before he has to report for duty prior to the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
It means the former world number one will be in London for four days before the season finale at the 02 Arena begins, and he says he would prefer a smaller gap between the two events.
"Considering the ATP sent out an email saying we have to be in London for Wednesday, it doesn't leave much time for me to get home and back now, does it?" said Roddick when asked by journalists about his post-tournament plans.
"So not only do we have a week in between where we're kind of hanging out, apparently we're available for you people for five days."
A number of senior players, including world number two Roger Federer, have recently expressed support for a longer off-season and Roddick believes bringing the Paris Masters and World Tour Finals closer together would help.
"It's tough to change things overnight, but change is happening," he said.
"We moved (the World Tour Finals) to Europe, so that's good, but it's the same amount of time. There's still no off-season.
"The point would be to make it cohesive so you run through into the other one.
"You guys (the press) could make it happen. I don't think you need a week to prep your stories. I think it would add 25-30 percent to the off-season."
Roddick has had several memorable showings at Wimbledon, including an unforgettable five-set defeat by Federer in the 2009 final, and says he has come to expect a warm reception in London.
"It's tough to be objective about yourself, but I know I've had some of my best moments in London," he said.
"I've spent about five weeks there every summer for the last 10 years, so it's hard to believe I've not developed some kind of relationship (with the fans). I certainly reciprocate a lot of the positive feelings."
The ATP World Tour Finals, which feature the eight highest-ranked players on the men's tour, run from November 21-28.
BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS
Roddick Hails Consistency As Key To Finals Qualification
London, England
Andy Roddick has qualified for the season finale eight years in a row, second only to Roger Federer among active players.
There are many parts of Andy Roddick’s game to admire, but it is not just the American’s 155mph first serve that has earned him a place at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for eight years in a row.
The 28-year-old Roddick is one of the most experienced players in the elite eight-man field at the season finale, having made his debut with a semi-final showing in Houston in 2003, and credits his unwavering consistency for his ability to keep making the cut year on year.
“It’s not easy, that’s for sure. It’s getting harder,” said the American. “I think the depth in tennis is improving. At the start of this whole thing (his career) you played someone [ranked] No. 60, 70, 80 you felt pretty comfortable. Here now, it’s anybody’s game on a given day.
“I think the biggest thing with making these things is winning matches even when you’re not on your best day. I think that’s what every guy in this field has done consistently. You normally have the 10 per cent where you’re playing terrible and the 10 per cent you’re playing great; it’s that middle 80 per cent that I think is a true showing of where you belong.”
Casting his mind back eight years to his first qualification, it has been quite a different road to the year-end championships for Roddick in 2010. Whereas he was forced to scrap right up to the last week at the BNP Paribas Masters for his place this year, after a mild bout of mononucleosis threw him off his stride in the summer, in 2003 he was riding the wave of a media frenzy after winning his first Grand Slam title at the US Open.
“It was a little bit of a whirlwind; I don’t really remember much,” confessed Roddick. “It was in Houston, which was a short drive, which was good. But it was the US Open, then all of a sudden it was a couple of tournaments. It was Saturday Night Live the week before and then trying to be No. 1. Looking back I probably wouldn’t have chosen the same route to that first Masters as I would now. But obviously, if your life hasn’t changed at all in the past eight years then you need a new hobby,” he joked.
Roddick was forced to watch the action at The O2 from the stands last year, with injury preventing him from taking up his place, but it gave the Texas resident a taste for the atmosphere at the world’s biggest indoor tennis event and served as a welcome reminder for him of his high standing with the British public.
“Probably two of the best moments I had last year was after the Wimbledon final (when he received a massive ovation after losing to Roger Federer 16-14 in the fifth set) and then here last year when I was just having a beer watching the matches. They showed me on the board and I got a nice reception and it was nice not to feel forgotten. It was a nice moment for me and certainly one that I appreciated,” concluded the three-time Wimbledon runner-up.
Roddick ready to decompress after mixed ATP season
Beaten Andy Roddick believes that a few weeks of rest and decompression before beginning preparation for the 2011 ATP season will see him through after exiting the World Tour Finals without a group win.
The American still takes away a small measure of personal pride after qualifying for the year-end event for an eighth consecutive edition. "I'm looking forward to resting for 10 days and then trying to get in shape," said Roddick, bothered by injury and illness at various stages of the season. "It's been a tough battle between trying to get healthy and finding the right balance between working and not getting hurt.
"It's been a tough six, seven months, since the beginning of May. The season probably came to an end at about the right time. I'm looking forward to trying to get right physically before Australia comes."
Roddick will chill out in Austin, Texas, where he and swimsuit model wife Brooklyn Decker are trying to sell Roddick's "bachelor pad" lakeside home and building something with more of a woman's touch involved.
Nie wiem jak Rod tego dokonał, ale jego obraz na aukcji "Art of Tennis" poszedł za najwyższą kwotę - $33,100.
Gratulacje. ;-)
charyzma!! ^^
Po prostu Andy ma najwiekszych fanatykow ;)
Czułem, że Jan pomnoży swoje 20 zł. ;)
Roddick suddenly finds energy for December exhibitions
Andy Roddick may not be taking the new ATP emphasis on a shorter season to heart, with the American booked up with a few December exhibition matches around the US.
The player who seemed somewhat worn out and tired during his last losing group match at last week's World Tour Finals in London seems to have found a fresh burst of energy for the holiday paydays and charity events.
Roddick will waste no time in getting started, playing for friend Justin Gimelstob at a New Jersey event that also includes Mike and Bob Bryan, Lindsay Davenport, and Mary Joe Fernandez. He will then fly to his birthplace of Nebraska for a hit-and-giggle with 80-year-old billionaire Warren Buffett.
The "Rock and Racquets" will include a doubles match as Roddick teams with Pete Sampras against the Bryans. To fulfill the music part of the evening, the Bryans will play a few tuns with their band.
Buffett is apparently keen to rub shoulders with the tennis world, if only briefly. "I haven't played tennis in 20 years, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play with Andy and Pete," said the homespun billionaire.
Bizon napisał:
Po prostu Andy ma najwiekszych fanatykow ;)
Których chce wpędzić do grobu... swą postawą na korcie... :-)
Masz teraz czas na odpoczynek durniu, i ja cię błagam : WRÓĆ DO ŁUPANIA !
Raddcik napisał:
Bizon napisał:
Po prostu Andy ma najwiekszych fanatykow ;)
Których chce wpędzić do grobu... swą postawą na korcie... :-)
Masz teraz czas na odpoczynek durniu, i ja cię błagam : WRÓĆ DO ŁUPANIA !
Dokładnie, ja też tęsknię za Roddickiem walącym każdą piłkę z całej siły. Andy jest przykładem, że powiększanie repertuaru zagrań i urozmajcanie gry nie zawsze (nie w każdym meczu przynajmniej) przynosi dobre efekty.
Nie no fajnie że chłopak cały czas się rozwija, ale brakuje mi w nim, a właściwie w jego grze rozumu - przykład to porażka w Tokio z Monfilsem gdzie balonami myślał się go załatwi??
Mnie się wydaje że brak łupaniny spowodowany jest tym że Rod nie może pozwolić sobie na taką gre ze względu na ryzyko kontuzji. Te go niestety nie omijają, gdyby zaczął walić wszystko jak z armaty mogło by to mieć fatalne skutki. I tak dobrze że przez te 10 sezonów nie urwał sobie ręki.
Więc, niestety, ale by zobaczyć pokaz brutalnej siły trzeba poogladać sobie archiwalne filmiki na youtube ;)
Andy Roddick to return to U.S. Davis Cup lineup in 2011
New U.S. Davis Cup Jim Courier will be able to rely on an old hand when he takes his first team on the road to Chile next March. Veteran and Davis Cup stalwart Andy Roddick will be back in action for the USA next year.
"I'm very excited to be back on the U.S. Davis Cup team," Roddick, who sat out the nation-vs.-nation team competition in 2010 after struggling with a knee injury at the end of 2009, said in a statement released by the USTA.
The USA will face Chile on red clay in Santiago March 4-6.
"I have always said that Davis Cup is something you should commit to for the entire season and not when it is convenient. Trying to win the Davis Cup again is a top priority for me in 2011. Nothing compares to the atmosphere of playing a Davis Cup match and representing your country," Roddick said.
Roddick, who competed for nine consecutive years (2001-09), is 31-11 overall in singles, second in U.S. history in victories behind John McEnroe's record 41.
"Having Andy commit to the 2011 campaign is huge for our team," said Courier, who was named the 40th U.S. captain in October, replacing Patrick McEnroe. "Andy not only brings his outstanding Davis Cup record but also his experience and team leadership which will be invaluable to our efforts."
The USA owns a record 32 Davis Cup titles, the last coming in 2007 with a team led by Roddick. It was the USA's first title since 1995. Roddick has competed in 23 total ties (fifth all time among U.S. players) and has played in 42 total Davis Cup matches for the USA (fourth all time).
"I look forward to working with Jim next season," Roddick said. "It will be strange to be sitting next to someone other than Patrick on the bench, but I have a great deal of respect for Jim. He is a fierce competitor and I know he holds Davis Cup in the same esteem that I do. He had so many memorable Davis Cup victories, but the one that will always stick with me most is when he clinched the title for the United States in 1992 since I was in Fort Worth to see that match in person as a kid."
Now, the question for Courier is who does he take to Chile? Mardy Fish earned the clinching point in Colombia in September to keep the USA in the World Group. The rest of that team included John Isner, Sam Querrey and youngster Ryan Harrison. In doubles, Bob and Mike Bryan have been tough to beat for the USA, but they weren't on the team that went to Colombia.
Andy Roddick zamierza wrócić do reprezentacji
Amerykański tenisista Andy Roddick w sezonie 2011 wróci do reprezentacji kraju i będzie grał w Pucharze Davisa. Z powodu problemów zdrowotnych nie występował w tym roku w ekipie USA.
- Rozgrywki o Puchar Davisa są dla mnie priorytetem, dlatego wracam do zespołu z którym chcemy ponownie walczyć o zwycięstwo - powiedział Roddick. W 2007 roku przyczynił się do sukcesu teamu USA, który w finale pokonał Rosję (4:1).
Nowy trener reprezentacji USA Jim Courier poprowadzi zespół w pierwszym pojedynku w dniach 4-6 marca przeciwko Chile. Roddick w meczach Pucharu Davisa wystąpił dotychczas w 42 grach singlowych, odnosząc 31 zwycięstw (doznał 11 porażek). Lepszy od niego jest tylko John McEnroe, który ma w dorobku 41 triumfów.
Roddick Commits To U.S. Davis Cup Team For 2011
The USTA and U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier announced today that Andy Roddick has committed to play for the U.S. Davis Cup team next season. The U.S Davis Cup team faces Chile in the 2011 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group First Round on a red clay court in Santiago, Chile, March 4-6.
“I’m very excited to be back on the U.S. Davis Cup team,” said Roddick. “I have always said that Davis Cup is something you should commit to for the entire season and not when it is convenient. Trying to win the Davis Cup again is a top priority for me in 2011. Nothing compares to the atmosphere of playing a Davis Cup match and representing your country.”
"Having Andy commit to the 2011 campaign is huge for our team," said Courier. "Andy not only brings his outstanding Davis Cup record but also his experience and team leadership which will be invaluable to our efforts. On a personal note I am very excited to get the opportunity to sit on the bench with Andy and help him continue to perform at his very best on the Davis Cup stage."
Roddick holds a 31-11 record in Davis Cup play (all singles matches) and is second all-time with most U.S. Davis Cup singles victories (behind John McEnroe with 41). He is second all-time in most consecutive years played on the U.S. Davis Cup team, competing for nine years from 2001-09 (tied with Todd Martin and behind McEnroe, who competed for 11 consecutive years). Roddick helped lead the U.S. to its first Davis Cup title since 1995 when they defeated Russia in the 2007 Davis Cup Final. He has competed in 23 total ties (fifth all-time among U.S. players) and has played in 42 total Davis Cup matches for the U.S. (fourth all-time).
Roddick will be playing for new U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier, who was named the 40th U.S. Davis Cup Captain in October. Courier succeeded Patrick McEnroe, the longest-tenured captain in U.S. Davis Cup history, who was at the helm for Roddick’s entire Davis Cup career.
“I look forward to working with Jim next season,” said Roddick. “It will be strange to be sitting next to someone other than Patrick on the bench, but I have a great deal of respect for Jim. He is a fierce competitor and I know he holds Davis Cup in the same esteem that I do. He had so many memorable Davis Cup victories, but the one that will always stick with me most is when he clinched the title for the United States in 1992 since I was in Ft. Worth to see that match in person as a kid.”
Founded in 1900, the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the world’s largest annual international men’s team competition with 125 nations competing this year. The U.S. leads all nations with 32 Davis Cup titles.
Roddick As Hungry As Ever
DEUCE
Andy Roddick's physical trainer Lance Hooten and physio Doug Spreen discuss the American's off-season training.
Andy Roddick has been as hungry and motivated as ever during the off-season as he prepares for his 12th full season on the ATP World Tour and another assault on the Australian Open title.
“I haven’t seen him this motivated for some time,” said Roddick’s physical trainer, Lance Hooten. “Andy’s always been a grinder, a hard worker; you have to put reins on him all the time because he’s always going to work too hard, too long and too much.”
Indeed, on the first day of Roddick’s pre-season training the American was due to work out with Hooten and other professional athletes. As Roddick had finished the season with a couple of nagging injuries to his groin and hamstring, Hooten had intended to ease the 28 year old into the programme with short sprints on a more forgiving grass surface.
Roddick, who will first compete in 2011 at the Brisbane International, was not interested in the softly, softly approach."You don't win the Australian Open by cutting short your work outs."
Recalls Hooten, “Andy whispered to me, ‘I don’t want to do a Plan B workout, I want to do today’s work out.’ I said ‘I don’t know, you’ve got to show me you can handle this so let’s build into it a little slowly.’ And he looked at me and said, ‘We’re not doing a %#@!!% Plan B workout.’
“So we started the workout and he was doing really well, and I was actually going to cut him short because if he’s not finishing the work out healthy then it doesn’t really matter. Andy looked at me and said, ‘You don’t win the %#@!!% Australian Open by cutting short your work outs.’”
It is undoubtedly that sort of attitude and determination that has seen former World No. 1 Roddick succeed for so long at the top of the game. Despite suffering mononucleosis that set him back during the crunch stage of the season over the summer, Roddick still produced strong enough results to earn his place at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for the eighth straight year. And the Texan firmly believed that had he not been ill, after his blistering start to the season, he could have finished in the Top 3 or 4 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings.
With that in mind, Team Roddick is treating victory at the Australian Open as a realistic target for the American and as such, the hard work began in earnest as soon as Roddick returned from London. “The planning and talking about it started the day that the season ended,” confirmed Roddick’s physio, Doug Spreen. “At that point he and Larry [Stefanki] had a chance to sit down and talk and go over a few things. Within a few days of getting back to Austin he was already starting to do some conditioning work and strength training, so it started up pretty quick.”
After the illness and injury problems of 2010, Spreen confirmed Roddick’s primary goal for the off season was to get healthy. “The goal coming out of December is that when you go down to Australia you want to feel good. The goal is to find a happy medium where you continue to do a lot of work to get yourself in shape, but at the same time you want to show up in Australia feeling healthy and hopefully a little bit rejuvenated.”The No. 2 goal was to pay attention to the American’s body composition.
“As a power-speed athlete you have to be very lean and very strong,” explained Hooten. “So what we wanted to do was lose a few pounds of body fat and gain a few pounds in muscle tissue, so his body weight tends to stay around the same, but you change the body composition. By doing that you have a stronger athlete, a more explosive athlete, you have an athlete who can withstand the rigours of his sport.”
"What we wanted to do was lose a few pounds of body fat and gain a few pounds in muscle tissue"
The tough regimen that Hooten devised has seen Roddick’s workout alternate between the track and the court. Track work involves explosive short sprints over 10-40 metres and longer sprints between 150-300 metres for speed endurance. Other exercises have involved the American doing sprints up a 50-60 metre hill on a 4-5 degree incline. On the court, Roddick has been doing short, explosive agility drills.
With Roddick’s late finish to the season there has not been much time to add specifics to his game. However, Hooten has been focusing on improving the American’s first step to chasing balls on the court, achieved by increasing Roddick’s lean muscle tissue and taking away his hesitation by making him as fit and supple as possible. “With the drills we’re doing lots of ply metric jumps, we do a lot of medicine ball throws for power and speed,” he explained.
Along with the physical training, Roddick has also been paying close attention to his diet – getting lots of fresh vegetables, lots of fresh fruit, very lean proteins, supplements of protein smoothies and eating frequent meals throughout the day - in the knowledge that consuming proper foods aids recovery by 50-75 per cent.
With the hard work done, Roddick will travel to Australia as a four-time former semi-finalist in Melbourne, with a wealth of major experience, and the confidence of feeling fit, healthy and strong. He should not be discounted as a serious contender.
DUN I LOVE napisał:
COA!
COA ! :D
Fuck Yea - Andy - nie wiedzieć czemu sądzę że ten rok będzie nasz :D
2010 w liczbach
Ranking: 8
Turnieje: 2 (Brisbane, Miami)
Finały: 2 (San Jose, Indian Wells)
Mecze: 48-18
Zarobki: $1,917,612
Raddcik napisał:
DUN I LOVE napisał:
COA!
COA ! :D
Słucham ?
The Last Word: ATP No. 8, Andy Roddick
Roddick rode his huge serve to the Indian Wells
and Miami finals, as well as the World Tour Finals.
Best of 2010
After a surprising loss to Ivan Ljubicic in the Indian Wells final, Roddick rebounded and won the following week’s Miami Masters. Before defeating Tomas Berdych in the final, Roddick rallied from a set down to topple Rafael Nadal in the semis.
Worst of 2010
Roddick didn’t perform like a Top 10 player at this year’s Slams. Aside from a respectable run to the quarterfinals in Melbourne, Roddick departed every other major sooner than he should have. The American did well to reach the third round of Roland Garros, never his stronghold, but nevertheless lost to Teymuraz Gabashvili in straight sets. He followed that off with an unsightly loss to Yen-Hsun Lu in the fourth round of Wimbledon. Roddick capped off his subpar Slam season with a second-round loss to Janko Tipsarevic in Queens.
Year in Review
By his (and our) high standards, Roddick didn’t have a stellar campaign, but there were still highlights. He didn’t play like an elite player at the Slams, but you can’t dispel his terrific performances in Indian Wells and Miami. Those back-to-back showings prove that when he’s on, Roddick still has the game to beat the best in the world.
On the negative side, Roddick often looked tired and frustrated in 2010. (We excuse him for the bout of mononucleosis.) Simply put, the man hates to lose. Roddick once said that he would consider retirement if he dropped out of the Top 15, which makes you wonder how he might cope—or not—with a drop-off in ability. If the 28-year-old’s game begins suffer sooner than later, you’ll have to question whether his heart will be in it for much longer.
See for Yourself
This clip goes out to all those who still cling to the hope that Roddick will win a second Grand Slam title. It’s vintage Roddick: Lightning-fast serving and electric forehands. His improved backhand and volley, as you’ll see here, was another reason he took home the Miami title.
The Last Word
Roddick will continue to win plenty of matches, but he’ll also have some head-scratching losses. The Austin, TX native fell out of the Top 10 this year for the first time since 2006, and with plenty of wear and tear from last season, expect the top American to have a more elongated stay outside the single digits in 2011.
—Brad Kallet
Andy Roddick trains harder than ever for Aussie Open
America’s Number 1 tennis player Andy Roddick has never made the cut for an Australian Open title match; on four different occasions, he has been sidelined by World Number 2 Roger Federer at the semi finals. However, the upside of so many losses is that Andy Roddick will go into battle this year armed with a vast store of experience against the Swiss Maestro and many of his other opponents.
Roddick enters 2011 as one of the main contenders, and he seems determined to live up to the expectations surrounding his run in the new season. The player has been training harder than ever during this off season to make sure that he is prepared for the intensely demanding fortnight at the beginning of the year.
The American had informed the media soon after the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals that he expected to get healthy once again, after suffering through a year ravaged with injuries. He lived up to his promises soon after landing at home in Texas.
Roddick’s physio trainer, Doug Spreen, said, “The planning and talking about it started the day that the season ended, Within a few days of getting back to Austin he was already starting to do some conditioning work and strength training, so it started up pretty quick.”
Spreen also talked about the importance of the off-season from a player’s training perspective, saying, “The goal coming out of December is that when you go down to Australia you want to feel good. The goal is to find a happy medium where you continue to do a lot of work to get yourself in shape, but at the same time you want to show up in Australia feeling healthy and hopefully a little bit rejuvenated.”
The physio trainer says Roddick has never been so inspired during the tennis break. The player may be venting the accumulated frustration he has amassed after his illness and injuries throughout 2010; despite a promising start to the year, he was unable to deliver and seems to look forward to making up for it.
Andy Roddick will begin 2011 by defending his title at the Brisbane International.
2011, Here He Comes
After spending the holidays with family, Andy has officially embarked on his 2011 season Down Under. Despite being held up in the airport because of a blizzard, the defending champ made it down under and is ready to return to Brisbane, with play commencing on Sunday, January 2nd.
Sprinting, strengthening, and preparing to start this year with a bang, Roddick’s training began on Day 1 of his off-season according to his Twitter. Now, weeks later, Team Roddick is en route to the first Slam of the year. Stay tuned to AR.com as our No. 1 American returns to the hard-courts of Brisbane International and Rod Laver Arena.
andyroddick.com
Roddick ready to roll in Brisbane
Andy Roddick is determined to start putting his career back into winning gear as he heads to Brisbane for a title defence and his start to Australian Open preparation.
The 28-year-old American has won just three trophies in the last two seasons while producing his best 2010 Grand Slam showing of a modest quarter-final in Melbourne.
Roddick had to deal with the snowstorm which paralysed the US after spending Christmas at his wife's family home in North Carolina. But the No. 8 can't wait to get back onto court as the new ATP season kicks in next week in the Southern hemisphere summer heat.
Despite and injury-and-illness plagued 2010, Roddick has put that all behind in off season training, according to his physical trainer. Roddick ended a month ago with hamstring and groin stiffness as he played at the ATP year-end event in London in late November.
"I haven't seen Andy this motivated for some time," said trainer Lance Hooten, "He's always been a grinder, a hard worker. You have to put reins on him all the time because he's always going to work too hard, too long and too much."
But the hard-man from Austin allowed himself few dispensations with Roddick demanding the toughest level of workout in recent days to hone his form for the Brisbane starts where he is seeded second behind Swede Robin Soderling.
Trening Roda w Brisbane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxAMzng6 … r_embedded
I'm ready to rock - Roddick
ANDY Roddick showed all the focus and determination that has pushed him through a punishing off-season as he arrived to defend his Brisbane International crown.
A lean and fit-looking world No. 8 touched down yesterday saying he was glad to be back in Brisbane, where he beat Czech Radek Stepanek to the title at the start of this year.
"We'll see," Roddick said of his prospects of securing back-to-back victories when the International begins on January 2. Soon after, he was out on the practice courts.
If the American's latest training regimen is anything to go by, he has his sights on an even bigger prize.
Physical trainer Lance Hooten rates Roddick as the most motivated he has been in years. That motivation was clear when Hooten recently suggested cutting a workout short to safeguard Roddick against niggling groin and hamstring problems that bothered him last month.
"You don't win the %#@!!% Australian Open by cutting short your workouts," was Roddick's response, according to Hooten.
Roddick has made four semi-final appearances at Melbourne Park. His Brisbane title was one of two won by the 28-year-old in 2010. He also claimed the Miami Masters, winning the final in straight sets from Tomas Berdych, of the Czech Republic.
Stepanek also arrived in Brisbane yesterday to begin his Australian Open preparations.
Australia's No. 1 Samantha Stosur also took to the practice courts yesterday in the lead-up to the Brisbane event.
Stosur, 26, is adamant the cool and wet Queensland weather will not favour the northern hemisphere stars.
Queensland's big wet has driven the average temperature down by up to 7C for this time of year, making it much more palatable for overseas players preparing for the tournament.
However, Stosur, the No. 1 women's seed, said that could work in her favour, as well as the other Australians in the draw, when Brisbane's pressure-cooker temperatures and humidity finally return next week. "I got back here Christmas Eve and it pretty much hasn't stopped raining since I landed," Stosur said.
"Everyone has to deal with it. Obviously the Europeans are coming from a very cold winter, no doubt they have been hitting inside and they have to get used to this humidity. Hopefully I'll be a step ahead for the first week."
The Brisbane International is the first of two tournaments Stosur will use to fine-tune her game for the Australian Open starting January 17 at Melbourne Park. She has also committed to playing the Medibank International in Sydney starting January 9.
Andy Roddick pushes training limit for Australian Open assault
PHYSICAL trainer Lance Hooten will think twice before again offering Andy Roddick the option of a Plan B workout.
Concerned about Roddick's hamstring and groin soreness last month, Hooten suggested the American ease off during pre-season training.
It drew a curt response from the triple Wimbledon finalist, who arrives in Australia today to prepare for the Brisbane International which starts on Sunday.
"Andy whispered to me, 'I don't want to do a Plan B workout, I want to do today's workout'," Hooten said.
"I said 'I don't know, you've got to show me you can handle this, so let's build into it a little slowly'. And he looked at me and said, 'Were not doing a %#@!! Plan B workout'.
"So we started the workout and he was doing really well, and I was actually going to cut him short because if he's not finishing the workout healthy then it doesn't really matter.
"Andy looked at me and said, 'You don't win the %#@!!% Australian Open by cutting short your workouts'."
Roddick, 28, is the first of the major Open contenders to arrive in Australia, intent on adding to a Melbourne Park record that consists of four semi-final appearances.
Hooten and Roddick's physio Doug Spreen are convinced that if the pre-season is any guide, Roddick is on track for a career-best showing on Rod Laver Arena.
"I haven't seen him this motivated for some time," Hooten told atpworldtour.com.
"Andy's always been a grinder, a hard worker. You have to put reins on him all the time because he's always going to work too hard, too long and too much."
Spreen said Roddick and coach Larry Stefanki began planning for Melbourne Park the day after the 2010 season finished late last month.
In a regimen which echoes Lleyton Hewitt's cross-training, Roddick spent winter in Austin running hills, completing lung-busting sprint repetitions on the track and building his core strength in the gym.
Hooten said he had concentrated on improving Roddick's mobility by increasing the American's lean muscle tissue - and altering the Texan's diet.
"With the drills we're doing lots of plyometric jumps, we do a lot of medicine ball throws for power and speed," Hooten said.
World No. 8 Roddick returns to Brisbane as defending champion.
K**** coraz bardzie zaczynam znowu w niego wierzyć. COA!!
RODDICK FIT AND READY FOR BRISBANE TITLE DEFENCE
Andy Roddick talks to Australian media
on Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane.
World No. 8 Andy Roddick is fit and ready for his Brisbane International title defence. The American took to the practice courts for an hour-long hit soon after he arrived in Australia.
"For me, it's just a matter of getting right, getting healthy,” Roddick told Australian media on Wednesday. “I battled sickness [mononucleosis] for a big part of last year and from there I just felt like I was playing catch-up.
"You train hard and you get hurt in training coming back. You don't train you rest and you try and come back and your body is not right and it shows.
"I think it's the first time I've felt right since last May so when you are fit it takes a lot of the mental pressure off. You feel like you can play any way you want so I feel fresh and I feel enthused and ready."
In last year’s final, Roddick beat Czech Radek Stepanek, who has also arrived in Brisbane.
"I came in last year and hadn't been playing much so this was a really good springboard into the year for me," said Roddick. "I like being in the same country but also I like this event - my wife [Brooklyn] enjoys coming here so let's not pretend I make any decisions."
World No. 4 Robin Soderling will be top seed at the Brisbane International, which starts on Sunday.
Roddick, a four-time Australian Open semi-finalist, also believes former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt can rise up the South African Airways ATP Rankings again next year.
“Lleyton is always a champ,” said Roddick. “With him it's health at this point. There's no question whenever he's been able to put together six, seven, eight healthy months he's put together some goods results.
"The last two years probably haven't been the best of his career so far, but if he's healthy and motivated he knows how to win tennis matches. Those intangibles are something that only a few guys have and he certainly has them."
Roddick compiled a 48-18 match record on the 2010 season, adding the Sony Ericsson Open title (d. Berdych) to his Brisbane crown.
Roddick at full fitness; 'enthused and ready'
Andy Roddick says he is back at full fitness for the first time since coming down with mononucleosis in the spring.
"I think it's the first time I've felt right since last May, so when you are fit it takes a lot of the mental pressure off," he said, speaking to reporters in Brisbane. "You feel like you can play any way you want so I feel fresh and I feel enthused and ready."
After starting the season with a 26-4 record, the American pulled out of his first and only claycourt warmup event with what turned out to be the first signs of the virus and went 22-14 for the rest of the year, also retiring in Shanghai with injury.
Getting back to full strength in the middle of the season was a challenge. "You train hard and you get hurt in training coming back. You don't train you rest and you try and come back and your body is not right and it shows," he said.
Roddick is the defending champion in Brisbane. "I came in last year and hadn't been playing much so this was a really good springboard into the year for me," he said. "I like being in the same country but also I like this event.
"My wife enjoys coming here so let's not pretend I make any decisions," he quipped.
Może już czas skończyć trąbić na prawo i lewo jaki to nie jest przygotowany, tylko coś porządnie zagrać...
Będzie miał ku temu okazje od przyszłego tygodnia. Obrona tytułu i 30 wygrany turniej w karierze to byłoby całkiem fajne rozpoczęcie sezonu. Dobrze że Rod czuje się ok i po mono ani śladu.
Roddick hopes to forget the past with solid 2011 start
As well as defending his title in Brisbane, Andy Roddick is also playing the good husband role for swimsuit-model wife Brookyln Decker.
The couple arrived in Queensland for the start of the ATP season, first event on the official men's calendar.
Roddick, still hanging in the ranking Top 10 on eighth, is ready to put a disastrous 2010 behind after being derailed by illness and injury for much of the season. "I battled sickness for a big part of last season and from then on I felt like I was playing catch-up,” he told local media upon arrival from the snowbound US. “You train hard, you get hurt in training and come back. Or you don't train, you rest and you're body's not right, and it shows."
The 28-year-old said that as his wife enjoyed her stay in Brisbane a year ago it was almost required to try and repeat the experience. He joked: “Let's not pretend I have any say in it,” adding that the tournament stands as “a really good springboard into the year."
Roddick was troubled by glandular fever after Wimbledon and later with injury which threatened his participation in the year-end event in London. But that is all forgotten: “Everybody comes here with a fresh sense of optimism.” He made his last final in early may as he won the Miami title and won Brisbane over Czech Radek Stepanek.
Andy Through in Brisbane
Andy recorded his first win of 2011 when he comfortably dispatched of Australian wildcard Marinko Matosevic at the Brisbane International 6-3, 6-2.
As defending champion, Andy put on an impressive display in front of fans in the Pat Rafter Arena on Monday night.
“The opening round you’re looking for is one that will get you into the second round. So I was pleased with that. You just give yourself the chance to get better as the tournament goes on and I did that. I thought I returned pretty well. Anytime you break half your return games that’s a good thing.
“I feel healthy and fit probably for the first time since May last year, so that’s a good thing. There’s nothing I’m trying to cover up, I don’t feel short on practice, I don’t question the last month that I’ve put in and that’s a first for a little while.”
Andy has now set up a second round clash with Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov.
On Tuesday, Andy will be back in action in Brisbane when he teams up with Mardy Fish for the first round of doubles. They will take on Philipp Petzschner and Alexander Peya. The match is scheduled not before 6pm (3am EST) on Court 1.
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the latest from Brisbane!
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Roddick Opens Title Defence With Matosevic Win
Andy Roddick broke serve four
times to beat Marinko
Matosevic.
World No. 8 Andy Roddick opened his title defence at the Brisbane International on Monday evening with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 victory over Australian wild card Marinko Matosevic.
The second-seeded American broke serve in the sixth game and fought off one break point in the following game as he established a one-set lead. He quickly rolled to a 5-0 advantage in the second set and despite relinquishing one of the service breaks, closed out the match at the second time of asking after 72 minutes.
“The opening round you’re looking for is one that will get you into the second round. So I was pleased with that,” said Roddick. “You just give yourself the chance to get better as the tournament goes on and I did that. I thought I returned pretty well. Anytime you break half your return games that’s a good thing.”
The 28-year-old Roddick improved to a perfect 6-0 record in Brisbane, having defeated Radek Stepanek to win the title on his debut last year. The Texan has declared himself back to full health at the start of 2011, after struggling with a mild bout of mononucleosis last season, and will look for a strong showing in Brisbane as he prepares for his assault on the Australian Open, where he is a four-time semi-finalist.
“I feel healthy and fit probably for the first time since May last year, so that’s a good thing,” said Roddick. “There’s nothing I’m trying to cover up, I don’t feel short on practice, I don’t question the last month that I’ve put in and that’s a first for a little while.”
Another Australian wild card was disappointed in the first round as seventh seed Florian Mayer cruised past 18-year-old Bernard Tomic, 6-2, 6-2 in 54 minutes. The German, who started the year at No. 37 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, 171 places higher than Tomic, hit 12 aces and broke serve four times from five opportunities, only surrendering three points on serve.
German Michael Berrer could face top-seeded Swede Robin Soderling in the second round after rallying past Dudi Sela 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-2. World No. 5 Soderling plays American qualifier Ryan Harrison in his first-round match.
Berrer withstood 16 aces from Sela and fought off all eight break points faced over the final two sets. He took advantage of his two opportunities to break the Israeli as he claimed a hard-fought victory in two hours and 31 minutes.
In another early match Monday at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament, Poland’s Lukasz Kubot saved all six break points on serve in a 6-2, 6-2 win over Daniel Brands. Later on, Colombian Santiago Giraldo set a potential second-round meeting with third-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco after dismissing Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-3 in 85 minutes.
Andy into Brisbane Quarter-finals
Andy is through to the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International after a 6-4, 6-1 win over Alexandr Dolgopolov in just 57 minutes.
Andy had to weather a heavy barrage of shots from Dolgopolov early on and came back from 2-4 down to take the first set.
“The scouting report was that he was aggressive to the point of psychosis at times. He came out the first six games and I didn’t really do much wrong,” Andy said.
“It was my plan to make him have to come up with those kinds of shots for the better part of a couple of hours and it caught up to him a little bit. Then when it caught up to him it got away from him pretty quickly.”
Andy hit a further 15 aces in the match bringing his total up to 20. For every ace that Andy hits this week, he is generously donating $100 to the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal.
With his win over Dolgopolov Andy has set up a quarter-final match against Marcos Baghdatis.
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com for all the latest from Brisbane.
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Andy Beats Baghdatis At Brisbane
Andy is through to the semi-finals at the Brisbane International after a straight sets win over Marcos Baghdatis. The final score was 6-2, 6-3.
Andy and Baghdatis exchanged breaks early on in the match, but at 3-2, Andy broke the Cypriot’s serve a second time and capitalised on the momentum to take the first set 6-2. The second set went with serve until 3-4, when Baghdatis went down 0-40. Andy needed just the one break point and went on to serve out the set and match 6-3.
Following the match, Andy said,
“I felt good about pretty much everything tonight. The conditions were a little heavier, which made it tougher to create and that’s probably why you saw a lot of break point opportunities; the serves weren’t jumping through.”
“This is probably the first time since May of last year where I haven’t felt like I’m playing catch-up or trying to cover something up. I can play with all my options, because I’m confident that my fitness is there. So it’s more exciting.”
Andy also served a further seven aces in Thursday’s quarter-final, taking his total for the tournament up to 27. For every ace Andy hits this week in Brisbane he is donating $100 to the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal.
In the semi-finals on Saturday, Andy will play South Africa’s Kevin Anderson.
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the latest from Brisbane.
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Andy Sets Up Soderling Final
Andy has booked his place in the Brisbane International final following a victory over Kevin Anderson 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
After the match, Andy commented:
“I felt like I was in control pretty much the whole match, even in the second set when I had one bad game. I felt like I had more looks at his serve than he had at mine. I actually broke more than I thought I might against his serve.”
Andy served well in the match, hitting 15 aces. This brings Andy’s total up to 42 aces served in the tournament. For every ace Andy hits in Brisbane he is donating $100 to the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal.
In Sunday’s final Andy will face top seed Robin Soderling. Looking ahead to the match Andy said:
“We’re going to see the best of what we’ve seen this week against each other tomorrow. He’s playing great. He served really well today and was in control of his match. He hits the ball so big that a lot of times you’re at his mercy. He’s certainly improved a lot in the past two years. We’ve always had tight matches, so I don’t see why tomorrow will be different.”
The singles final is scheduled to follow the doubles final, which begins at 12 noon (9pm -1 day EST).
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the latest from Brisbane.
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Pierwszy finał w 2011
Andy Roddick od finału w Brisbane rozpoczął sezon 2011 w ATP Tour. W pojedynku o tytuł, broniący trofeum Amerykanin, musiał uznać wyższość Robina Soderlinga.
Wczorajsza porażka to był 20 taki mecz w karierze 28-latka z Austin. Ratio finałów Roddick wciąż ma korzystne: 29-20.
Przegrane finały A-Roda w ATP Tour (20):
2011 (1) Brisbane (Outdoor/Hard)
2010 (2) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells (Outdoor/Hard) , San Jose (Indoor/Hard)
2009 (3) Washington (Outdoor/Hard) , Wimbledon (Outdoor/Grass) , Doha (Outdoor/Hard)
2008 (1) Los Angeles (Outdoor/Hard)
2007 (1) Memphis (Indoor/Hard)
2006 (2) US Open (Outdoor/Hard) , Indianapolis (Outdoor/Hard)
2005 (2) ATP Masters Series Cincinnati (Outdoor/Hard) , Wimbledon (Outdoor/Grass)
2004 (4) Bangkok (Indoor/Hard) , ATP Masters Series Canada (Outdoor/Hard) , Wimbledon (Outdoor/Grass) , Houston (Outdoor/Clay)
2003 (2) Houston (Outdoor/Clay) , Memphis (Indoor/Hard)
2002 (2) ATP Masters Series Canada (Outdoor/Hard) , Delray Beach (Outdoor/Hard)
Roddick looking healthy and in high spirits
Andy Roddick has landed in Melbourne for his assault on Australian Open 2011, the world No.8 looking powerful in his practice session on Rod Laver Arena this morning.
Fresh from his defeat at the hands of Swede Robin Soderling in the Brisbane International final last week, the A-Rod worked on his first strike, letting loose on his famous serve and forehand in practice sets with a playing partner.
Roddick, trademark cap in tow, is back in form after an injury-hampered 2010. The American No.1 had started last season impressively, winning the Brisbane International title and going on to make the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
He faded later in the year, unable to progress past the fourth round in any subsequent Grand Slam and in August fell out of the top 10 for the first time since 2006.
His relegation from the rankings elite meant that for the first time in the history of the ATP world rankings, there was no American man in the top 10. He was later revealed to be suffering from a mild case of mononucleosis.
Back to full health and in high spirits, the crowd favourite will no doubt be well supported when Australian Open 2011 begins on Monday.
Australian Open Draw
The draw for the Australian Open was made on Friday. Seeded eighth, Andy has been drawn to face Jan Hajek in the first round.
The Australian Open gets underway on Monday. After he reached the final in Brisbane, Andy has spent this week practising in Melbourne. Andy has been placed in the bottom half of the draw and is seeded to meet Juan Monaco in the third round and Gael Monfils in the fourth round. Andy is in the same quarter of the draw as defending champion, Roger Federer.
See the full men’s singles draw here:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/sco … /r1s4.html
Andy has enjoyed several good runs at the Australian Open. He is a four-time semi-finalist and last year narrowly lost a five-set match to Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals. Andy also played one of his most memorable matches in Melbourne, when in 2003 it took him five hours and a 21-19 final set to get past Younes El Aynaoui in the quarter-finals.
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the latest from the first Grand Slam of 2011!
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
Q. How would you assess your game today?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, it was okay. It was playing slow, you know, so you had to kind of adjust. I thought he liked the ball to come through pretty quick and flat, so I was trying to keep it out of his hitting zones.
I served well; I put a lot of returns in. So it was good.
Q. The conditions of the court or the atmosphere, the whole thing?
ANDY RODDICK: I probably think conditions more than anything. It was a little dead, you know. It wasn't hitting and jumping like it normally would here, and I think that's probably just the colder conditions. It seemed like the flat ball went through.
He was having trouble creating, you know, off of a chip and off of other things. So it was a little bit more cat and mouse than I think you would normally find certainly on a hotter day here.
Q. You'd like a faster court?
ANDY RODDICK: It's the conditions. The court's fine. It's like it always is. We don't get many days below 70 Fahrenheit here. Like I say, I think it's more the conditions, meaning weather conditions more specifically.
Q. How do you feel coming in? What are you going to have to do to meet your goals this time?
ANDY RODDICK: I feel good. I had a good off season. I feel healthy and strong for the first time in a while. You know, got five matches in in Brisbane, which is all you can pretty much ask for.
Doesn't put that middle week in flux in terms of needing tennis. So we'll see. I certainly feel like I'm prepared.
Q. Are you proud of Mardy?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I thought that was a great effort. I told him five minutes ago, you know, I was kind of going out as he was down two sets. I said, That did not look good. I didn't see that happening.
I thought that was a really good effort by him. Mardy a couple years ago wouldn't have won that match, for sure.
Q. He was saying in press that he's hoping he doesn't have the same thing that you got last year, but it sounds like exactly the same thing.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, he was asking me about it. I didn't know he talked to you guys about it.
We hope not. You know, I hope not. That can turn into a long, kind of drawn out process where you have your good days and your bad days. Certainly, fingers crossed, hopefully it's something else.
Q. Do you find yourself more than ever looking at the results of other Americans, almost sort of taking a bit of an elder statesman sort of role?
ANDY RODDICK: I feel like I've been the elder statesman ever since Andre retired, in all honesty. That's coming up on five years ago now. So I don't know that it's a new role for me.
You know, I certainly feel like I'm, I guess, a guy that a lot of the guys come to. Maybe I'm the guy that gets asked some of the questions a little bit more. But I think that's a role I've always been happy in. You know, I think they know that they can you know, I'll give them whatever opinions I have on pretty much anything.
Q. Ryan Harrison lost today. He said you've been speaking to him quite a bit.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean... I mean, I don't know that we've ever put a label on it. But I feel like most of the young guys, even when Sam was young, at least the guys that have come up maybe after me, as long as they're willing to put in the work.
You know, I like Ryan because he does ask questions, you know. The stuff that makes him annoying now is going to make him really good someday, if that makes sense. He's super competitive. I haven't talked to him since his match today.
Again, I think he knows that I always want to try to help the other U.S. guys if I can.
Q. Can you actually teach someone or talk them into competing well at a slam? Because both those guys are pretty disappointed today in their results. Sam is at the point where he's a top 20 player. Going to a tournament like this, he has expectations beyond losing a five setter in the first round.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, it's a little different once they crack that top 20 because they're a little more reluctant to come to you. You're a little more of a peer. I know I was probably a little bit more influential on Sam before the last couple of years, before he really broke through.
Again, I'm always here. But I'm certainly not going to force myself on anybody. You know, I think we all know Sam's better than losing the first round. It was a rough day today. It was weird out there, you know, the wind and the thing.
But, uhm, he'll rebound. I mean, last time I guess everyone was kind of disappointed in him. He had his best results after the French last year. Hopefully we can look for a rebound like that. He came back and everyone was kind of getting on his case after the French Open a little bit and deservedly so for what he said afterwards in the press.
He came back, won Queen's, got to this day what is his best result in a slam, fourth round in Wimbledon, and played well at the US Open.
So hopefully he can bounce back.
Q. So when you and Larry got together in the off season, besides recovering physically, the illness, what were you talking about as to what you want to do this year?
ANDY RODDICK: That was the biggest thing for me. I mean, honestly, last time I was healthy I feel like was May last year. Up to that point I had great results. Same with '09 through when I got hurt, I had really good results.
So, uhm, the biggest thing for me was getting right, getting healthy, feeling strong. That was the focus. You know, Larry said, Listen, I don't care if you hit up until a certain point; I want you working; I want you strong. I don't want us having to adjust our game plans around what you may or may not be able to do physically.
That was probably the priority this off season. You know, you come back, and sure enough, playing better matches early on this year.
Q. What is your best memory of this tournament? You've had some difficult semifinal losses. El Aynaoui or...
ANDY RODDICK: Sure. There's been a lot. I'm having trouble remembering. Yeah, the El Aynaoui was a good one. But I think also '09 was when I made the semis; that was good. I lost to Roger. But I think it had been two years since I had been in a semifinal of a slam, so that was something good for me. I felt real good about that.
You know, I had certainly put in the work. That was when I lost weight for the first time. So to see that, that was a good feeling. Obviously, the most memorable match was that with Younes.
Q. When you see your name in Federer's corner again do you curse or do you say, I want another chance at the guy now?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, there's that. But, listen, I've lost before that stage last three slams. So for me to think about that would just be dumb. I don't think I've earned the right to look ahead that far.
You know, too, I've put myself in position where I'm ranked 8. So to be pissed off about any draw that I created for myself in a quarterfinal, again, is not smart, not fair, it's a little presumptuous. So that part of the tournament can wait until that part of the tournament actually becomes a reality.
Round 2 in Rod Laver: Kunitsyn
Second on after an 11am start in Rod Laver Arena, our No. 1 American will take on another unseeded player, Russia’s Igor Kunitsyn, on Day 3, Wednesday, January 19th, Down Under.
Roddick and the Russian have met twice before, first in Wimbledon, 2009 and then Queen’s Club, 2010, with our American claiming both wins. The 99th ranked player only took one set off our AO Semifinalist during their first meeting, which was the month that Kunitsyn reached a career high ranking of 35th in the world. Even though the Vladivostok resident’s ranking has since dropped, he’ll be playing on his favorite surface this time, hoping to utilize his ground-stroke/baseline game. In the four years the 29-year-old has played at the Australian Open, this is the farthest he’s succeeded in the draw, having defeated Poland’s Michael Przysiezny in a close four sets in Round 1. Kunitsyn will be fighting to reach his first Round 3 Slam appearance.
Here are more stats:
Age:29 (30.09.1981)
Birthplace:Vladivostok, Russia
Residence:Vladivostok, Russia
Height:5’11″ (180 cm)
Weight:165 lbs (75 kg)
Plays:Right-handed
Turned Pro:1999
Coach:Allen Fox
Stay tuned to AR.com as Andy continues his run at the 2011 Australian Open, or go to www.australianopen.com to watch Live Scoring and get the full TV schedule.
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Roddick continues Melbourne record
Andy Roddick shook off a determined Igor Kunitsyn at Rod Laver Arena today to move into the Australian Open third round for the ninth straight year.
"I thought he played well," said Roddick after the match. "He was very convinced of his game plan and executed it well. I don't think he wanted to settle into long points. He was taking the first ball, going up the line with it. You know, it was very high risk, but he was converting for, you know, pretty much all the first set.
"So I definitely wasn't comfortable early on in that one."
The first set was a tight affair with both players holding serve all the way to the tiebreaker. Any chance of Kunitsyn being overawed by the occasion was soon smashed like one of Roddick's 17 aces for the day. The world No.99 looked perfectly at home at Rod Laver Arena and played some inspired tennis that included a stream of winners, particularly from the Russian's forehand. The closeness of the match was mirrored in the break point chances - neither player had one for the set.
Kunitsyn, no doubt, will rue the first set tiebreaker as this was where, arguably, the match was won and lost. But it was Kunitsyn who had the first chance to snatch the see-sawing set. After a badly timed Roddick double fault, the Russian had two set points - the first of which Roddick saved with an ace, the second he won with a forehand passing shot off Kunitsyn's serve.
Unforced errors cost Kunitsyn as Roddick took the tiebreak 9-7 and struck a blow to his opponent that he would not recover from.
The second set contrasted the first as Roddick grabbed an early break in the second game after a slow start from a slightly despondent Kunitsyn. It was enough for Roddick to hold off the Russian, who he broke once more in the eighth game to take the second set 6-2.
In the third set Kunitsyn made Roddick wait until the eighth game to get the break. With the game stuck at deuce, a powerful crosscourt forehand winner followed by Kunitsyn's 33rd unforced error for the match handed Roddick the game.
The pumped up American duly served it out as he added his name to the third-round schedule. And, in a warning for his next opponent, either 26th seed Juan Monaco or Robin Haase - Roddick said he's in good shape.
"I feel like I'm hitting the ball fine. I'm serving very well. You know, kind of controlling the match with that right now. That's always a good thing for me."
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
Q. How well had he played up until the tiebreak, the set points?
ANDY RODDICK: I thought he played well. He was very convinced of his game plan and executed it well. I don't think he wanted to settle into long points. He was taking the first ball, going up the line with it. You know, it was very high risk, but he was converting for, you know, pretty much all the first set.
So I definitely wasn't comfortable early on in that one.
Q. What changed?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I kind of I guess got on to his pattern a little bit. I played him a couple times before and, uhm, he wasn't as quick to pull the trigger on his forehand. His backhand, he likes going up the line. But the pattern started playing itself out, so I was able to kind of adjust and get the ball to where I wanted to, where I was pushing to his forehand side.
Once I was able to establish that neutral ball there, uhm, I felt like the dynamic of the point started shifting to my direction.
Q. As far as the first two rounds of a slam, how contented are you with how things have gone so far?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I get to play again so... That's all you want. You know, it could have gotten uncomfortable today if that first set would have gotten away.
In retrospect, you always try to convince yourself that's a good thing to get through a tough set like that. Going into the match, if you're given an option, you want it to be as easy as possible every time.
Yeah, but, I mean, I feel like I'm hitting the ball fine. I'm serving very well. You know, kind of controlling the match with that right now. That's always a good thing for me.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about confidence, how it is different when you step on the court and you are full of confidence? Which shot does it affect most, strengths, weaknesses?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, for me it's not really about one shot, I don't think. I think when you're confident, the court just makes sense; decisions come easier to you. A lot of it comes naturally. There's not a whole lot of thought process. You're not forcing a lot. The ball kind of, I guess, reacts the way you want it to.
You know, I think at least for me that just comes with playing matches. I've certainly been out on the court enough the early part of the season here with Brisbane and now here. So I feel comfortable out there right now.
Q. Do you have a specific routine on a Grand Slam, knowing it can last two weeks, in order to stay fresh?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, I think you learn as you go. I think you learn what an important part nutrition plays, sleep plays, hydration plays. As much as hitting balls on off days, I think it's more about making sure your body's right.
Not every match is going to go five hours. Every match has potential to go five hours. So I think you need to prepare accordingly. Then if you have energy left in the tank, that's a good thing.
But, yeah, I mean, I definitely think, you know, I've learned it's as much about, uhm, you know, getting your body back to neutral not just in slams but in every tournament but probably more so in slams because kind of the extreme nature of how long you might be out there.
Q. You've got a lot of nervous energy. Hard for you to mellow that?
ANDY RODDICK: No. No. I mean, I think it's easier now (laughter). But, no, I mean, I certainly stay, you know, pretty active on off days. I don't like waiting around to practice until 5:00 in the afternoon. I think it's better if I kind of burn a little bit of energy early on in the day.
But 10 years later, I'm able to choose how to occupy my time, I guess.
Q. Speaking of five hour matches, did you catch any of Lleyton and Nalbandian last night?
ANDY RODDICK: I was asleep towards the front end of the third set.
Q. Your thoughts. An amazing first round.
ANDY RODDICK: I watched a little bit of a rerun this morning before the tennis went live. It's what you expect of those guys. They're both kind of well versed in how to proceed in a Grand Slam match, and it showed. I thought it was pretty good quality. Certainly physical.
I mean, that was the match that everyone pointed to in the first round. You often have matches like that, but they rarely live up to the full extent of the hype. That one certainly lived up to it, I think.
Q. Is your excitement level at the start of another new year as high as it's ever been?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I have a tough time remembering what my excitement level was in 2002. No, I'm certainly still motivated. I love what I do. I don't know that I take it for granted, you know. I certainly realize that I'm one of the lucky ones that gets to do this.
So, uhm, from that aspect I think it's more about treating it with respect, being prepared, and not short changing yourself. I feel like I do that.
Q. You still have areas you want to improve in the game. Are you surprised at all that Roger is 29, has won everything, and still seems pretty pumped up?
ANDY RODDICK: I think he enjoys himself. You know, like some champions in the past, I don't think it's a tortured existence to be good at this game for him. I think he honestly enjoys it.
You know, so I don't know if I get that surprised by it. I certainly get up and am motivated, too. I haven't won nearly as much as Roger, but the time has been about the same.
Q. Of your career, the number of European players on the tour has obviously risen quite dramatically. I think 95 of the guys in the draw here are European. From a player's perspective, does that change the nature of the tour or the game at all?
ANDY RODDICK: Are you talking about since I started?
Q. Yes, generally.
ANDY RODDICK: I can't talk about anything from before I started.
In what way? Like languages in the locker room?
Q. Socially, I guess.
ANDY RODDICK: I guess it would make sense if there are more Italians and French people, people would be speaking more Italian and French.
I would certainly like to see more Americans in the top hundred. I'm not sure how many are there now, but I know it's not what it was when I started.
You know, I always hear about the days when they were 40, 50 some odd Americans, Australians. But, again, that's never been the norm since I've been out here.
Q. Does it have a different sort of feel than when you started because of that change at all?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't really remember and/or have consciously thought about it too much. The tour's always just been what it's been. I mean, my friends have been the same since I started. So, you know, it's kind of like high school: you got all your little cliques. As long as your clique is intact, you don't pay attention to anything else.
Q. Do you think that's had an impact in America?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, anywhere. Yeah, I mean, I think any country where success is prominent, especially in America where they've been spoiled in the best possible way, any country would Neil be sitting here if the top British guy would be 90 in the world? You don't know. That's just the reality of the situation.
But he's kind of walked into a couple guys who have been top five, therefore it generates a lot of interest in that part of the world.
I don't think that's specific to any region in particular. I think that's pretty common.
Q. We're pretty excited about Bernard Tomic in Australia. Can you give us your assessment of his talent at the moment?
ANDY RODDICK: I'd be bordering on ignorance. I think we practiced one time for a half hour.
I mean, obviously he has a great feel for the ball. You know, now it's just a matter of getting I haven't seen much of him for the last year. I don't think I have the best maybe my opinion wouldn't be very good there.
Andy Into Round Three
Andy defeated Igor Kunitsyn in straight sets 7-6 (7), 6-2, 6-3 Wednesday to book a spot in the third round of the Australian Open. Next Andy will take on either Robin Haase or Juan Monaco Friday.
“Well, I get to play again so that’s all you want,” Andy commented after his victory. “You know, it could have gotten uncomfortable today if that first set would have gotten away, but I feel like I’m hitting the ball fine,” Andy admitted.
“I’m serving very well. Kind of controlling the match with that right now. That’s always a good thing for me. For me that just comes with playing matches. I’ve certainly been out on the court enough the early part of the season in Brisbane and now here so I feel comfortable out there right now.” An impressive 17 aces, three breaks and a 67 percent first serve helped Andy reach his comfort zone.
Check back to AndyRoddick.com for more updates from Down Under!
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Playing Small
by Pete Bodo
The other night, I was prepared to write about the match between Andy Roddick and Igor Kunitsyn, but Fernando Verdasco got in the way. But watching those two matches, more or less simultaneously, presented an interesting and valuable contrast. Roddick, by the way, is playing in the second match on Hisense Arena later today, where he'll be facing a potentially dangerous opponent in Netherlander Robin Haase.
The two have never met, but I'm thinking this will be a shoot 'em up, because once you get beyond the resume items (Roddick has a Grand Slam title, a Davis Cup championship, five Masters 1000 titles and three Wimbledon runner-up trophies; Haase has, well, two runner-up trophies—in doubles), the physical and stylistic similarities aren't just noteworthy, they're striking.
At 6'3", Haase is an inch taller (as well as five years younger) than the 28-year old Roddick; the men are built alike, although Haase is leaner, more sinewy, and less broad in the brisket. Roddick's serve is bigger, but Haase can sizzle it as well. The Dutchman is more than solid off the ground (his favorite surface is clay) judging from the little I've seen of him lately, his two-handed backhand is more lethal than Roddick's—he likes to drive it and penetrate. Haase also looks more comfortable attacking, and he's not afraid to use the drop shot.
Most significantly, for our purposes, Haase shares a signature vulnerability with Roddick. Both men have a natural preference to retreat from the baseline, trusting that their long legs and reach will allow them to successfully defend a lot of territory and occasionally turn their defense into offense. During some points, they'll run up to take a short ball on or inside the baseline, but just like someone running down to the shore to test the frigid water with a toe, they're both apt to turn around and run right back to the blanket spread, well back from the seafoam.
If you've been watching ESPN's coverage of the tennis, you know that Pat McEnroe and company have become a sort of one-note band when it comes to Roddick; they fear for his competitive well-being because of Roddick's dogged insistence on giving up so much of the court. Against Juan Monaco, Haase was able to post a relatively comfortable win while playing from far back in his court. That should trouble Roddick, going in, because he's giving away five years in age (despite the excellent shape he's in), and because Haase enjoys an edge in the touch department, and also in a comparison of their backhands. Of course, wise use can trump technical superiority, and it will be interesting to see if that becomes a factor.
The intriguing thing here is that these are big men who play small. Either of them, playing in an earlier era, might have entirely different games. A few years ago, while visiting Andy, he challenged me to identify the biggest change in pro tennis over the past two decades. I searched my brain and came up with an answer (I forget what it was now) at which he only scoffed before declaring that the most profound change was the universal embrace of slow courts, especially on outdoor hard and other surfaces that were originally designed to showcase the aggressive, serve-and-volley "power tennis" games favored by so many pioneers of the early Open era.
Watching Verdasco mount that furious fightback against Janko Tipsarevic, I felt that the No. 8 seed may be the outstanding proponent of what passes for "power tennis" under today's changed conditions (although Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych and a few of the other ball bangers are equally good or better representatives). Verdasco wants to hit big; he is big. And he certainly has the tools to whale on every ball, especially on the forehand side.
But it was also clear to me as we switched back and forth between his and the Roddick's match that Roddick, while well-designed for aggressive tennis (most noticeably with that serve, one around which you can build an entire game plan), made a decision to go another route. This is not stop-the-presses news, but I think it's still surprising, even though we've grown quite accustomed to Roddick's impersonations of Michael Chang.
Verdasco is who he is, and apparently he likes it that way. It's hard to imagine him departing far from his big game mentality. But Roddick's career path has been a genuine, transformational journey and it represents an admirable feat (put it up there with Rafael Nadal's transformation into an all-court hero, or Roger Federer's basic mental flexibility, even if the order of magnitude is different). One of the key crossroads in that journey lay at the semifinal stage of the Australian Open in 2007, when Roddick, under the tutelage of Jimmy Connors, that paragon of aggressive tennis, went right at Roger Federer. Roddick and was swiftly and savagely blown apart, suffering one of the most humiliating losses (if a loss to Federer can be described that way) of his career, a lightning-fast 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 blowout.
Roddick was never the same player after that; he actually became a better if not significantly more successful one. It was Roddick's rubicon, in some ways. And while he'd already been trying to shore up that weak backhand and otherwise improve his all-court game, the loss seems to have hastened and firmed up his commitment to playing small. And given that Roddick has found a way to hang in there as a Top 10 player for almost a decade, and still is a prime Wimbledon contender, who can question his choice?
I marvel at all this, when I look at the larger context. Roddick, after all, is a big guy, as well as a big personality. He's got a certain swagger, and he doesn't shy away from confrontation or controversial positions. He's a smart alec and a well-established star who's transcended the tennis milieu and become a staple of pop culture in the U.S. Some people believe his fame and fortune are larger than Roddick deserves, but mercifully none of them are in a position to apply their innate, presumed superiority to dictate who gets what. But what sometimes gets overlooked, even as more and more people have embraced Roddick because of his drive and work ethic, is a more fundamental point.
Roddick has a healthy ego, no doubt about it. But he checked it at the gate in order to wring the most out of his talent and career, and that could not have been easy. Nothing about Roddick says "small" except for his...game. Sure, that big serve enables much of his success, but he grubs and grinds and plucks at his shirt with the best of them, droplets of sweat dropping from the brim of his hat, alert and bright-eyed, always ready to get into some stupid little hassle with the guy sitting in the high chair. He's become fun to watch despite playing a game that's a monument to the idea of toning it down. His game is that of a guy who prowls a beach with a metal detector, patiently hoping for a find, happy to come upon a quarter, or a St. Christopher medal, without ever giving up on the idea of finding that $50,000 Rolex.
I don't know where they found this Haase kid. He looked a lot better than No. 62 in the world the other day, and better than his career-high ranking of 56. Haase ended his 2010 campaign in early November; in his last tournament (Basel), he outlasted John Isner in the third round before he fell in the quarters to Novak Djokovic. So Haase has had plenty of time to work on his fitness and game, and get some much needed rest (by my count, he played 28 tournaments in 2010). So far this year, he's 3-2 with losses to Isner in Auckland and to Stan Wawrinka in the quarters of Chennai.
Roddick gets a huge edge in the mental/emotional column, but this match is still apt to be a lot closer than it may appear. In any event, it will be agreeable watching two big men playing small.
Roddick counting on fitness to see him through
If he's learned anything over the course of a career, Andy Roddick firmly believes it's all about keeping plenty of fitness reserves in the tank.
The rule counts double at the Grand Slams, where the five-set match is an ever-present reality.
"I think you learn as you go. You learn what an important part nutrition plays, sleep plays, hydration plays," said the 28-year-old who is through to the Australian Open third round for the ninth time in ten years. "As much as hitting balls on off days, I think it's more about making sure your body's right."
Roddick, a three-time Wimbledon finalist, has not played a full five-set match since losing at the All England club last summer to Lu Yen-Hsun of Taiwan in the fourth round.
But competitors must always be prepared for such eventualities. "Not every match is going to go five hours, but every match has potential to go five hours," said Roddick, who has gone through so far in straight sets. "I think you need to prepare accordingly. Then if you have energy left in the tank, that's a good thing."
Andy Fights for Fourth Round
Andy fought from a set down to defeat Robin Haase 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2 in a little under two and a half hours Friday to clinch his spot in the fourth round. The boys battled in 90 degree heat, the hottest conditions of this year’s tournament to date.
Despite winning the opening set, Haase rolled his ankle early in the match and required medical treatment. Andy did not let the break disturb his concentration. The matched turned to Andy’s favor when he took advantage of some unforced errors in the second set tie-breaker.
“He gave me some help in the tiebreaker by serving two double-faults and I hit a good return on the line and then had two serves with the wind behind me,” Andy shared after the match. “I was given advice from my coach Larry Stefanki to play more aggressively and position myself better on court and it paid off.”
In the Sweet Sixteen, Andy will face either Stanislas Wawrinka or Gael Monfils Sunday.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
Q. So you got out of jail there, looks like. Tiebreak was pretty important, huh?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, it was very important. You know, I mean, it was pretty apparent I needed that to turn it. You know, he kind of blinked for a second there for the first time of the day, and I was able to kind of turn it the way I wanted it to go.
Q. Just talk about the first two sets then. He was dictating in the first, hung in there in the second.
ANDY RODDICK: He played great the first two sets. I mean, I played a bad second service game for him to get the first break. From then on, I didn't play that badly. I thought my error count was really low. You know, he lost the second set hitting 19 winners and having 8 errors. You know, that was telling.
Once I was able to get the momentum on my side, I think he was thinking about each shot a little bit more instead of kind of free wheeling. But that's what it takes some days. I was able to kind of keep in the match just by serving really well.
Q. Were you hoping he was going to come down to earth, or were you pretty sure he was going to at some point?
ANDY RODDICK: You hope. I mean, listen, I think more often than not, if a guy is 65 in the world and is coming out of his shoes, you're trying to figure out during the course of the match why he's 65 in the world.
The biggest thing was that breaker. He wins that, you know, I mean, I think that was the match.
Q. So if he wins that breaker...
ANDY RODDICK: I think he plays better in the third set. I think it's going to take another set like that where I kind of try to sneak it out in the third set to try to turn it.
Q. So you're not going to try to do something radically different in the third set?
ANDY RODDICK: Like I said, I don't feel like from the first time I got broken like it was that bad. That game was not good. But I was trying. I turned it. I started coming in a lot more. You know, am I going to change what was my option from there? I'm not going to give him balls to hit the way he was hitting balls that day.
You know, I stayed the course and figured it out.
Q. Can I get your reaction on Andre going into the Hall of Fame?
ANDY RODDICK: It's about as surprising as the sun coming up this morning (laughter).
Q. I mean what he meant for the game and...
ANDY RODDICK: He's definitely one of the biggest crossover stars we've had in this game. I think, you know, the fact that everyone he was probably the most relateable superstar we've had, you know, because of his pitfalls then successes. There's a bunch of different stories there.
But kind of the guy he ended up being at the end I think is an overall success story.
Q. Quick preview on Isner and Cilic, what John has to do there? Then talk about Monfils or Wawrinka for you.
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, it's going to come down to a couple points. I feel like John plays the same match over and over and over. I didn't see any of it, but to run away with the third and fourth sets yesterday against Stepanek, I thought that was going to be a really, really, really tough match. He certainly had a tough draw, and he's gotten through comfortably so far.
He's got a good shot. I mean, he likes playing here. Especially if the weather stays like this, his kick serve is going to be jumping around pretty good. But, you know, Cilic is 6'7" himself. It's a little tougher to get it up. It's going to be a matter of who converts opportunities.
As far as Wawrinka and Monfils, it's going to be a different match depending on who wins. Wawrinka is going to take the majority of the big shots, executing his aggressive play. Monfils will run for days and serve well. It's going to be interesting kind of to see what prevails.
Q. Do you have any preference between Monfils and Wawrinka?
ANDY RODDICK: They're both playing great. You know, Stan, he won Chennai, is playing well here. Either way it's going to be tough. It's just a different strategy going in depending on who wins that.
Q. A question about Jim Courier. I spoke with him this morning. He said that you were one of the players he most enjoys interviewing. What is it like to be interviewed by him? What do you think about him in this role?
ANDY RODDICK: Getting interviewed by Jim is a great experience for him (smiling).
Obviously it's a little easier because, you know, I know he tries to take his interviews, touch on the match, but also take it outside the box a little bit and maybe give the players a chance to showcase some personality out there, which is fun and which is what people want to see.
I think it's easy with us because he knows I'll be able to handle whatever avenue he goes down. I won't probably get awkward or uncomfortable. Or if I do, I'll at least acknowledge that I'm awkward or uncomfortable, which will be funny in its own right.
It's nice to see a familiar face out there afterwards.
Q. Is it strange being interviewed by the Davis Cup captain?
ANDY RODDICK: We haven't worked together yet, so it's no different than normal. More so than that, we've been friends for a long time.
Q. Is it something you can see yourself doing in 10 or whatever years' time?
ANDY RODDICK: Coming up with witty responses after a match? I think that's outside of my comfort zone.
Andy Top Seed In Memphis
World No. 8 Andy Roddick returns to action as the top seed next week at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis.
Memphis has been a happy hunting ground for Roddick over the past 11 years since his debut in 2001. He won the ATP World Tour 500 title in 2002 with victory over James Blake and again in 2009 by defeating Radek Stepanek. He also finished runner-up in 2003 and 2007.
The 32-man field is packed with talent and Roddick has been dealt a tough task against rising Lithuanian star Richard Berankis in the first round. The 20 year old is coming off a quarter-final showing in San Jose, where he lost out to Milos Raonic, another promising talent who will open his campaign against second seed Fernando Verdasco.
Should Roddick advance, he would face either Serbian Janko Tipsarevic or a qualifier, with the possibility of seventh seed Yen-Hsun Lu or former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in the quarter-finals. Sixth seed John Isner, the 2010 runner-up, and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro also feature in the top half of the draw with Roddick.
Check out the full draw here: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/402/mds.pdf
Looking ahead to the tournament, Roddick said, “It’s an intimate event, probably more so than a lot of the tournaments we play. I like that. I think it’s a rarity to have [the] small feel of playing at a tennis club. Memphis certainly provides that. I think we all enjoy that about it.”
Roddick has been in Memphis for a couple of days, practising and also attending a Memphis Grizzlies game with other players on Friday night. He will play his first-round match on Tuesday evening at 7pm CST (GMT-6hrs).
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news from Memphis.
Go, Andy!
andyroddick.com
Three Set Victory in Memphis, Rd. 1
Starting promptly at 7pm on Stadium Court, top seed Andy Roddick embarked on his Memphis campaign against Lithuania’s Richard Berakis, and ninety minutes later sent his opponent packing, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
With serve starting on the American’s Babolat, Roddick released a few infamous aces before earning triple break points. Letting those slip through his strings also let the first set get away from him as, shortly after, the 74th ranked player capitalized on the first double-break point, leading 4-3, a lead that was held to take the set, 6-4. The two-time champ, however, showed why he is just that by not only breaking to lead, 4-2, but then again to seal the set, 6-2. Set three and the match was determined when Roddick broke early at 2-all and held against one break point shortly after.
Twenty-three aces later, Roddick earned his spot in the second round where he will take on Serbian Janko Tipsarevic at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. Stay tuned to AR.com for both doubles and singles action.
andyroddick.com
Andy zagra dziś o swój 50-ty finał w karierze !
Roddick Must Top delPo To Reach 50th Final
Andy Roddick reaches the Memphis semi-finals for the sixth time.
Top seed Andy Roddick will face fellow former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in a blockbuster semi-final at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis Saturday.
Top seed Roddick fired 21 aces Friday night in a fighting 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Lleyton Hewitt to reach the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour 500 tennis tournament for the sixth time. Del Potro had an easier time in his quarter-final against American Michael Russell, winning 6-4, 6-2.
Although former World No. 1s Roddick and Hewitt were locked at 6-6 in career meetings going into Friday's quarter-final, the American had not lost to the Australian since 2005 and finished the night with his sixth consecutive win over Hewitt.
Roddick is now within one win of his 50th tour-level final and two wins from a 30th title.
Roddick needed seven match points to close out the match after Hewitt fended off four match points on his own serve in the ninth game of the third set and two more in the 10th game before Roddick finished with his 21st ace.
“He played better early," Roddick said. "I haven’t gotten off to great starts in two of my three matches, so I’m going to have to start playing better from the get-go. But a match can turn quickly and it did tonight. The end of the second set and the third set was probably the best I’ve played in the tournament so far.
“I’ve been trying to drive my forehand and it’s been kind of spotty at the beginning of matches but once I find my range it’s been landing a little bit. I have to find a way to get it going early in matches.”
Del Potro, who played just three tournaments last year due to a wrist injury, has now reached back-to-back semi-finals following last week’s run to the last four in San Jose, where he fell to top seed Fernando Verdasco. The 6’ 6” Argentine has not reached a title match since he fell to Nikolay Davydenko in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. His last title remains his Grand Slam breakthrough at the 2009 US Open.
Against Roddick, del Potro is unbeaten in three career meetings, all of which have come on hard courts. But their two most recent meetings during the 2009 US summer swing were tight, with del Potro winning 7-5 in the third in the Montreal semi-finals and 7-6 in the third in the Washington final in the same year.
“It’s going to be a very, very tough match for me,” del Potro said. “I will try to beat him. I've beaten him every time, but tomorrow will be a different match. I think it will be a very good match for the fans and hopefully I will win.
"I'm very glad to work through to the semis… I like this country a lot. I've won many tournaments. My best memories in my life are in this country. I want to thank the tournament director for giving me a wild card.”
# 30) Memphis 2011
R32 Richard Berankis 4-6 6-2 6-3
R16 Janko Tipsarevic 6-1 7-6
Q Lleyton Hewitt 4-6 6-3 6-4
S Juan Martin Del Potro 6-3 6-4
W Milos Raonic 7-6 6-7 7-5
CDN !
Roddick Stops Raonic To Clinch 30th Title
Andy Roddick came up with an
amazing diving forehand pass
to defeat Milos Raonic.
Top seed Andy Roddick ended Milos Raonic’s courageous run at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, prevailing 7-6(7), 6-7(11), 7-5 on Sunday to claim his 30th tour-level title and third in Memphis.
World No. 8 Roddick became the third active player on the ATP World Tour to win 30 or more career singles titles, joining Roger Federer (67) and Rafael Nadal (43). He also became the eighth American-born player to accomplish the feat.
“Winning tennis tournaments I don’t ever take for granted,” he said. “I’ve won 30 of them now, but I think every one of them is just as exciting. I get just as much joy today as I did my first one.”
Both players had their share of opportunities in the two tie-breaks. Roddick, who was playing in his 50th tour-level final, clinched the first set with his eighth ace of the match after saving two set points. In the second set, Raonic fought off elimination as he faced down three match points at 6-5, 8-7 and 10-9 and converted on his fourth set point of the tie-break.
Roddick had two chances to build a 5-1 lead in the third set, but Raonic rallied to hold and then capitalised on his fifth break point in the ensuing game to get back on serve. Raonic continued his fight, saving a fourth match point at 4-5, but was unable to come up with an answer on Roddick’s next opportunity.
On a dramatic match point, Raonic stretched Roddick wide to the ad court with a penetrating inside-out forehand and proceeded to the net. Roddick replied with a searching down-the-line backhand, which Raonic did well to cover and angled away a crisp forehand volley that looked good enough to get him back to deuce. But Roddick, desperate to avoid a third consecutive tie-break with the Canadian, hustled back to the deuce court and then lunged forward into a diving down-the-line forehand pass into the open court.
Roddick was left with with a grazed right forearm, but it was a small price to pay for the return. It was a dramatic end to a dramatic final, and most likely the best championship point the tournament has ever seen.
“That’s the best shot I’ve ever hit in my life, considering the circumstance,” said Roddick. “I played a pretty good point before that. Just making the return, you get disheartened when he doesn’t miss the next ball because it’s tough to get a serve back. He had a great volley there. I don’t really remember much else besides the fact that I went for the ball, I hit it, I didn’t really think much of it. Then I heard people cheering. I was like, ‘No, there’s no way that went in.’ I guess it did.”
Raonic said: “It’s tough playing when you’re in a final, you’re playing a Top 10 player and you’re not at your best, but all you can do is fight, keep fighting and hope things turn around. Some things were unfortunate in that match and I think it’s nice that he had to come up with something that amazing to finish off the match.”
Roddick, 28, improved to a 35-7 record at this ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard-court tournament. He also won the title in 2002 and ’09, and was runner-up in 2003 and ’07.
The top American has now won an ATP World Tour title for 11 straight years, best among active players along with Federer. Earlier this season, Roddick finished runner-up to Robin Soderling at the Brisbane International.
Raonic, who was making just his ninth tour-level main draw appearance, was contesting his second final in as many weeks. The 20-year-old Canadian had won the SAP Open title last Sunday with victory over World No. 9 Fernando Verdasco. He beat Verdasco again in the first round this week.
With a total of 32 aces in the final, Raonic set a new tournament record of 129 aces, surpassing Mark Philippoussis’ mark of 106 in 2001. He hit a career and tournament-high 38 aces in his win against Radek Stepanek on Thursday. He had reached the final by winning four straight three-set matches, including third set tie-break wins over Verdasco and Stepanek.
“He’s as exciting of a talent as we’ve seen in a while,” said Roddick. “The good thing for him is he’s going to be able to learn on the job because that serve is going to win him a lot of matches, even if he goes up and down with the rest of his play. It’s one of the bigger serves I’ve seen. I still think he can learn a lot about playing the game, but it won’t surprise me if he’s Top 10 sooner rather than later.”
Despite his loss, Raonic is projected to climb to No. 37 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings on Monday, making him the highest-ranked Canadian man in the history of the South African Airways ATP Rankings. Greg Rusedski was No. 41 in June 1994.
“It’s something really special and amazing,” said Raonic of his ranking. “It’s not by any means something to be too happy with because I want to keep improving that. It’s not where my goal lies. I want to keep improving, I want to keep progressing and developing and I think I can do a lot more.
“But I’m going to have a chance tomorrow when I wake up, even tonight, to have a chance to soak up everything that’s happened these past two weeks. A lot has happened, even the last six weeks, a lot has happened since the beginning of the year. I’m going to take the moments I need, take the time, think about it, learn from it, as well as use it to my advantage in the future.”
Raonic was looking to become the third player Sunday to clinch ATP World Tour titles in back-to-back weeks, after Soderling won in Marseille and Nicolas Almagro in Acapulco.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkpe2Dsk … r_embedded
Konferencja Roda w Delray Beach. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZurTTgYn … r_embedded
Andy Roddick - ATP World Tour Uncovered.
Captain Courier Speaks
Next week, Andy and his Davis Cup team mates will be in Chile preparing for their Davis Cup World Group first round tie on clay, 4th – 6th March. Andy, who has been the stalwart of the American Davis Cup team over the last decade is back in the fold after a one-year hiatus.
On Tuesday, Davis Cup Captain, Jim Courier, spoke to the US media about Andy’s return to the team and their upcoming tie. Joining Andy in the four-man team is John Isner, Bob and Mike Bryan.
“Andy is definitely excited about Davis Cup. I think Andy has always been passionate about it, and he was very straightforward with Patrick (McEnroe) last year that it just wasn’t going to work based on how he was feeling and what he was looking to achieve. But I think Davis Cup was something that he wasn’t ruling out long-term, it was just something that he looks at it on a year-by-year basis. And the second that I was named captain and called him, he said I’m in, period, and let’s go to battle. And that’s exactly what you want to hear as captain. He’s been the alpha of the team for the better part of the last decade, and to have his leadership from within will be exceptional and certainly something I’ll lean on.
Looking ahead to the tie, Courier commented on the anticipation of the Chilean crowd:
“That’s one of the best things about playing Davis Cup is getting a chance to go into an away tie situation and face all of the elements and face
that enthusiasm and energy and their passion and try and use that as energy for yourself and come away with a win. It’s going to be — there’s no doubt it’s going to be loud. There’s no doubt it’s going to be boisterous, and we expect it, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Courier also reminisced about his most memorable Davis Cup moment,
“Well, I’m going to be very selfish and say when I was given the chance to redeem myself after losing my first singles match in the ’92 finals with Switzerland, and I was put in position by my team to play fourth and clinch the tie for us, and I was able to come through with a win. That’s my favourite personal Davis Cup memory.
Q. You still hear those cowbells?
CAPTAIN COURIER: I do, I do, and believe it or not, Andy Roddick with the air horn.”
andyroddick.com
Raddcik napisał:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZurTTgYnnSI&feature=player_embedded
Andy Roddick - ATP World Tour Uncovered.
Świetny filmik :)
Why March is critical for Andy Roddick
Racing to his right, with all the fervor of a lifeguard sprinting to save a troubled swimmer, Andy Roddick went airborne.
The eighth-ranked Roddick did not see the shot land -- he was too busy crashing to the court in a forward roll that bloodied his right elbow and left his baseball cap askew -- but heard the roar of the crowd and scrambled to his feet, arms raised in triumph after winning his first title in 10 months.
"That's the best shot I've ever hit in my life, considering the circumstance," said Roddick, who joined Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as the third active man on the ATP Tour with 30 or more career championships.
Even when he's down, Roddick has a way of looking up. But was that dramatic dive a prelude to a spring rise or a stirring spike momentarily stalling a descent from the top 10?
March may well be the most critical month of Roddick's season.
The 28-year-old Roddick is defending his runner-up result from Indian Wells and will launch defense of his Key Biscayne championship in March. But first Roddick will return to Davis Cup action after a year's sabbatical as he leads the U.S. against host Chile in the March 4-6 first-round tie on the red clay of Santiago in Jim Courier's debut as American captain.
"Certainly, having Andy Roddick commit is a big bonus for the team," Courier said. "He's such a great leader and his record is terrific, obviously. He's done so well over the years and he's been so clutch
The mere fact that Roddick is returning to Davis Cup -- where he has played some of his most passionate tennis -- is an encouraging sign, in that committing to the sometimes-arduous travel schedule and varying surfaces of Davis Cup indicates a confidence in both his game and fitness.
Roddick is a more complete player than he was when he won the 2003 U.S. Open; the problem is, his top-10 competition is much better, more athletically imposing and deeper now than it was then.
Roddick hustles hard, plays with toughness and tenacity, has reached two finals in three tournament starts, and resides in the ATP top four in service games won (90 percent), aces (221) and first-serve points won (80 percent). Yet his tendency to retreat several feet behind the baseline promotes a predictable style of play that can empower opponents and diminish the impact of his seismic serve. That was the case in Melbourne, where Stanislas Wawrinka made Roddick seem small in scoring a straight-sets sweep in the Australian Open fourth round that followed a surprising second-round setback to Janko Tipsarevic at the U.S. Open and a disappointing fourth-round exit to Yen-Hsun Lu at Wimbledon.
When you see a player of Roddick's stature grinding it out from well behind the baseline, it evokes memories of Patrick Ewing settling for 16-foot fadeaway jumpers rather than going strong to the hoop.
Though Roddick and Federer are the only two active men with nine consecutive top-10 finishes, if the lethal-serving American is to retain his spot in the inner sanctum, he must produce at the year's first two Masters 1000 events, where he has a history of success (Roddick has reached the Indian Wells' final four in three of the past four years and is a two-time Key Biscayne champion).
Will Roddick, who sometimes plays predictable points at crunch time, be willing to open it up a bit, let the serve and forehand rip, and take more risk as he did in dispatching Nadal and Tomas Berdych (in succession) to win the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne last April? Or will he resort to serving big and playing prevent defense from the baseline?
If Roddick is to replicate his 2010 spring revival that showcased some of his best tennis in years, then he must be willing to take more risk. He's got to play bigger and bolder and be more willing to take the first strike in rallies. When he gets the semi-short ball off his serve, he must be willing to step forward in the court and crack his forehand with more ferocity rather then playing it safely with heavy topspin. On the return, Roddick would be wise to alter both his court positioning and the direction of his returns and occasionally drive the ball down the line.
Roddick showed his willingness to give up his body in Memphis and was rewarded with his 30th title. Retaining his place in the top 10 may depend on his willingness to alter his mindset.
Launching into a desperate dive, Roddick poked a forehand pass up the line and slammed into the court in completing a 7-6 (7), 6-7 (11), 7-5 conquest of Canadian crusher Milos Raonic to capture his 30th career title in Memphis on Sunday.
Roddick trenuje w Santiago. :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwZ_0NC-1pg
A z nim kto trenował, Ginepri?
Tam na filmiku to był Massu, pod nieobeność Feny Gonzaleza ostatnia nadzieja Chile ;)
Mi chodzi o to kto z Andym trenował ? :P
metjuAR napisał:
Mi chodzi o to kto z Andym trenował ? :P
Nie, to nie Ginepri. Sparingpartnerami Roda i Biga są jacyś amerykańscy juniorzy (zapomniałem nazwisk :P).
Thx za odpowiedź. :)
Davis Cup: Pre-Tie Thoughts
Andy and Team USA are in Chile this week preparing for their Davis Cup World Group first round tie this weekend. Andy is joined by John Isner, Bob and Mike Bryan and the team is captained by Jim Courier.
On Tuesday the team participated in a press call. Andy reassured everyone he is now fit to play after having to pull out of Delray Beach last week due to illness.
Andy also put into perspective their previous win over Chile, on grass in the USA back in 2006:
“The way I look at it is that you come into Davis Cup having to win three matches, so what happened in ’06 on a grass court in California has zero relevance for this weekend. I think that is how we view it. We are going to try to get three. As far as talking about hypethicals and predicting what’s going to happen is (the media’s) job. Our job is to be prepared to go win tennis matches”
Captain Jim Courier spoke about the conditions in Santiago and his team’s preparation:
“The beauty of Davis Cup is that the home team gets to choose what they like. That’s part of the challenge for us as a team to come in and face those obstacles that they try put in our way”
“We love to compete. We’re here early. We got here Sunday, so we are here to get use to the climate, we’re here to get use to all the conditions. “
“The court is quite quick actually for a clay court and the balls are pretty light, so overall I would say our team is pretty comfortable so far. Having said that, I have said it before and you will hear me say it again, ‘We expect a tough match. We know we are going to have one and we are not looking anywhere other then what is right in front of us.”
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the build up from Chile. The tie gets underway on Friday 4th March.
metjuAR napisał:
Mi chodzi o to kto z Andym trenował ? :P
Jordan Cox i Michael Shabaz.
Roddick Aims To Make History At Queen's Club
Andy Roddick will be looking to
create history at The Queen's
Club in June.
Andy Roddick will try to become the first tennis player in history to win five titles at The Queen’s Club after committing to compete against Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the AEGON Championships, 6-12 June.
Roddick lifted the giant winners’ trophy at The Queen’s Club in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007 and is one of only a handful of players to have won the title four times since the event was first played in 1890. John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Lleyton Hewitt, Roy Emerson, Josiah Ritchie and Anthony Wilding, are the others.
“Over the years I’ve had a lot of success at The Queen’s Club, it has real tradition and I love the whole month in London,” said Roddick. “Queen's has the best grass courts in the world, they play perfectly and so the AEGON Championships is a great way to prepare for Wimbledon."
The 28-year-old American is rediscovering his form after being affected by glandular fever during the grass-court season last year. The three-time Wimbledon finalist lost at the third round stage in the AEGON Championships in 2010 to Israeli Dudi Sela, and then endured a fourth round defeat to Yen-Hsun Lu at Wimbledon. Weeks later, he discovered he had been affected by the virus, also known as mononucleosis, which left him fatigued and unable to train at full capacity. He is now back to his best. He won the title in Memphis a couple of weeks ago to underline his form, and then went to Chile to lead the United States to victory in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group. Roddick won both of his singles rubbers, on clay, in Santiago.
Roddick has finished the year inside the World’s Top 10 every year since 2002. He won his sole Grand Slam title at the 2003 US Open, and his appearances in three Wimbledon finals have won him a huge following in the UK. His heart-breaking 16-14 final-set loss in the 2009 final was particularly memorable, and he still harbours hopes of going one better.
The AEGON Championships will be broadcast live, every day from 6th-12th June, on BBC Television and Eurosport.
Indian Wells Draw Released
The first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the season begins on Thursday in Indian Wells and, seeded No. 8, Andy Roddick has received a bye through the first round. The first opponent for the top American will be either wild card and countryman James Blake or a qualifier in the second round.
As part of a cluster of Americans in the fifth quarter of the draw, Roddick could meet No. 30 seed John Isner in the third round, with the likelihood of Austrian No. 10 seed Jurgen Melzer in the fourth round. Roddick is in the same quarter as Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic.
Roddick achieved his best result in Indian Wells last year when he reached the final before finishing runner-up to Ivan Ljubicic. It was one half of a terrific March for Roddick in 2010, as he went on to triumph at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Miami two weeks later.
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news from Indian Wells.
Go, Andy!
andyroddick.com
Success beyond the Slams for Roddick
If there was a secondary message that came from this weekend's winning U.S. Davis Cup junket in Santiago, Chile, that would be it.
The first message: The Americans are determined to win the Davis Cup title this year. They left Chile cautiously optimistic that home turf in July's quarterfinal round can help them bypass what's apt to be a powerhouse Spanish team led by none other than Rafael Nadal.
American tennis fans have been largely spoiled during the Open era, always expecting to have Grand Slam champions in their midst. There was Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Jim Courier.
As it has come to pass, that wealth of major titles has not continued in the Roddick era. But we should not be blaming Roddick, who has at least delivered one major -- the 2003 U.S. Open -- to the list.
He has also reached four other Grand Slam finals: Wimbledon 2004, '05, '09 and U.S. Open 2006. He lost all four to Roger Federer, arguably the best player to play the game. There is hardly anyone who wouldn't agree that if there wasn't a Federer, there'd be Wimbledon finery on Roddick's trophy shelf.
If Roddick was a party animal who squandered away his talent on too much fun and games, he'd deserve criticism. But he's a guy with an unwavering work ethic -- no insider would ever accuse him of giving less than 100 percent.
If Roddick pundits look beyond his lack of a bevy of Grand Slam titles, they'd actually find his résumé to be imposing.
It's rare to find a player who ended the year ranked in the top 10 for nine consecutive seasons, but Roddick has done so since 2002.
Nevertheless, when he fell out of the No. 10 ranking for four separate weeks between August and October of last year, he was chided. It marked the first time since the inception of the ATP rankings, which started in 1973, that an American was not residing in the top 10, and someone had to take responsibility.
"I thought it was pretty rude last year when he was given a hard time when he fell out of the top 10 for the first time, that we didn't have an American in there," new U.S. Davis Cup captain Jim Courier said. "He's the guy who saved that record for so long. No one talks about that. Andy's always had the respect of the guys in the locker room, which is the respect that counts, and he's been pretty shortchanged pretty much everywhere else."
Roddick is one of eight American men who have captured at least 30 career titles. He picked up his 30th at the Memphis tournament last month, an amazing feat considering he had the flu while playing the final.
Among active players, only Roddick and Federer have won at least one title for the past 11 years.
He led the U.S. to the Davis Cup title in 2007, which was the first Davis Cup victory for the United States since 1995. Roddick boasts a perfect 12-0 record when given the chance to clinch a Davis Cup tie for the United States.
"It is a gaudy record and just another thing that Andy probably doesn't get enough credit for in his career because of other things people talk about negatively," Courier said. "There's a lot of great things that Andy has achieved and that's [the 12-0 record] right there; that's pressure. He's the No. 1 guy and he gets it done, and it's always against the No. 1 guy from the other team."
After this past weekend, Roddick has a 33-11 record in Davis Cup play, which places him fifth among all Americans who have played Davis Cup. He played in 23 of 24 ties played between 2001 and 2009.
"There's been some good [marks] in my career," Roddick said in Santiago. "Being in the top 10 for around a decade is a good one. Coming up on 600 match wins is a good one. I think those are things that I'm proud of just because, contrary to popular opinion, I've played at a very high level for a very long time."
With the Davis Cup first round over, Roddick now heads off to play back-to-back ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Indian Wells starts later this week.
Indian Wells has not been as friendly to Roddick as he would like, especially considering the extra oomph the high altitude should give to his supersonic serve. Until last year, when he lost to Ivan Ljubicic in the final, his best results in the desert were two semifinal appearances.
He heads into Miami as the defending champion, having beaten Thomas Berdych in last year's final. Roddick owns a pair of Miami titles, having also won the tournament in 2004.
As Roddick heads off to compete in tennis' version of March Madness, here's a suggestion to consider: Instead of seeing the glass as half empty and maligning Roddick for what he hasn't done, why not look at the glass as half full and admire the 28-year-old for what he has achieved.
Roddick Reaches Third Round at BNP Paribas Open
After one hour and thirty minutes of incredible shot making, No. 1 American Andy Roddick defeated friend, compatriot, and former Davis Cup teammate James Blake in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.
With Roddick beginning play at about 1pm on Stadium One, the opening set boasted hard hitting and powerful aces, eight from Blake with three from the Texan, along with a handful of break points. However, only one of the set’s seven was converted- Roddick’s, which gave him the lead and allowed him to serve out the set, 6-3.
The Former World No. 4 wasn’t going without a fight, or a break, and immediately turned up the heat to take a 3-0 lead over the Memphis champ. The 8th seed wasn’t pleased and took one unanswerable shot after another to break back and even the score. Then at 5-5, Roddick broke for the third time in the match, giving him the match on his racquet. At 6-5 on match point, Roddick fired his 13th ace of the day to meet Blake at the net and part ways in Indian Wells.
Up next, our Nebraska-native faces another American, his current Davis Cup compatriot John Isner. Stay tuned to AR.com for Andy’s post-match interview and a third round preview.
andyroddick.com
Tall Test for Andy in Indian Wells
On Tuesday Andy will play Davis Cup team-mate, John Isner, in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.
Last week they were on the same side against Chile, but on Tuesday Andy and Isner will be on opposite sides of the court in Indian Wells. Andy has a 2-1 winning record against the younger American, who is currently ranked at 33, however Isner won their last meeting in a dramatic fifth set tie-break at the 2009 U.S. Open. Isner has a serve which even Roger Federer admitted to envying and looking ahead to the match Andy suggested the serve would be a key factor in the match:
“With John (Isner) it’s tough,” Andy said. “A lot of the match is out of your hands. It’s one where you can play badly and win sometimes or play good and lose sometimes. A lot of it just depends if you can get a look at his serve or not.”
Here are Isner’s stats from ATPWorldTour.com:
Age: 25 (26.04.1985)
Birthplace: Greensboro,North Carolina USA
Residence: Tampa, Florida, USA
Height: 6’9″ (206 cm)
Weight: 245 lbs (111 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2007
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the latest from Indian Wells.
Milestone Win in the Desert
Andy earned his 150th Master 1000 win Tuesday night at the BNP Paribas Open and booked a spot in the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over compatriot John Isner. Andy’s historic achievement gives him a 150-60 record in the Masters, which is the fifth best since 1990.
Andy clinched all three break point opportunities in the match that lasted 67 minutes and only gave up seven points on his serve. The first break was at 5-5 in the opening set, setting up Andy to serve out the set 7-5. The Number One American immediately broke in the second set, setting a dominating pace. Isner impressed fans by firing 15 aces as the Davis Cup teammates put on quite a show under the lights. In the end, Andy’s consistent control of the match earned him a spot in the Fourth round.
Next, Andy will face Richard Gasquet. Check back to AndyRoddick.com for more updates from the BNP Paribas Open.
:o :o
Andy w tym roku nie zamierza odpoczywać w trakcie sezonu na piachu. :o
Kalendarz na Clay 2011:
- Madryt
- Rzym
- Nicea :o
http://www.andyroddick.com/schedule/
Moim zdaniem z Rzymu i Madrytu pewnie się wycofa i ewentualnie potrenuje sobie w Nicei. :P
Evans napisał:
Moim zdaniem z Rzymu i Madrytu pewnie się wycofa i ewentualnie potrenuje sobie w Nicei. :P
Nie ma opcji. Będzie chciał powalczyć o jak najwyższe rozstawienie na Wimblu, każde 90,180 pkt zdobyte będą bardzo cenne. ;)
Raddcik napisał:
:o :o
Andy w tym roku nie zamierza odpoczywać w trakcie sezonu na piachu. :o
Kalendarz na Clay 2011:
- Madryt
- Rzym
- Nicea :o
http://www.andyroddick.com/schedule/
Wszystko pod trawę. W tym wieku chyba trudniej o formę, gdy się wchodzi do gry po dłuższej przerwie, na tzw. świeżości. Wystarczy porównać intensywność gry Roddicka na cegle w latach 2009-2010 i zestawić ze sobą wyniki uzyskiwane w tych latach na Wimbledonie. Andy wie, że w żadnym z tych turniejów nie ugra niczego wielkiego, ale przynajmniej rozegra pewną ilość gier, co będzie stanowić przetarcie przed drugą, priorytetową dla niego część sezonu.
Z Madrytu na pewno się nie wycofa, to chybszy clay niż na innych imprezach ziemnych. ;) Zawody z udziałem Andy'ego w Nicei to jest zaskoczenie, ale Rzym można się było spodziewać, bo co 2gi rok zawsze tam gra.
Sony Ericsson Open Draw
Andy arrived in Miami Monday afternoon just as the draw for the Sony Ericsson Open was announced. The top American is seeded 8th in the tournament and has a bye in the opening round. He will face either Michael Berrer or Pablo Cuevas in the second round of the highly anticipated Masters 1000! Rafael Nadal took the top seed followed by Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Andy shares his quarter with 3rd seed Federer, 10th seed Jurgen Melzer and 13th seed Mikhail Youzhny among other contenders. Check back to AndyRoddick.com for more updates from Miami!
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Raddcik napisał:
:o :o
Andy w tym roku nie zamierza odpoczywać w trakcie sezonu na piachu. :o
Kalendarz na Clay 2011:
- Madryt
- Rzym
- Nicea :o
http://www.andyroddick.com/schedule/Wszystko pod trawę. W tym wieku chyba trudniej o formę, gdy się wchodzi do gry po dłuższej przerwie, na tzw. świeżości. Wystarczy porównać intensywność gry Roddicka na cegle w latach 2009-2010 i zestawić ze sobą wyniki uzyskiwane w tych latach na Wimbledonie. Andy wie, że w żadnym z tych turniejów nie ugra niczego wielkiego, ale przynajmniej rozegra pewną ilość gier, co będzie stanowić przetarcie przed drugą, priorytetową dla niego część sezonu.
Masz dużo racji. Pierwsza część sezonu 2010 w wykonaniu Roda była bardzo dobra. Na początek zwycięstwo w Brisbane. W 1/4 AO trochę przefujarzył z Cilicem, ale można mu było wybaczyć, bo przecież wracał po poważnej kontuzji kolana. Później finał San Jose i rewelacyjne w jego wykonaniu amerykańskie Mastersy, gdzie był o krok od dubletu. Później wakacje w trakcie sezonu na cegle, baty od Seli w Queens, następnie kompromitacja z Lu-petitkami i im dalej tym gorzej :]
Być może w tych trzech turniejach nie zagra, ale opcja 1 Masters + Nicea murowana.
Action Starts in Miami
After receiving a bye in the opening round of the Sony Ericsson Open, defending Champion Andy Roddick returns to action Saturday against Pablo Cuevas. Andy has never played the 25 year old Argentinian before.
“I was here when they opened this place I think it was ’93, you know, as a kid. You know, won my first-ever pro match here, and there’s a lot of good memories for me here,” Andy reminisced in his pre-tournament press conference. The Number One American is hopeful for a good run in Miami. “I feel good. You know, I have a pretty good record so far this year. You know, I didn’t play well my last match at Indian Wells, but had I think a 10-match winning streak before that. So I feel fine physically, and I’m optimistic.”
Check out some stats on Pablo courtesy of the ATP World Tour:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play … uevas.aspx
CADDY RODDICK CARRIES HIS WEIGHT
Andy Roddick made a surprise appearance Wednesday at the Augusta National, donning the familiar uniform of white jumpsuit and green cap as he served as a golf caddy for former Masters winner Zach Johnson at the Par 3 Contest.
Johnson hinted at his special guest on his Twitter account in the morning, writing: “Getting ready for a great Wednesday at Augusta. First 9 with @stewartcink and J Byrd...then par 3 with both guys! Surprise caddy today!!!”
The pair arrangement was set up by their agents after Roddick expressed interest in being a caddy, and they met for the first time Wednesday at the club.
“He’s a Midwest boy, I’m a Midwest boy, and this is the first time he’s here. And he wanted to caddy,” Johnson told USA Today. “I don’t have much family here this year, which is a rare thing, so I said what the heck. I’ve always wanted to meet him. I’m a sports freak in general and I’m a tennis freak, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to meet him.”
The 2007 Masters champion even gave his caddy a chance to tee off for him at the ninth hole. A nervous Roddick told the crowd before he took his shot, “My hands are shaking. I can barely put the tee in the ground.”
The 28-year-old American was making his first visit to the Augusta National, and compared the famed site to one he knows well, the All-England Club in Wimbledon. “I see a lot of similarities between the two,” Roddick told AFP. “Places rarely live up to the hype. This place surpasses it.”
First day on the clay 2 and a half weeks of boot camp and then Madrid bound
Clay Court Season Preview
May is the month of clay for Roddick, where he’ll be spending the first week at the Mutua Madrid Open, the next week at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, and the week after at the Open de Nice Cote d’Azur before hitting Roland Garros, the second Slam of the year.
Commencing on May 1st, the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Mutua Madrid Open in Spain will boast the best in tennis, and Roddick will get his first taste of the European clay in 2011. Our American’s best performance of his seven appearances here was in 2009 when he reached the quarterfinals, though fell to eventual champion Roger Federer, 5-7, 7-6(5), 1-6.
Immediately from Madrid, Roddick will land in Rome for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia for the eighth time, returning after two year. In the 2008 semifinals, the Texan was forced to retire in the semifinals due to a back injury at 0-3 in the first set.
“I felt a little something last night in my back when I was getting treatment. Then, one wrong movement and I had a complete spasm,” Roddick noted post-match. “I can’t really move my left arm right now. You can’t really play around that.” In both 2002 and 2008, the semifinals were the highest rounds Roddick reached before his Rome bids came to an end.
With a few days in between tournaments, the final stop before the French Open from Roland Garros in Nice, France at the Open de Nice Cote d’Arur, beginning on May 16th. With the ATP World Tour returning here for the first time in 15 years, Nice will boast a 28-man singles draw that includes Spain’s David Ferrer, Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych, Argentine David Nalbandian, and many more top players. Needless to say, this will be Roddick’s as well as all others’ inaugural year here.
The final stop of the month will be the second Grand Slam of the year, Roland Garros, on May 22nd. Stay tuned to AR.com for detailed tournament and match previews once these April showers go away and May brings flowers for the winner’s circles of these clay court competitions.
Roddick Commits To 2011 Legg Mason Tennis Classic
Three-time champion Andy Roddick returns to Washington DC for the 10th time.
Three-time Champion Andy Roddick, seeking to add a fourth title to his already impressive record here in the Nation’s Capital, will play in the 2011 Legg Mason Tennis Classic presented by GEICO – for the 10th time in his professional career. The ATP World Tour 500 event and part of the Olympus US Open Series will be held from July 30- August 7 at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park (16th & Kennedy Streets, NW).
Ticket packages and Single Session tickets for the Legg Mason Tennis Classic go on public sale Monday, May 2.
“The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is very excited to announce that Andy Roddick, one of the most sought-after players by tournaments around the world, has committed to play,” said Jeff Newman, Tournament Director and Senior Vice President with Lagardère Unlimited, adding, “Andy typically plays only 13 ATP World Tour Tournaments per year out of the 62 held in 32 countries worldwide. Similar to Andre Agassi during his career, we feel fortunate that Andy continues to choose to play in Washington each year.”
This year, Roddick earned his 30th tour-level title in his 50th final in Memphis, becoming only the third active player to accomplish that feat (with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal). He began the year by reaching the finals at Brisbane, where he demonstrated the kind of off court action that has earned him respect as well: reading about heavy flooding in the region at the time of the tournament, Roddick pledged $100 per ace to benefit the Queensland Flood Relief efforts, and then hit 54 aces during the tournament.
Roddick first won the Legg Mason Tennis Classic as a teenager, in 2001, and then again in 2005 and 2007, and holds an impressive 30-6 match record at 16th & Kennedy, reaching four finals here (l. to Juan Martin Del Potro in the 2009 final). He has also finished in the Top 10 of the ATP World Tour rankings for nine straight years, joining Federer as the only active player to accomplish this feat and 8th all-time. He and Federer are also the only active players to win at least one title for 11 straight years – a streak he continued in 2011 with his title in Memphis. Beyond the tour, Roddick also returned to Davis Cup action for the United States this year, leading the USA in a first-round clash with Chile, on clay, in Santiago. He won both of his matches (against Nicolas Massu and Paul Capdeville), and has now won 33 singles
rubbers, 12 of them to clinch ties for the United States. The US team will face Spain in the quarterfinals, hosted by the USTA in Roddick’s hometown of Austin, TX this July.
Ticket packages for all ten sessions start at $200 ($20 per session) for Weeklong Reserved to $550 for Premium Box Seats. Single session seats range from $10 to $75, depending on session and seat location. In addition to the tournament’s Weeklong Box Seat and Reserved Seat packages, other flexible ticket packages include Box Seat Mini-Breaks (box seat tickets for three sessions), Weekender Packages (reserved seat for the first weekend and all Quarterfinal, Semifinal and Final matches Friday through Sunday) and the Day Tripper (both sessions of Saturday semifinals at one low price). Group discounts, Special Event Packages and Courtside Suites are also available.
The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is an ATP World Tour 500 event, a designation that recognizes the event as one of the top 20 tournaments on the ATP World Tour (nine ATP World Tour 1,000’s and eleven 500’s).
An integral part of the sports and entertainment fabric of Washington, DC for 42 years, the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, a Lagardère Unlimited production, is owned by and benefits the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation, which seeks to improve the life prospects for DC area youth. 2011 also marks the 18th straight year that Legg Mason, the Baltimore-based global asset management firm, has served as title sponsor. They have hosted the tournament since 1994, when hall of famer Stefan Edberg claimed the coveted title, won in 2010 by former world #3 David Nalbandian of Argentina, who returned from injury here and demonstrated tremendous skill battling his way to his first title on US soil. The firm is only the sixth title sponsor in tournament history and North America’s longest-term sponsor on the ATP World Tour.
Ticket packages for the Legg Mason Tennis Classic go on public sale Monday, May 2 and can be purchased through the tournament hotline at 202-721-9500. Single session tickets are also available beginning May 2 through all TicketMaster outlets. For more information on the Legg Mason Tennis Classic presented by GEICO, please visit the tournament Website at leggmasontennisclassic.com, follow the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on Facebook at facebook.com/leggmasontennisclassic, or call 202.721.9500.
Mutua Madrid Open Draw and Preview
Ten years of the best tennis doesn’t happen every day, the Mutua Madrid’s slogan states as they ring in their 10th edition this year, proudly hosting both WTA and ATP action from April 29th- May 8th. Roddick landed the No. 12 seed and is set to face a qualifier in the first round.
Leading the draw is the world No. 1 and defending champion Rafael Nadal, followed by Novak Djokovic (2), and the 2009 champion Roger Federer is the No. 3 seed, with Murray and Soderling completing the Top 5 at this ATP World Tour 1000 event. Seeded 12th behind compatriot Mardy Fish (11), Roddick is set to face a qualifier in Round 1, followed by a potential clash with Davis Cup teammate Sam Querrey in the second round. Roddick is in Nadal’s quarter of the draw, with his first potential seeded opponent being Austria’s Jurgen Melzer(8), whom he could battle in Round 3. The quarterfinals is where our American Firepower would meet the King of Clay. In 2009, reached the quarters before falling to the eventual champion, Federer, 5-7, 7-5(5), 1-6.
Manzanares Park’s 10th Anniversary of hosting the Mutua Madrid Open, formerly the Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid, is creating extra energy and excitement among the players and fans. La Caja Magica, the Magic Box, is unlike any other facility in the world, boasting three retractable roof stadiums, protecting it’s clay courts and ticket holders’ chances of entertainment. The Manolo Santana center court can hold 12,500 people, the Aranxta Sanchez Vicario stadium 2 holds 3,500, and Stadium 3 adds 2,500 more to it’s facility’s capacity, in addition to the outer courts. Last year, the Mutua Madrid Open brought in nearly 185,000 fans, hoping to top that stat this year. With 7.2 Euros and 1000 ATP points to be won, the world’s top men’s and women’s competitors embark on their clay court journey to Roland Garros here.
Is A-Rod a spent force?
Whilst I do think it's too early to say that Andy Roddick is in terminal decline, a lot has changed for the former world number one in the last few years. He's not been the same since he decided to change his forehand and become a more percentage-based tennis player. From that moment on, four years ago, he's never really carried the same threat. I was amazed he did so well at Wimbledon a couple of years ago, and I was bitterly disappointed for him that he didn't win that blockbuster final against Roger Federer. It was an astonishing performance from someone who, even when he started out playing, had limited skill - something he readily admits himself. But then, for some inexplicable reason, he just decided not to hit the forehand like he used to.
He'll point to some of the successes he's had over recent years, and say that's why he did it. I just think that if he hadn't changed the way he plays, he might have sacrificed consistency but there would certainly have been more highs along the way - possibly even another Slam. When he won the US Open and was number one in the world in 2003, it was exactly the right time - after Lleyton Hewitt's reign at the top but before Federer then Rafael Nadal hit their peaks. He was a massive server with a huge forehand, and it was so inspiring to watch him play. Once he made this decision to be more tactical and more passive on the forehand, however, he became less inspiring, and less easy to watch. He became merely another player with a good serve (well, a great serve!)
Perhaps it was his coach Larry Stefanki - who has always been a percentage man - who encouraged Roddick to head in that direction. He told him to lose weight and work on his quickness, when what he really needed to be told was to pop that forehand like he used to. That's why - apart from that glorious Wimbledon run in 2009 - he's not really been a threat at Grand Slams; he's simply been a pale imitation of the old A-Rod. When he changed the forehand he lost his main weapon, and he doesn't have enough left in the locker to make up for it. Players aren't afraid of taking on Roddick any more - they might get beaten, but they know they're not going to get killed. He won in Memphis this year - beating Juan Martin Del Potro and Milos Raonic along the way - so he is still capable of getting some results. Furthermore, he's still a terrific competitor, and an honest analyst of himself.
His first-round defeat against Italian qualifier Flavio Cipolla yesterday won't actually hurt him too much - clay's not his favourite surface after all. But his second-round loss to Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas in Miami - that really hurt. I think that Roddick can still compete with the elite of men's tennis, but it all depends on his motivation. He's earned over $19 million on the court (and you can more than double that figure off it!) so conservatively he's worth a good $50m. The question, then, is can he keep taking the knocks? Ultimately, if Roddick wants to reverse his fortunes, he's got to revert to his old style. As a tennis fan, of course I want to see Andy Roddick rolling back the years to what he was when he came on the scene as a 19-year-old, but that's not going to happen.
In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if he calls it quits and retires this year. I don't think he's capable of winning another Grand Slam, but he has to believe he is or else he really is finished. It would be sad to see Roddick carry on getting picked off by lesser players, but I'm sure that won't happen - he wouldn't let it!
Andy/Mardy Top The Bryans
Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish continued their impressive progress in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia doubles competition on Friday as they ousted top seeds and defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan 4-6, 7-6(1), 10-4 in the quarter-finals.
For a place in the final of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament, the Americans will face Argentine-Finnish pairing Carlos Berlocq and Jarkko Nieminen. That match will take place on Saturday in Rome, beginning not before 5pm local (11am ET) on Pietrangeli.
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news.
Andy Forced Out Of Rome; Onto Nice
Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish were denied the chance to compete in the doubles final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, when Andy was forced to withdraw with a right shoulder injury. John Isner and Sam Querrey will pick up the title through default.
Andy now moves onto Nice for his last week of preparation for the French Open. Andy is the No. 4 seed at the Open de Nice Cote D’Azur, an ATP World Tour 250 clay-court event. Andy has received a bye into the second round where he will face either Victor Hansecu or a qualifier. Headlining the event in Nice is No. 1 seed David Ferrer, and second seed Thomas Berdych.
See the Men’s Singles Draw here:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/6120/mds.pdf
Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you all the latest from Nice.
Roddick leaves Roma in a rage
When the announcement came Sunday that Americans Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish had defaulted their doubles final in Rome to countrymen John Isner and Sam Querrey, the red flags went up.
The official reason was an issue with Roddick’s shoulder.
Not that an injury wasn’t possible, but the logistics of the situation were that Roddick had to dash to Nice, where he’s the No. 4 seed in the small ATP Tour event there this week.
And although Roddick wasn’t scheduled Monday (indeed may not be until Wednesday), the other three Americans did not have the luxury of time.
All needed to be in Dusseldorf, Germany toot sweet to play in the World Team Cup, with Isner scheduled at 1 p.m. and Querrey about 3 p.m. vs. Robin Soderling on Monday.
But according to the esteemed Neil Harman of Times of London, (the Times has a paywall, but it’s well worth it during this season for Harman’s pieces alone) Roddick is furious with the ATP for not finding the shoulder injury enough to be flexible on the prize money rules for withdrawals.
The rule (Section 3.08 A, subsection 3) reads as follows:
A) and C) don’t apply. B) would kick in if Roddick pulls out of the Nice tournament with the shoulder injury.
The default will cost Roddick and Fish €31,400 (plus the doubles ranking points, which probably don’t matter all that much to them).
Harman writes that Roddick had an ultrasound on his right shoulder, which showed a buildup of fluid that requires a few days’ rest.
The American, the way Harman tells it, kind of lost his mind as only Righteous Andy can do. He even wanted to call a press conference to make a huge stink about it.
Instead, he had Harman be there as a witness while he reamed out the ATP folks, who stood firm on a rule the Tour reportedly adopted because doubles specialists were blowing off matches to go and play lucrative league matches .
As Harman points out, the default allowed the other three Americans to catch only late flight from Rome to Düsseldorf Sunday night (8:20 p.m. departure – it’s hard to see how they would have made it even if they had played their doubles at the same time as the Nadal-Djokovic match, on the second court).
Harman also said the organizers in Germany were threatening sanctions if the Americans didn’t make it in time for their matches Monday.
So, really, there certainly seems to be some grey area there.
It’s not unlike Roddick to go off on something if he feels it’s wrong on principle – i.e. they didn’t just take him on faith that the shoulder wouldn’t allow him to play, and he’s torqued about that well, just because of his innate sense of righteous indignation (we here at Open Court would never cast aspersions on anyone with said quality).
You’d think it isn’t the money. He’s made plenty, and his friend Mardy isn’t hurting either. But even rich guys don’t like to give any of it away if they don’t have to.
But rules are rules. And in this case they’re pretty clear. To give his argument much weight, Roddick would have to point out other situations where players in similar fixes got a mulligan.
As well, if you took an ultrasound of Roddick’s shoulder at any time during the season (or most other big servers), it’s likely you’d find some fluid buildup there. He didn’t exactly play a ton of tennis during the clay-court season.
Heck, if you took an ultrasound of your esteemed Open Court servant’s shoulder, they’d probably find fluid (and a whole bunch of other things, too).
To be followed …
Roddick a doubt for French Open after Nice withdrawal
(Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick has pulled out of this week's Nice Open with a shoulder injury and may not be fully fit for the French Open starting on Sunday.
"It is not ready to play yet, I hurt it last week in Rome," the American world number 11 said in a video on the Nice Open official website (www.opennicecotedazur.com) on Tuesday.
"It's running a big risk playing on an unhealthy shoulder with Roland Garros round the corner and Wimbledon shortly afterwards.
"I'm pulling out of Nice for now, obviously the situation is not perfect for Roland Garros."
The 28-year-old's best result at the French Open is the fourth round in 2009 given he is not a clay court specialist but he has reached three Wimbledon finals. He won the 2003 U.S. Open.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/ … H820110517
Nie jest dobrze. :/
Konferencja Roda w Nicei --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vExx9MI … r_embedded
Andy Out of Nice to Recover
Andy has withdrawn from the Nice Open to recover from an injury sustained in Rome. “I have been getting treatment almost every hour of the day since I’ve been in Nice and I can’t rightfully say I can go to bed tonight knowing I’m going to be up and ready to play tomorrow,” Andy explained.
Andy and Team Roddick will continue treatment before making any decisions about his participation in Roland Garros. “Obviously the situation is not perfect for Roland Garros. I still have a couple of days for something to get better,” Andy shared his intentions.
“You have to be 100 percent to play in a Grand Slam. It’s running a big risk playing on an unhealthy shoulder with Roland Garros round the corner and Wimbledon shortly afterwards.
Never one to hold back, Andy admitted his disappointment. “It’s been a tough year — one thing after another for over 12 months now,” he added. “Its a little frustrating. I was looking forward to playing here in Nice.”
Injured Roddick ponders his options for French Open
Andy Roddick fears that risking his injured shoulder at the fast-approaching French Open could compromise his grass-court season, which begins in just over a fortnight for the American.
The one-time world No. 1 was forced to pull the plug on his participation in this week's Nice ATP tune-up event for Roland Garros, which begins on Sunday.
Roddick first felt was a called a touch of tendinitis in Rome last week, where his problems forced him to withdraw prior to the doubles final alongside good friend Mardy Fish.
His readiness - and willingness - to play Paris is now an open question. His best showing at the clay-court major was the fourth-round spot in 2009.
"I was already injured last week in Rome and I had to withdraw from the men's doubles final," Roddick told local media. "I don't know yet if I will be able to play at Roland Garros. You cannot play a Grand Slam if you're not 100 percent," said the No. 11.
"I want to avoid spending months out injured, it's not been a great year so far," said the 28-year-old plagued by illness and injury since 2010.
"Andy Roddick has 'tendonitis and fatigue' in his shoulder. He got an MRI in New York and is in Austin now. He's very dissapointed."
Ciekawe, ile w takim razie pauzowania? Nie powinien tego mieć, wszak cały kwiecień się obijał. :|
metjuAR napisał:
Ciekawe, ile w takim razie pauzowania?
No ja myślę, że jeszcze tydzień obijania się i ruszamy do Londynu...
Mam taką nadzieję. :]
metjuAR napisał:
Nie powinien tego mieć, wszak cały kwiecień się obijał. :|
Wiesz, jak Andy pojawił się w ATP to wróżono mu max 2-3 lata gry, po czym miało nastąpić wystrzelenie barku w kosmos. Oczywiście przyczyną miał być potężny serwis Amerykanina. Rod z czasem jednak nauczył się oszczędzać ramię, co w połączeniu z solidnym "materiałem" pozwoliło mu grać tak długo na takim poziomie i bez większych kontuzji. Ostatnio się trochę sypie, ale mimo to i tak jest dużo lepiej niż mu prorokowano w 2001 roku.
Marne pocieszenie. :D:D Oglądałem powtórkę meczu z Johanssonem (QF USO 04), tam to dopiero strzelanina była. :D
Roddick In London; Ready For Queen’s
After recovering from the shoulder injury that forced him out of Roland Garros, Andy Roddick has arrived in London to prepare for the grass-court season, which begins next week with the AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club.
The American has already had one hit on the mowed lawns at The Queen’s Club and will have more opportunity for practice over the coming days before the ATP World Tour 250 tournament begins on Monday.
Roddick is a four-time former champion at the AEGON Championships, lifting the trophy in three consecutive years from 2003-2005 and triumphing again two years later in 2007. He is joined in the high quality line up by World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, No. 2 Novak Djokovic, No. 4 and home favourite Andy Murray, and defending champion Sam Querrey.
Following his campaign at the AEGON Championships, Roddick will have a week’s more practice before competing for the 11th time at The Championships, Wimbledon, where he is a three-time former finalist.
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news on Roddick’s exploits during the grass-court swing.
Go, Andy!
Andy Roddick fit and ready for fifth title tilt
Andy Roddick was a happy man after two days of practice sessions on his favourite surface ahead of the AEGON Championships and his attempt to win a record fifth title at The Queen’s Club.
“I’m excited to be back in London,” he confirmed, in an interview on the BBC Radio 5 Live Show: ‘Freddie Flintoff’s World of Sport’.
“I’m on grass at Queen's, which is my favourite surface, I feel fine, and my shoulder has come up fine over the last couple of days in practice. I’ve been battling it for a while and my reasoning (for not playing the French) was that I needed to get ready for the grass. Wimbledon is probably one of my best chances of winning another Slam. I just didn’t want my shoulder injury to carry on into the summer, so I took care of it and it feels pretty good so far.”
Roddick is one of a handful of players to have won four titles at The Queen’s Club, along with John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Lleyton Hewitt. The American has also reached three Wimbledon finals, and still believes he has it in him to go one step further.
“I was a couple of points away a couple of times (from winning Wimbledon),” he said.
“I feel like there are only a handful of players that really feel comfortable on grass and I’m one of those. I come here and I feel comfortable. I don’t feel like I’m on the road. I like the culture, the people, and the London people have always been really good to me.”
In between his practice sessions, Roddick will be keeping an eye on the conclusion to the French Open.
Regardless of what happens this weekend, he believes that Andy Murray is going to break through and win a Grand Slam title eventually.
“You don’t get to the semi-finals of the French Open by accident,” said Roddick. “You’ve got to be playing well and you’ve got to have a bit of luck to win a Slam. Murray has certainly been putting himself in a position to do it. In my opinion it’s just a matter of time before he wins one of them.”
Queen’s Draw is Out
Four-time Champion, Andy Roddick, is back at the Queen’s Club this week to compete in the Aegon Championships. Seeded third, Andy has been awarded a bye into the second round where he will face either Dmitry Tursunov or Feliciano Lopez.
The grass-courts of Queen’s are widely regarded as excellent preparation for Wimbledon and a place where Andy has enjoyed much success in the past. Andy is in the bottom half of the draw and is in the same section as his doubles partner, David Nalbandian, and Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. Andy is in the same half of the draw as Marin Cilic and British hope, Andy Murray. Rafael Nadal is the top seed in London.
See the full men’s singles draw here:
http://www.lta.org.uk/3G/Tournaments/AE … n-draw.pdf
Andy is partnering former Wimbledon finalist, David Nalbandian, in the doubles. In a crowd-pleasing first round match they will take on Radek Stepanek and 2009 US Open Champion, Juan Martin Del Potro.
See the full doubles draw here:
http://www.lta.org.uk/3G/Tournaments/AE … oubles.pdf
AndyRoddick.com will be on-site this week and we’ll bring you all the latest from London Queen’s Club.
andyroddick.com
Andy po raz kolejny w top ten :D:D ! Szkoda, że traci aż tyle punktów do Monfilsa - na Wimbledonie chyba nie będzie jednak rozstawiony w pierwszej ósemce.
Ja się zastanawiam, czy będzie rozstawiony w dwunastce, bo w tym sezonie wyniki ma marne i trzeba zrekompensować to wynikami na trawie (rozstawienie silnie je uwzględnia). Przydałoby się Queensik wygrać :)
robpal napisał:
Ja się zastanawiam, czy będzie rozstawiony w dwunastce, bo w tym sezonie wyniki ma marne i trzeba zrekompensować to wynikami na trawie (rozstawienie silnie je uwzględnia). Przydałoby się Queensik wygrać :)
Nie przesadzajmy :P. Przewaga Roda nad 13 Gasquetem wynosi 275 punktów, a za wygranie turnieju Queens, Hale lub 's-Hertogenbosch, Eastburne można zdobyć 250 punktów. Ponadto Roddick w ubiegłym roku był w 4 rundzie Wimbledonu, więc uzyska większy bonus niż Gasquet, Wawrinka, lub reszta graczy za nim. Żeby Rod nie był rozstawiony w 12 to musiałby przegrać z Lopezem w Queens, a Gasquet i Wawrinka musieliby koniecznie wygrać po jednym turnieju na trawie.
Wydaje mi się że do Wimbledonu Rod na pewno zostanie w top ten.
Generalnie w przypadku Andy'ego nie jest chyba ważne z jakim numerem będzie rozstawiony. Wiadome jest, że jeśli zagra bardzo dobry turniej to na trawie jest w stanie wygrać z każdym tenisistą na świecie, ale czy będzie w formie?
Ranger napisał:
Andy po raz kolejny w top ten :D:D ! Szkoda, że traci aż tyle punktów do Monfilsa - na Wimbledonie chyba nie będzie jednak rozstawiony w pierwszej ósemce.
Powinien spokojnie być w '8' z rozstawienia. ;)
Samego bonusu dostanie coś koło 1000pkt. ;)
Roddick Ready To Roll At Queen’s
Fully fit again, World No. 10 Andy Roddick is ready to launch his assault on the AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club, where he is a four-time former champion.
Roddick was forced to withdraw from Roland Garros due to a fluid build up and tendonitis in his right shoulder, but arrived in London on Wednesday and after a few practice sessions on the grass, is fit and raring to go.
“[My shoulder] is good,” said Roddick on Sunday. “I had the choice of letting it play itself out in five or six days, or playing through it and risking a two-to-three month injury with Wimbledon and a home Davis Cup tie around the corner. So it wasn’t an easy decision [to miss Roland Garros], but I think it was the right one.”
Andy’s long-time physical trainer, Doug Spreen, explained further, “He feels great. It was not a serious issue. Obviously with him, whenever there’s something in the arm or the shoulder we’re always going to be really proactive in being conservative with it because his serve is such a big deal to him. I know from past history, working with so many tennis players, I’ve seen guys try and fight through inflammation and shoulder pain too much, and I’ve seen where it’s led to really, really big problems.
“I think we made the right call in shutting it down and letting it calm down before it got any worse. One of the things I’m a big believer in is, ‘don’t let minor things become major things’. We always pay close attention to his shoulder and over the next two-to-three weeks we’ll pay even closer attention just to make sure it is completely calmed down.”
The 28-year-old Roddick will open his campaign at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament against big serving lefty Feliciano Lopez on Tuesday. The No. 41-ranked Lopez won his first-round match on Monday against Dmitry Tursunov and has a good record at Queen’s, defeating Rafael Nadal last year to reach the semi-finals.
Despite a lack of match play over the past two months, Roddick goes into the clash with the confidence of a 6-0 career lead over Lopez, and admitted it always helps returning to a venue where you have been successful in the past.
“You’re always a little nervous in your first match on grass, on a different surface,” he said. “But I’m healthy, which is a good start and I’m happy with the way practice has been going. Now it’s just a matter of getting that to translate to match conditions, which is a little easier said than done.”
Roddick will take to the court second on Centre tomorrow, following a 12:30pm start (7:30am ET). Later in the day, he will team up with David Nalbandian to face Juan Martin del Potro and Radek Stepanek in the doubles. That match is scheduled for fifth on Court 1 after a 12:30pm start.
Check out the full order of play here: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/311/op.pdf
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news from London!
andyroddick.com
Raddcik napisał:
Ranger napisał:
Andy po raz kolejny w top ten :D:D ! Szkoda, że traci aż tyle punktów do Monfilsa - na Wimbledonie chyba nie będzie jednak rozstawiony w pierwszej ósemce.
Powinien spokojnie być w '8' z rozstawienia. ;)
Samego bonusu dostanie coś koło 1000pkt. ;)
Dokładnie, bonusy są przyznawane za 2 ostatnie Wimbledony. W 2009 roku był w finale, więc powinno styknąć na 8. Poza tym z zawodników z miejsc 5-8 przy dobrej formie Roddick jest w stanie spokojnie ich ograć na trawie. Cieszy że się dzisiaj odblokował, miejmy nadzieję że forma będzie zwyżkować i nie skompromituje go znowu jakiś Lu (z całym szacunkiem dla Yen Hsuna) ;)
Roddick Survives Lopez Ace Barrage
Andy Roddick celebrates his
first win since March.
Four-time former champion and third seed Andy Roddick won the match of the day, Tuesday at the AEGON Championships, defeating Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-4 in two hours and 13 minutes.
Both players, accustomed to playing on the slick courts, hit a barrage of aces. Lopez struck 35 aces in his bid to snap a six-match losing streak against Roddick, who hit 15 aces and won 85 per cent of service points.
“I didn't enjoy it when I saw I might play him in the second round, I’ll tell you that much,” admitted Roddick, who improved to a 30-5 record at the Queen's Club. “I knew it was going to be tough. He a very good grass-court player.
“[But] I feel great on grass. This is one of my favourite tournaments in the world and I'm just so happy to be back here in London.”
The win snapped a four-match losing streak for the American that began in March with his fourth-round exit at the BNP Paribas Open (l. to Gasquet).
Defending champion Sam Querrey, the No. 13 seed, and seventh-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco joined Roddick as second round winners Tuesday.
Querrey managed to capitalise on just two of the 16 break point chances he created, but prevailed against German veteran Rainer Schuettler 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-3. Verdasco had an easier time in his match against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, cruising past the 2007 Queen's Club finalist 6-2, 6-3.
Andy jest niezwykle zdeterminowany, a dzisiejsze zwycięstwo może tylko dodać mu solidny zastrzyk energii. Mam takie przeczucie że na Wimbledonie może narobić spore zamieszanie :D .
Dzięki za wyjaśnienie zasady sposobu ustalenia rozstawień na Wimbledonie :D .
Roddick looks strong at Queen's Club
Andy Roddick — looking like fellow top-tenner and high school buddy Mardy Fish in low-cut socks — flung himself about the grass courts of London's Queen's Club on Tuesday to beat Spanish left-hander Feliciano Lopez 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 in the second round of the Aegon Championships.
Judging by the cry of joy that accompanied his victory, Roddick wanted this one. He has been out of action since Rome, more than three weeks ago, and has been training hard in London for the past six days. Despite crashing on to his face as he turned to pursue a Lopez lob, the 28-year-old looked sprightly and mobile throughout an entertaining encounter.
"He threw away the ankle supports he had always worn after his feet felt numb at Key Biscayne," said Larry Stefanki, Roddick's longtime coach. "It's freed him up. He moves better."
It is probably no coincidence Roddick has gone to short socks because he is thrilled that Fish has joined him in the top 10 in the ATP rankings released Monday. The friends, who played Nos. 1-2 on the Boca High team, are now ranked ninth and 10th in the world. "So where's the article about two Americans in the top 10?" Roddick called over to me as he helped himself to a plate full of strawberries in the players' lounge.
Here it is, Andy.
It is no secret that Roddick, a solid top-tenner for almost 10 years until his ranking dropped fractionally earlier in the year, has been annoyed about having to answer questions about the state of American tennis at virtually every news conference. "I've been doing my job," he said, finally, a few weeks ago. "I can't be responsible for what anyone else is doing."
He did his job against Lopez, too, fighting back from the loss of the second set with some great scrambling and spectacular winners. A brisk backhand service return pass took him to two match points, at 15-40, and although Lopez, who volleyed brilliantly throughout, saved those two, the Spaniard could not control his forehand on the third.
"He's a very good grass-court player, serves big," said Roddick. "A couple of points here and there, I thought I started returning real well there in the third set."
Answering the inevitable question about those socks, Roddick replied, "Just trying to flash the calf a little bit. Everyone comments on how my wife (model Brooklyn Decker) has nice legs, so I decided to display them also. I can't come second in the family in everything."
Earlier, Juan Martin del Potro, who, unlike Roddick, did not receive a first-round bye, came through his first match in impressive style against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-4, 6-2. Unlike some clay courters, del Potro has come here with the right attitude.
"For South American players, it's difficult to play on grass," he admitted. "But I want to learn on this surface. I want to improve my game, my serve, my volley. I know the best players in history win on grass court, so I will try to win matches."
Two other Americans won. Sam Querrey, the defending champion here, came through a tough one against veteran German Rainer Schuettler 6-7, 7-5, 6-3, while Michael Russell was too fast and too sharp for Germany's Denis Gremelmayer, winning 6-3, 7-5.
Roddick vs. Anderson in Third Round
Playing the first match on Centre Court tomorrow, American Andy Roddick will take on South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in Round 2 of the AEGON Championships in London.
Having met only once before with the four-time Queen’s Club champion claiming the victory, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, in Brisbane this year, these two are competitors are vaguely familiar with each other’s games. Seeded 15th, Anderson defeated Ivo Karlovic, 6-4, 7-6(2), to reach this round for the second time here in his career.
Having turned pro back in 2007, it wasn’t until this past April that the Johannesburg-resident reached his career high ranking of 33, and now stands at 39th on the South African Airways World Tour ladder. Claiming his maiden title at his hometown SA Open and defeating former champion Nikolay Davydenko at the Sony Ericcson Open this year were not only his best annual performances but also his career chart-toppers. With a goal of breaking the Top 20 by the end of the year, our third seed will need to resurrect his title-capturing tactics to halt his opponent’s game plan while in London.
Here are more stats on the towering 25-year-old:
Age:25 (18.05.1986)
Birthplace:Johannesburg, South Africa
Residence:Johannesburg, South Africa
Height:6’8″ (203 cm)
Weight:197 lbs (89 kg)
Plays:Right-handed
Turned Pro:2007
Coach:Michael Anderson & LouisVosloo
Tuned in at 12:30pm (7:30am EST) to catch Andy’s match, and stay tuned for on-site insight and match reports from Queen’s Club, London.
Roddick Sets Verdasco Quarter-final
Andy Roddick has a 31-5 event record at The
Queen's Club.
After being extended to three sets by Feliciano Lopez in his opening match at the AEGON Championships, Andy Roddick enjoyed smoother progress on Thursday as he dismissed South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP World Tour 250 grass-court tennis tournament.
The third-seeded American broke serve once in each set and withstood 13 aces from Anderson to prevail in 78 minutes. He improved to a 31-5 mark at The Queen’s Club, having won the title in 2003-2005 and 2007.
"It was kind of as you would expect," reflected Roddick. "He had some chances to break. He didn't get them. I had a couple chances and I converted. That was pretty much the story of the match. Obviously we all come over here with Wimbledon as the end goal, but I treat this tournament as separate. It is preparation, but at the same time it's still a very important tournament for me."
The 28-year-old Roddick is playing just his third ATP World Tour tournament since March; he was troubled by a right shoulder injury and forced to miss Roland Garros. His win over Lopez on Tuesday was his first victory since reaching the third round at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Roddick goes on to face No. 7 seed Fernando Verdasco, who finished strongly to defeat former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian 7-5, 6-1 in 73 minutes. The Spaniard saved the four break points he faced and took three of his seven opportunities to reach the quarter-finals at Queen’s for the first time in four visits.
Roddick Rolls Anderson, Enters Quarterfinals
In a straight set victory today, third seed Andy Roddick rolled the fifteenth seed, Kevin Anderson, 6-4, 6-4, to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. With Spain’s fiery Fernando Verdasco as our American’s next opponent, these two as well as the fans are preparing for the 12:30pm Centre Court battle at the AEGON Championships. Stay tuned to AR.com for a complete preview and more live coverage from Queen’s Club, London.
Connors nie wróży Roddickowi świetlanej przyszłości
Andy Roddick stracił miano pierwszej rakiety kraju na rzecz Mardy'ego Fisha, a przez blisko dwa miesiące sklasyfikowany był poza Top 10 światowego rankingu. Amerykanin w sierpniu skończy 29. rok życia i coraz trudniej będzie mu powtórzyć wielkoszlemowy triumf sprzed ośmiu lat. - Musiałby zaprezentować coś niesamowitego, ale nie jestem przekonany czy w obecnej sytuacji go na to stać - wyznał Jimmy Connors.
Connors, ośmiokrotny zwycięzca zawodów wielkoszlemowych, wyrobił sobie zdanie na temat Roddicka, będąc w latach 2006-2008 jego głównym trenerem. Obecnie, rezydujący w Teksasie zawodnik współpracuje z Larrym Stefankim, który przed dwoma laty poprowadził Amerykanina do finału rozgrywanego na kortach trawiastych Wimbledonu.
Stefanki zwrócił również uwagę potężnie serwującego Roddicka na pozostałe elementy tenisowego rzemiosła, co miało zredukować ryzyko odniesienia przez niego kontuzji. Wpływ tych zmian na grę swojego byłego podopiecznego dostrzegł również Connors: - Silne podanie w dalszym ciągu jest jego główną bronią, lecz nie daje mu już takiej pewności, bowiem pozostali gracze coraz częściej są w stanie utrzymać piłkę w korcie. Rośnie również liczba zawodników dysponujących znacznie mocniejszym serwisem od niego - zauważył czołowy tenisista lat 70. i 80. minionego stulecia.
Connors podkreślił także istotę zmian, jakie zaszły w życiu Roddicka, który w 2009 roku poślubił Brooklyn Decker: - Tenis to ciężka praca wykonywana przez 365 dni w roku. Jeśli z różnych przyczyn nie jesteś w stanie poświęcić temu stosownej ilości własnego czasu, to zaczynasz zdawać sobie sprawę z tego, że nie jest on najważniejszy w twoim życiu - zakończył legendarny tenisista.
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Jimmy Connors napisał:
Rośnie również liczba zawodników dysponujących znacznie mocniejszym serwisem od niego - zauważył czołowy tenisista lat 70. i 80. minionego stulecia.
Kto, Jimmy, kto ? :)
Jeden Raonić - Tylko on i Rod mogą walnąć 150mph+ panie Jimmy. :]
O Karloviciu nie mówię, bo tamto 'coś' to był oczywisty 'Fake'. :]
Roddick Looks Good At Hurlingham Exhibition
With Wimbledon just five days away, Andy Roddick got in some final match practice as he defeated 2010 runner-up Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-4 in an exhibition match at the Fortis Tennis Classic, held at the Hurlingham club in south-west London.
Roddick hit with coach, Larry Stefanki, right up until players were called to court, and impressed in his straight-sets win over the No. 7-ranked Berdych. He served well in the opening stages and broke Berdych’s serve in the second game with a backhand cross-court passing shot.
Exhibitions usually invite relaxed atmospheres among crowds and players alike, and with his high level of play in the first set, Roddick was happy to share his buoyant mood with the crowd. In the fifth game a police siren rang out from a road close by, prompting Roddick to point at Berdych and shout, “It was him!”
The American barely dropped a point on serve as he polished off the first set, but came up against more resistance from Berdych in the second set. The Czech player, who defeated Roger Federer in the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, went up an early break 3-0. However, he allowed Roddick back in as two double faults proved costly in the fifth game and the American broke back.
With the weather closing in and ominous black clouds gathering, Roddick stepped up to break Berdych in the ninth game as his forehand found its mark, and he closed out the victory on serve. He went away pleased with an explosive first serve and strong play off the forehand wing.
The exhibition gave Roddick the chance to stay match sharp in a week largely spent in the gym and practising once or twice a day at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. He discovered on Wednesday that he will be seeded No. 8 at The Championships, where he has finished runner-up three times before.
Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news from London.
Jimmy miał pewnie na myśli tzw. średnią prędkość pierwszego serwisu co musisz przyznać u Roda strasznie zmalało i są zawodnicy lepsi w tym od niego. Owszem Andy'ego stać na pojedynczą bombę serwisową, ale trzeba przyznać, że robi to bardzo rzadko.
Pomimo mojej sympatii do Roddicka w tym co mówi Connors jest bardzo dużo racji i wątpię czy stać go jeszcze na jakiś wielki wynik. Jednak chciałbym się mylić.
Evans napisał:
Jimmy miał pewnie na myśli tzw. średnią prędkość pierwszego serwisu co musisz przyznać u Roda strasznie zmalało i są zawodnicy lepsi w tym od niego. Owszem Andy'ego stać na pojedynczą bombę serwisową, ale trzeba przyznać, że robi to bardzo rzadko.
Pomimo mojej sympatii do Roddicka w tym co mówi Connors jest bardzo dużo racji i wątpię czy stać go jeszcze na jakiś wielki wynik. Jednak chciałbym się mylić.
Faktycznie u Roda bez dwóch zdań spadła średnia prędkość pierwszego podania. Jednak i tak nie ma zbyt wielu zawodników w ścisłej czołówce, którzy w tym elemencie gry wyprzedzają Andyego. W statystykach tych może dorównywać mu Soederling, Tsonga, Verdasco, Raonic i czasem Murray, Berdych, Monfils, więc tak źle jeszcze nie jest. Ja nadal wierzę w Roddicka. Na pewno u schyłku kariery będzie chciał raz jeszcze o sobie przypomnieć i prędzej, czy później to mu się uda.
Andy Roddick: Survival Of The Fittest
DEUCE Extra
Roddick has finished in the year-end Top 10 for nine consecutive years, and calls his
consistency the proudest achievement of his career.
In the never-ending battle for survival on the ATP World Tour, all players must evolve to remain in the hunt. Three-time Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick is the first to admit that he's no exception to the rule.
Look for a more humble and appreciative Andy Roddick at the All England Lawn Tennis Club this year than the one who made his debut with a third-round exit to eventual champion Goran Ivanisevic in 2001. Playing in the Roger Federer - Rafael Nadal era can chasten any man. With age and experience comes perspective, and Roddick has it in abundance. “There’s regrets in matches, but I sleep well knowing I’ve been professional and I’ve done what I’ve needed to,” the 28 year old tells DEUCE during the AEGON Championships.
“I’ve always been maybe a little divisive. People have loved me at times in my career and people have disliked me strongly at times in my career,” he laughs. “But I think the one thing that I have been is pretty honest and pretty forthright. I think people feel like they get a decent read on me, whether it’s good or bad. I think they feel like it’s at least genuine.”
Roddick has come a long way from the 19 year old who used to announce himself on the phone to his friend and personal driver while in London, Stephen Little, as, “Your arrogant American friend speaking”. Roddick’s Davis Cup teammate James Blake recounts, “When he was first on tour I think he was pretty brash and I’d say he was quite confident in his abilities. Amazingly, what’s really funny is that he’s had so many tremendous and amazing accomplishments and it’s almost like he’s humbled.”
“I haven’t been too
proud to adapt... You
can’t really have two
shots and get away
with it”
Ask any tennis fan what the staples of the American’s game are and two answers come back: His fearsome serve, hailed as one of the greatest in the history of the game by former pro and close friend Justin Gimelstob and his fiercely competitive nature that is equally as apparent in a friendly game of cards as in a Grand Slam final.
Roddick is renowned as one of the grittiest competitors in the game and has left no stone unturned in his quest to squeeze every last drop out of his tennis abilities. “He competes at everything so well and he’s such a hard worker,” notes his trainer of eight years, Doug Spreen, formerly of the ATP. “I learned very quickly, after a year or two of working with Andy, that I didn’t have to worry if he was working hard when he was home.”
In a bid to keep pace with his rivals, Roddick made the decision to re-evaluate his game at the end of 2008. He hired Larry Stefanki, former coach to John McEnroe and Marcelo Rios, and dropped 15lbs in weight – a decision Stefanki credits entirely to Roddick’s own motivation. "I think he looked around and thought, ‘If I’m going to keep up with the top guys, I’m going to make some adjustments as well’,” explains Stefanki. “You carry more weight, it’s going to be tougher to lump around. You have to work on your feet, be fleet-footed.”
“I openly wondered if
the best was behind
me”
Roddick adds, “I think the best thing that I’ve done, as far as tennis goes, is I haven’t been too proud to adapt. Things have changed a lot in the past 10 years; it’s become a lot more about movement. You can’t really have two shots and get away with it anymore. You have to be able to move, you have to be able to work on being more complete, which I’ve tried. I’ve had to do that two or three times now. I think that’s why, 10 years later, I’m still here.”
The effects were instantaneous for Roddick in 2009. He reached the Australian Open semi-finals and six months later was contesting one of the greatest Wimbledon finals. Amazingly, just a year earlier, the American had seriously pondered what more he was capable of achieving in tennis, having suffered a shock second-round loss at 2008 Wimbledon to Janko Tipsarevic. It was down to not just the intervention of Stefanki, but also the advice of his would-be wife Brooklyn Decker, that convinced Roddick there was more to come.
“I wasn’t enjoying it, I was forcing it a little bit, and Larry was necessary because it was a little bit of a fresh perspective on things. One of Larry’s best quotes is, ‘It’s probably never as good as it seems, and it’s probably never as bad as it seems with tennis,’” recounts Roddick.
“I openly wondered if the best was behind me. I wasn’t enjoying it and Brooklyn was really supportive. She said, ‘As bad as tennis seems right now, it’s what you’ve always loved. It’s what you do; it’s what you’ve done since you were a kid.’ So while I was thinking out loud whatever came into my head, she was actually using a little bit of common sense and reason, which when you’re an athlete, and more affected by the moment than you should be, it’s tough to be objective about it.”
Both Decker and Stefanki were present in Roddick’s corner at Wimbledon a year later when his perseverance was rewarded by reaching a third Wimbledon final. For four hours and 16 minutes against Federer, Roddick led his supporters on a rollercoaster of emotions. He had a two-set lead on his racquet in the second set tie-break, but a haunting backhand volley error reprieved Federer. In a phenomenal serving display, Roddick did not lose serve until the final game of the match as Federer clinched victory 16-14 in the 95-minute fifth set.
“I think a point here or there in that second set ultimately cost him at the end,” laments Stefanki. “But I’m very proud of the way he dug himself back out of that negative situation. As well as Andy served, I’ve been around since Roger was 17 and I’ve seen a lot of matches he’s played; that was the best I’ve seen him serve. That’s the agony of sports: There’s going to be a loser and a winner.”
“People expect me
to throw a pity party
because I’ve played [in
the Federer-Nadal
era]. I won’t complain
about it”
Just how do you pick yourself up after a defeat like that? With Roddick, his competitive spirit just would not be quelled. Gimelstob recalls that, in typical Andy Roddick fashion, pizzas were ordered, the match was dissected, and then it was put to bed. “It hurt him a lot, and it was emotional and a brutal situation. He has regrets, but he was also proud of the way he competed and played on a huge stage.”
Roddick remembers, “A couple of days afterwards I thought every minute What if? What if? What if? What if? Two points away four or five times.’ And I couldn’t get that out of my head. But then a month later it’s once a day, and then a year later you don’t really think of it every day. Like in anything, time helps. The problem wasn’t how I felt about the way I was playing; the only thing wrong with that match was the result.
“Honestly, I think it bothered me more after I lost to [Yen-Hsun] Lu last year,” Roddick adds, recalling his fourth-round defeat in a 9-7 fifth set after nearly four hours of play. “It was almost a year hangover.”
The defeat to Federer was the fourth time that Roddick had been foiled by the Swiss in a major final, having also lost in the 2004-2005 Wimbledon finals and in the 2006 US Open title match. Following the Agassi-Sampras glory years, Roddick has been the torchbearer for American tennis in an era dominated by two Europeans, Nadal and Federer. It begs the question: Just what could Roddick have achieved had he not been challenged by two of the greatest players ever to lift a racquet? “You take out Roger and Rafa and I think Andy would have won five or six Grand Slams,” declares Bob Bryan. “He just came around in a tough era.”
When asked, though, Roddick is quick to embrace it as a privilege, not a hindrance. “It’s almost like a healthy jealousy. You want their success. I think the game’s a lot stronger playing-wise than when I started. If I refer to any part of my life as a hindrance, I feel like that might be a little obnoxious. I feel like people expect me to throw a pity party because I’ve played with great players. What tennis has afforded me, and the opportunities I’ve had because of it, I won’t complain about it.”
Roddick is clearly one of the best of his generation. He won the US Open in 2003 and that year finished at World No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings. Four years later he fulfilled a life-long dream of winning the Davis Cup. There has been success for Roddick away from the court, too; in April 2009, he tied the knot with model and actress Brooklyn Decker and has seen his Foundation raise more than $10 million for children in need since its inception in 2001.
Roddick notes the proudest achievement of his tennis career as his consistency. The Texan has finished in the year-end Top 10 for nine consecutive years (2002-2010), placing him ninth on the All-Time Top 10 Finishes list. Among active players, only Roger Federer can boast such a record.
“I don’t think I’m
naturally as talented
as a lot of guys, butt
I’m willing to work”
“He’s a Hall of Fame player that’s basically done everything he could do in tennis,” states Gimelstob. “His consistency will be his legacy. Top 10 player for 10 years and the trademark of his game is his work ethic, his intensity, his will. Obviously it helps by having that huge weapon of the serve.”
Says Roddick, “I’ve seen a lot of guys have two- and three-year windows where they’ve played really well and then I look back five years later and I’m like ‘Oh, I wonder what that guy’s doing now.’ To have been there as long as I have I think is a testament; I’m proud that I’ve worked. I don’t think I’m naturally as talented as a lot of guys, but I’m willing to work and I take almost a strange pride in that.”
And so it’s that time of year again. Roddick has moved in to his Wimbledon residence and the game face is on after a solid week’s preparation at The Queen’s Club. Little, explains, “When we move on to Wimbledon there is a little bit more tenseness in him, no doubt. He’s desperate to win it and he’s been so, so close. He feels the change in the pressure when we move up there.”
Critics may say Roddick’s time has passed; that his best chance was in 2009. But the mood in Team Roddick is one of unrelenting optimism. Roddick believes he has a couple of deep Grand Slam runs left in him and has come through the other side of niggling injuries and a mild bout of mononucleosis to arrive in as good a shape as he’s ever been in. The past three weeks have been spent honing his greatest weapon, the serve, and Stefanki believes it could be the key for Roddick to finally lay his hands on The Gentlemen's Singles Trophy at The Championships.
“I don’t care about all those guys (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray),” declares Stefanki. “I know they’re great tennis players, but on this surface I don’t put any of those guys over Andy if he’s in a right spot like 2009. He knows if he’s right, and he allows himself to free up and his serve is repeating, no one wants to play this guy in best of five. As you get older you have to be ready to perform on the biggest stages, because he’s a great competitor; he’s one of the best competitors out here by a mile.”
In 2001, Goran Ivanisevic defied all expectations as he clinched the Wimbledon singles title after three runner-up finishes. For Roddick, it is a healthy reminder that “there’s no script in sport. You get a rush of blood, you get a little luck, and you play some good tennis and anything happens.”
Roddick may not get his fairytale ending at Wimbledon. Whatever happens, though, nothing can dampen his competitive edge or love for the game. “He just views [setbacks] as a challenge and seems to find a new source of motivation and just works even harder,” states Gimelstob.
“What else am I going to do?” says Roddick. “I know a handful of people who really enjoy what they do and I really enjoy what I do. So there’s really no reason not to keep driving on.”
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- … ddick.aspx
Bardzo fajny artykuł. :dobrze:
Andy Roddick's search for affirmation
Don't discount Andy Roddick's Wimbledon chances quite yet.
There's always some little sideshow when Andy Roddick rolls into London, and England's famous tabloids are happy to keep it rolling along. Two years ago it was Rick Astley. Last year, it was World Cup officiating. This year -- brace yourself -- it might be the Wurzels, an excruciating British band that music references categorize as "scrumpy and western" and Roddick called "part shock-horror, part awesome."
Or maybe it'll be the socks -- the calf-less numbers Roddick was sporting at Queen's last week. They have either been hiding behind his ankle braces all this time or reveal a rankings-fashion pecking order we had previously been unaware of. Remember, short-socks aficionado Mardy Fish recently moved ahead of Roddick to become the top-ranked American for the first time. Then there's Roddick's tongue-in-cheek explanation: "Everyone comments on how my wife has nice legs, so I just decided to display them also. I can't come in second in the family in everything." Either way, it's slightly unsettling.
All of this serves to distract nicely from the fact that Roddick's Wimbledon prospects are also distinctly unsettled. All the ambiguity was summed up by Roddick's words after a 59-minute demolition by Andy Murray in the semifinals at Queen's. "It certainly does nothing to my confidence level going into Wimbledon," Roddick said.
Roddick meant that Murray had simply played too well for the result to mean much. True, to an extent. Just two days later, Murray was the one standing by helplessly as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga dominated the first set of their final. But the Scot managed to turn things around and win the title. But Roddick, who watched Murray out-slice, out-maneuver and, yes, out-serve him certainly won't have done anything for the American's confidence going into Wimbledon. Roddick converted more than 80 percent of his first serves during the match, a stellar number, yet by the end of the match he was quipping "keep it social," as Murray sent a particularly vicious return rifling past him.
By his own estimation, he remains one of the "two hands' worth" of players who are truly comfortable on grass. But two years removed from his thrilling Wimbledon final against Federer, is Roddick still a potential title threat?
The big four of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Murray loom so large these days that few are expected to have a look in, though Roddick is at or near the top of the list of outsiders. The once-crushing power looks more medium-sized every year, but Roddick's serve still does a lot of work for him on the grass, and his slice backhand can be an effective weapon on this surface. With grass-court matches dependent on taking advantage of brief windows of opportunity, this competitive skills and experience are also an advantage against much of the field. But a lot has to go right to reach the semifinals, and even more to make it any further. And a tricky draw could easily spell an early exit.
But more generally, what Roddick will be searching for during Wimbledon and the upcoming summer is affirmation -- that he can still beat the best, still threaten at the biggest events. The 2009 Wimbledon final served as that two years ago, and last year it was the title in Miami title, beating Nadal along the way. Roddick is still searching for that affirming result this year. After a good, but not great, start to the season, he battled illness in Memphis, foot problems in Miami, the usual "clayitis" in the spring and a shoulder problem that prompted him to pull out of the French Open. Add to that last year's mononucleosis and thigh injury during the fall, and it has been a trying time.
So all in all, he's quite happy just to be healthy and in a position to make a run. "I felt really good when I got here, but after having not played well for two months or so, getting that to translate wasn't always an easy thing," he told reporters last week. "Got four matches, which is really important, and I feel prepared going into the practice week for Wimbledon."
The injury setbacks do at least mean that he is arriving at Wimbledon with less pressure than usual and a lot fresher than most of the field, particularly the top four, who all made the semifinals of the French Open. That, plus the quicker, low-bouncing courts, means that this may be his best chance of making an impression on a big occasion this season.
"I think grass is my favorite surface just because we never get to play on it. So I really, you know, enjoy when we do," he said. "I enjoy the city that the grass courts are in. You know, I think all that makes it probably one of my favorite months of the year being over here."
Having played the main draw for a full decade now, he has settled into a routine -- a rented house, familiar restaurants, even a regular cabbie. There has also been some Americanization -- Wimbledon now has a Starbucks and a Whole Foods, and a lot more U.S. programming on television than there was during Roddick's debut in 2001.
That year, he was the third-round victim in Goran Ivanisevic's unexpected run to the title. Since then, he has become the new Ivanisevic figure -- a three-time finalist almost as affectionately regarded by the locals as one of their own -- except when playing one of their own. The 28-year-old will begin the tournament without much fanfare, but should he start to make a run, the crowd will quickly get behind him. At least until he runs into Murray again.
Roddick flies under the radar, except with British media
Andy Roddick, the No. 8 seed, is a three-time Wimbledon runner-up. He opens play against qualifier Andreas Beck on Monday. He'll check in with USA TODAY's Douglas Robson throughout the fortnight.
I arrived at Wimbledon about a week ago after playing the grass-court tuneup at Queens. I always get a kick out of staying in the village. You bump into everyone all the time. Going to a restaurant is basically like an extension of the players' lounge. You say hi to four to five before you sit down at your table.
We have a healthy entourage in our flat this year: My wife, Brooklyn Decker; my coach, Larry Stefanki; my physiotherapist, Doug Spreen; and Stephen Little, a cabbie I befriended a few years ago. It's a full house.
I always have a fun rapport with the reporters and tabloids here in England. A couple years ago they were on me for liking singer Rick Astley. Last year it was my criticism of World Cup officiating. Another year it was my appearance on a British game show. Really, I don't plan anything.
This year they asked me what I do during a rain delay at Queens. I said I was playing the mobile app Angry Birds, and they thought that was hilarious. Next thing I know it was trending on Twitter here. I thought it was a pretty straightforward answer. It's only like the most downloaded app ever!
Of course the talk of the last couple days has been the rematch of Isner-Mahut. I heard about it from an attendant in the locker room on Friday during the draw ceremony. My reaction was no different than anyone else. C'mon, really? Another American, Sam Querrey, had to pull out of Wimbledon and just had surgery on his elbow. From all reports it went as well as it could have considering what was going on. You just feel bad for him. I guess it's something he had to take care of before it got worse.
Heading into Monday's first round, I'm feeling great about my game even though I haven't played a lot the last couple of months. The last 3-4 weeks have been the most positive I've had in a while. I played pretty well at Queens, where I lost to Andy Murray in the semifinals.
I don't know much about my first-round opponent, Andreas Beck of Germany. We have never played. I've had to do some research, and YouTube is my friend when I'm not totally familiar with guys. I was able to find some slow-mo of his strokes, some different things and clips from matches. Larry and I were watching some of that (Sunday) morning, and I'll probably try to ask a couple of guys later in the afternoon what he's all about.
There's talk that I'm flying under the radar this year, but I don't care. I don't mean that in a way where you're trying to be cool for not caring. I'm just not that concerned with it. I've done it both ways — on the radar and off — and at this point it's not going to affect me either way.
Wimbledon Draw Out, Roddick Seeded 8th
The streets of SW19 are buzzing again, both with excitement and tennis players, as the grass courts have welcomed back the world’s best ATP and WTA players to the oldest, most prestigious grand slam- The Championships at Wimbledon. With it being the 125th anniversary here, the draw has been completed and looks to be promising in delivering many thrilling matches, just as it has done all of the fortnights before.
The No. 1 American has been seeded 8th, landing the last spot in the top half of the draw. Up first, Roddick will take on qualifier Andreas Beck of Germany, ranked 156th in the world with a career high of 33rd (2009), whom he has never played before. Our three-time Wimbledon finalist shares this half and could potentially clash with these Top Ten-ers: Frenchman Gael Monfils (9), the All England Lawn and Tennis Club’s resident competitor, Andy Murray (4), and the world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.
Stay tuned to AR.com for the latest from London!
Roddick Begins Title Quest
Andy Roddick is a three-time
finalist at Wimbledon.
Three-time finalist Andy Roddick was pushed close in a three-set win as he began his 11th Wimbledon campaign with a 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-3 victory over German qualifier Andreas Beck on Tuesday at The Championships. The match had been scheduled for Monday, but was postponed due to rain.
Roddick was given an early work out by the resilient Beck, who led by a mini-break in the second set tie-break before Roddick regained control in time to clinch a two-set lead. The eighth seed then broke serve twice in the third set to claim victory in two hours and 15 minutes. A strong serving display from the American saw him fire 30 aces, which he backed up with 42 winners.
Reflecting on the importance of the tie-break, Roddick said, "[It] was a big difference between two-sets-to-love and one-set-all. I felt like I was serving well. I felt like I was playing better than him. Last thing I wanted was to feel that way and be even. That was a big breaker for me."
The Texas resident came into Wimbledon on the strength of a semi-final showing at The Queen’s Club, where he lost out to Andy Murray. He is bidding to win the Wimbledon trophy for the first time after runner-up efforts to Roger Federer in 2004-2005 and in 2009, when he lost 16-14 in the fifth set.
The 28-year-old Roddick, who has one Grand Slam title to his name after winning the 2003 US Open, goes on to face Romania’s Victor Hanescu for a place in the third round. Hanescu was a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 winner against Czech Jaroslav Pospisil.
Wywiad z Rodem w studiu ESPN:
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6687322
Chyba się pogodzili z Gilbertem. :o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9rQmyAxS3U
Piosenka o której Rod mówił podczas konferencji prasowej po 1 rundzie.
COA napisał:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9rQmyAxS3U
Piosenka o której Rod mówił podczas konferencji prasowej po 1 rundzie.
Już w Queens o tym wspominał. :D
Dobre to jest. :D
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
A. Roddick bt A. Beck 6 4, 7 6, 6 3
Q. Things better than usual here?
ANDY RODDICK: They're usually pretty good. I like it here.
Q. Serena just talked about how it was such a relief to get out of the first round, that she was thinking to herself, Please don't let me lose in the first round.
ANDY RODDICK: Sure.
Q. Can you address maybe how much more difficult the first round is than maybe the quarterfinals.
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, yeah, as far as I think it's impossible not to be anxious for the first round of a slam. There's so much build up. I can only imagine for her. I mean, she's been looking at it for a year now, so...
I know we normally feel it. There's always a little bit of, you know, anxiety before you play your first round. You kind of got to work it out. You saw last night with Murray, and then he found his groove. It's kind of just a matter of getting through.
By the time you're in the quarters, your game is there, you've played matches, it's just a matter of executing at that point. I can certainly relate to her sentiment, yeah.
Q. How good did that tiebreak in the second feel?
ANDY RODDICK: It was a big difference between two sets to love and one set all. Yeah, I felt like I was serving well. I felt like I was playing better than him. Last thing I wanted was to feel that way and be even, you know.
That was a big breaker for me.
Q. He came up with a pretty special backhand volley on the first set point. Did that make you think, Oops, I have to play well here?
ANDY RODDICK: You know what? For the last probably four or five games of that set, he was coming out of his shoes. He had a pretty smart game plan. He wasn't going to rally much. He was just going to take his shots and go really aggressive.
It worked most of the day. Normally when you have that mindset, you can count on someone making errors in bunches. Luckily he made two when he was up in that breaker.
He certainly, you know, had an obvious game plan and executed it for most of the day.
Q. Talk about your friend Serena and what her fighting spirit, what makes her special in this comeback.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I think one thing we've never really questioned with Serena is her competitive spirit. I think especially when she gets out there, I think she just hates losing.
You know, I don't count her out of any situation. I don't think it surprised anybody in this room if she went on and won this tournament. I don't know how many people you can say that about after a year.
And a lot of that she's proven she can even not play well early and then almost play her way into shape. You know, she goes from spring training to mid season in like three days.
Q. Is there something a little other worldly about her fire, competitiveness?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, you can insert whatever superlative you want. She's a fighter. She always has been since I've known her. Since she was eight years old, she's been that way.
Q. Do you think it would be possible on the men's circuit? Serena, Clijsters, they come back after one, two, three years, and they're still competitive.
ANDY RODDICK: It hasn't. You know, we've had a lot of great champions, you know, try to come back after a couple years. We're not talking months; we're talking a year and a half, two years.
Q. Now you have Del Potro.
ANDY RODDICK: Still, not even a year. I think it's more difficult. It's proven that it can be done in the women's game. I don't know that it's been proven that it can be done in the men's game. For whatever reason that is, I'm not sure. We don't have to worry about having babies, so...
Q. For sports fans back home, how would you explain or describe the level of attention or scrutiny Andy Murray is under here these two weeks, and Tim Henman before him?
ANDY RODDICK: Sure. You know, I've been front and center as far as tennis in my own country for a long time. I don't think it compares to what those guys go through here. I don't feel like I can relate.
You know, he gets the full rundown of he practiced for 36 minutes, then he ate a Snickers bar and then continued for another 14 minutes, and then it's like and that's on page four. We already read the first three pages of the day. You know, it's a little tough (laughter).
Q. You've been here a long time now. At one point you were the bad guy upsetting Tim Henman.
ANDY RODDICK: Actually, I never played Tim Henman here. But I'm still the bad guy. Point taken, but... (Laughter.)
Q. Do you feel you're a popular guy with the locals now?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. You know, I think a lot changes over the course of 10 or 11 years. You almost look and say nothing's really the same, as it was.
There's a lot of stuff that changes. It's tough for me to kind of look at my relationship with the fans here objectively.
I know from my end I certainly enjoy it. I'm not going to speak for them, for sure.
Q. You got good support today.
ANDY RODDICK: It felt great. They've always been great to me, even when I was fake beating Tim Henman (smiling).
Q. Do you ever think about your past or you always think about the present and future? I mean, 16 14 in the fifth set is still something that sticks out in your mind or you try to forget?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I don't think I've ever said that I'm going to try to forget it. I get asked about it a lot. But that was one of the most enjoyable tournaments I ever had. I'm not trying to forget it.
If there was a major event in your life, you probably wouldn't forget it. It's no different for me. It's just that I play tennis and you guys watched it.
Q. It still gives you confidence two years after?
ANDY RODDICK: Listen, I didn't need to play that match to know that I could play on grass. It's something that I feel like I can do pretty well. I understand a lot of the nuances of it. I made runs in the slams before.
I'm healthy for the first time in a while. You know, I don't feel like I'm compromising my game right now. So I feel good about where I'm at.
Q. Do you feel like the last couple years you've had a lot of mini comebacks from injuries?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I had a pretty clean bill of health through '09, and then I tore up my knee a little bit. Yeah, I think that's fair. I feel like I've been stopping and starting a lot; then playing through something.
There's been a lot of those decisions: do you go or shut it down and get it right? I've done both. You know, I don't know if there's a perfect solution.
Q. Right now Tiger Woods is going through injuries. For an athlete, your body is so important. What is it like when you can't play at the level you want to because you're injured?
ANDY RODDICK: It's very frustrating. I mean, you have injuries and then you try to play around your injuries. You know you can't play completely comfortable or completely by instinct or the way you'd want to. That's what I meant when I said, you know, you don't want to play compromised.
It's tough. You have the physical dynamic. But then I think almost worse is the mental dynamic of knowing you're not completely right. The small margins that represent a win or a loss in sports, you know, become even smaller when something isn't perfect.
Q. Are you going to stay for the Isner/Mahut match?
ANDY RODDICK: Stay? No. I have to play tomorrow. I can't stay here three nights.
Q. Is it kind of surprising that Roger Federer hasn't really had any kind of injury to take him out?
ANDY RODDICK: Not really. He doesn't even look like he's trying when he plays, so how you gonna get hurt (smiling)?
Q. Apart from the top four seeds, is there anybody that catches your eye, predictions, anyone that could make the semis or finals?
ANDY RODDICK: Anyone outside the top four that could make the semis or finals? I can make the semis or finals. I've done it before.
Q. Apart from yourself and the other top four.
ANDY RODDICK: I'm focused on what I'm doing. I'm not in the business of predictions. I'll leave that to you all.
Q. The top four here coming in all playing well, all having proven how well they could play on grass, how would you describe the strength of the top four seeds here?
ANDY RODDICK: They're playing great tennis. You can point at any one of them and certainly compliment their pedigree. Seems like they're all in form right now, which isn't always the case. I mean, they deserve all the credit and attention they get right now.
Q. Of all the tournaments you've been in, can you compare the strength at a particular time the top four seeds with this group?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, I think we always have a tendency to overexaggerate the present, but they're certainly playing very well. You know, I came up with Agassi and Sampras. They weren't too bad either.
Q. How would you describe the difference in tone and press coverage here of Murray and maybe of yourself and other athletes in the U.S.?
ANDY RODDICK: One, tennis isn't one of the biggest sports in the U.S. Two, the beginning of my career, I had the cushion of Andre and Pete. Even now I'm the second American, and there are guys consistently ranked 20 and 30. Here it's Murray or bust, kind of. So I think those are the differences.
Obviously we're not pulling from 50 states, either. It's not as big of a thing, so...
Q. You said you feel like you can reach semis and finals. You've been on and off all year with injuries. You feel ball striking wise, coming off Queen's, that your game is in a place where, like you said about Serena, if you can get in a couple good matches you can make a decent run?
ANDY RODDICK: I feel healthy. I know what it takes to go deep at this tennis tournament.
Q. We heard John McEnroe saying the other day we should get rid of the pre-match knock up. Do you find the knock up is important to you?
ANDY RODDICK: The knock up meaning the warm up?
Q. Yes.
ANDY RODDICK: I think it's easy to not have the warm up when you're not the one not doing it anymore (smiling).
Q. There's some who talk about the role of luck in our sport, draws, health, what generation you're born into. Talk about the role of luck in tennis.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, what was it Gary Player said? The harder you work, the luckier you get. That and what? Hard work meets opportunity.
Luck affects a very small margin of matches, I think. There's one or two a year where you feel like you got through 'em even though maybe you definitely shouldn't have and probably one or two the other way, so maybe people that are unlucky maybe just need to get better. I don't know.
Q. Can you remember a lucky moment and an unlucky moment?
ANDY RODDICK: I can remember one lucky moment, for sure. Semi-finals here, fourth set breaker against Johansson. He served wide and I hit the ugliest hack return of all time, like literally it was rising as it hit the net. It hit and just bounced over to give me match point and I hit a serve. That was it.
Q. You spoke earlier about Serena Williams coming back. When Serena and Venus are not able to play, how would you describe the void there is on the women's tour?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, again, you want to answer this question without being disrespectful to the current players, because I certainly understand how hard it is regardless.
But they are the biggest crossover stars that we have in the women's game. I think that's undisputed. I feel like people who don't care about tennis still care about what Serena's wearing. I feel like they still care about what she's going to say or what she's going to do. Oh, she hasn't played in a year? I'm going to watch that. They bring that sort of attention to the game, which can only be beneficial for everybody involved, even the players, you know, who are playing when they're not there.
Q. Ryan Harrison, you've had a lot of involvement. Talk about where you think he is, what you like to see from him in the next seven or eight months.
ANDY RODDICK: He's got ability. He's got to harness that energy a little bit. He goes a little mental sometimes. That's coming from me, so... (Smiling).
For him, I think it's been the ears at this point. He certainly serves well. He competes. I think everything that's going to be tough for him is going to make him better, too, because he cares so much about winning and losing, which I don't think we've had enough of, frankly, in the States as far as the up and coming players.
It's just a matter of I think him figuring out a comfortable line where it's not a different emotion every day.
Q. What are you listening to this fortnight, still the Wurzels?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm still trying to get that damn song out of my head (laughter).
Roddick Remains Perfect Against Hanescu
Roddick has won all nine sets
he's played against Hanescu.
Three-time Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick continued his pursuit of a first title at the All England Club with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over Victor Hanescu in the second round Wednesday. "I felt pretty good... I served well, I returned well," evaluated Roddick. "I was aggressive coming forward. We finished with a little bit of light left, so all in all it was a good day."
Seeded No. 8, Roddick was virtually untouchable on his first serve, winning 93 per cent of those points, which included 15 aces. Roddick attributed the strong serving performance to a change he made to his grip prior to his arrival at SW19. "I was serving in the 50s this year up until whenever I came over here, and that's not really right for me," said Roddick. " I was having to kind of force my serve a little bit. I went home with a shoulder injury, came back, and kind of fiddled a little bit... it was just a slight little grip change. It was good."
The American broke the Romanian in the final game of the match to lock up his fourth win in four meetings with Hanescu, winning all nine sets they’ve played.
In the third round, Roddick will play Feliciano Lopez. The Spaniard defeated former Wimbledon semi-finalist Rainer Schuettler 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-2 to advance.
Dmitry Tursunov edged Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(12), 7-6(1) to win his first match at a Grand Slam event since the 2008 US Open. The Russian overcame 24 aces served by Gulbis to even his record against the Latvian to one win a piece. Tursunov will play No. 11 seed Jurgen Melzer in a second round clash Thursday.
Third Round Preview: Andy vs. Lopez
In the third Round of Wimbledon, Andy faces Feliciano Lopez. The Spaniard battled past Berrer and Schuettler to set up Friday’s clash. This will be the 8th meeting between the two. Andy holds a perfect 7-0 record, most recently defeating Lopez just a few weeks ago at the AEGON Championships.
Andy has grown used to discussing American Tennis in his press conferences but this week he has been talking about a first in his career.
“This is the first time (my parents have) seen me play here. Honestly, I didn’t really believe it. I thought they were here for one of the finals. I thought they flew over and were sitting here somewhere but they wouldn’t tell me. I think today was the first time they ever sat in a box in my entire career, you know. They picked a good court to debut that on. I think they’re having fun. They’re having a good time.”
We are sure the Roddicks will be cheering loudly again tomorrow as Andy fights for a bid into the fourth round.
Check out some stats on the left handed Lopez courtesy of the ATP World Tour:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play … Lopez.aspx
andyroddick.com
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
A. RODDICK bt Victor Hanescu 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
Q. Talk about how it was out there today.
ANDY RODDICK: I felt pretty good. I served well. I returned well. I was aggressive coming forward. We finished with a little bit of light left, so all in all it was a good day.
Q. Could you take a moment and talk about the job you think the American media does covering tennis.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I think I'm going to have to separate this into first of all, there's no way I can answer this and have it be a win for me, but I'm going to do it anyways.
I'm going to separate. Tennis journalists like yourselves who cover week to week to week to week to week I think do a great job, and I respect the job that you guys do. Someone who, you know, covers something and it's the first tennis match they've ever been to and all of a sudden they become an expert bothers me a little bit. I feel like we get that sometimes. That's probably the only time where I get a little perturbed, when someone isn't, one, researched, and when I feel like they have their article written before a match takes place.
Q. Is that mostly in terms of is tennis dying, a country club sport?
ANDY RODDICK: Listen. Here is what we're going to do. If you want to talk about an, Is tennis dying article, let's go by participation numbers, retail numbers, prize money, up, up, up, up, up. I hear this, Tennis is dying. Maybe it's water cooler talk. But I'll put more stock in the business of tennis in our country growing as opposed to having fun conversations around a water cooler.
Q. Why do you think it is that people refuse to accept the stats? The Wall Street Journal printed some stats which said that tennis over the past nine years is the only sport to increase participation in America.
ANDY RODDICK: This kind of gets to my first point. You can just say something and people read it as fact, but it's not researched. If you look at racquet sales, USTA memberships, across the board, it's been up. Do we have four guys in the top five in the world? No, we don't. That's about the only difference. That doesn't mean that tennis is dying. It's an international sport. I feel like a lot of times people refuse to accept that back home, which is unfortunate. It's as international a sport as there is as far as popularity. I feel like it doesn't get its maybe fair shake.
Q. 720,000 people at the US Open.
ANDY RODDICK: Listen, I can sit here and I can have two pages full of pros, the water cooler conversation as a con. So I like to deal in facts, and the facts say the whole dying thing, it's not accurate.
Q. What does it mean to have your parents here after all these years? Their first trip here.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, this is the first time they've seen me play here. Honestly, I didn't really believe it. I thought they were here for one of the finals. I thought they flew over and were sitting here somewhere but they wouldn't tell me. I think today was the first time they ever sat in a box in my entire career, you know. They picked a good court to debut that on. I think they're having fun. They're having a good time.
Q. You grew up in South Florida with Alex Bogomolov. He's really struggled. Up until this tournament, he's won one match in a Grand Slam tournament. Why do you think maybe he's struggling? Why do you think he's coming into his own now?
ANDY RODDICK: You know, I think I'd be answering from a place of ignorance if I was to comment on Alex. I know he's always been a fighter. I'm happy to see him do well because he's always worked pretty hard and he's always had the desire. As for why all of a sudden he's having, you know, kind of a renaissance of sorts at 27 or 28 years old, I don't know. I'm not sure.
Q. You had a quick quip the other day for the question about McEnroe suggesting that perhaps the warmups aren't necessary.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.
Q. Has there ever been a circumstance where you've chosen not to do that warmup?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I'm going to interrupt you. Today I sat around for four and a half hours because the matches went long. I looked at Date and Venus and Rafa and Ryan. There were potentials for those matches to go no disrespect to anybody for those matches to go fast. All of a sudden I've been sitting around for four and a half hours, and he wants me to go serve 145. That's irresponsible is what it is.
Q. I was wondering if you've ever had anything strange happen in the warmups? In a couple of the women's warmups there have been incidents that have caused great drama.
ANDY RODDICK: Like?
Q. People being hit by shots, thinking it was done on purpose.
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, don't walk too close to your opponent in the locker room also. We might as well have 128 different dressing rooms. By that logic, we can go a million different ways.
I'm certainly fine with warming up before a sporting event. I'm pretty sure that every other sport in the universe does it. I'm okay with it.
Q. Jimmy Connors had a comment saying the other day that these days rivalries are getting soft. Could you talk about the evolution of rivalries, even going back to Connors, McEnroe, Borg?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, honestly, if we behaved and talked to each other the way they did, we would get thrown out of tournaments. We're not allowed to, you know, grab ourselves and talk to the umpire. We're not allowed to do that. We just can't. So if it means trying to prove how much I hate someone by doing something like that, I'd rather play in a tournament. The fact that we have, you know, the hierarchy of our game now being probably the most committed to things outside of tennis, whether it be media, whether it be charitable responsibilities, you don't see Roger and Rafa have a bad day as far as that stuff goes. So if that's soft, I hope we're all soft.
Q. Do you agree with Marat who say the rules are way too rigid?
ANDY RODDICK: Listen, I can see both ways. I can see how all the stuff that I just mentioned, we can make it a Springer episode out there and it would probably get ratings. But it's not my choice. You do have to play within them, though, if there is a structure there. I don't think the rules can be forgotten when making statements.
Q. I know you like to have a pretty good volume of matches before you come into slams. How do you feel about your volume coming in here?
ANDY RODDICK: Fine now. Queen's was big. I was down a break in the third set to López, who I play next. Going out there first round would not have been good, but getting four matches there I think was necessary. I felt like I hit the ball great there. I feel fine now. So I think it was important. It's fine now.
Q. Talk a bit about your serve. Made some small adjustments in that.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, it was just a slight little grip change. I was serving in the 50s this year up until whenever I came over here, and that's not really right for me. I was having to kind of force my serve a little bit. Went home with a shoulder injury, came back, and kind of fiddled a little bit. It was good (snapping fingers).
I don't know eastern, western. I turned a little.
Q. You've served so well for so many years. Was it strange for you to adjust something to that shot?
ANDY RODDICK: I think I had slowly developed a bad habit as opposed to I think it's back to where it was as opposed to me changing anything I've done for a decade. That would probably explain why my shoulder was beat up, too. If you change something, are hitting something different than a way you have before, even without knowing, sometimes have you to go back to basics. I never had to do that on my serve before. But is that all it was? I don't know. But I feel good with where it's at right now.
Q. I remember when you first came out, started doing great, there was a lot of concern about your shoulder because of the way you served, coming from the outside. How much has it been an obsession of yours to keep that healthy?
ANDY RODDICK: Listen, I wasn't stupid. Well, I wasn't stupid about that. I knew that that was where I was going to make my living. I hired my trainer, Doug, at a young age before it was like the thing to do. You know, I think I was 20, 21 and had someone full time. Every match we ice it, we work on it. It still feels good.
I had a couple little blips. But considering the popular prediction back in 2001 when I was first here, I feel like I've gotten you guys by about seven or eight years now.
Q. Speaking of your support team, your coach is going to be inducted into a regional Hall of Fame in about five weeks. What can you say about what he brings to the game?
ANDY RODDICK: Shows how much I know or how much he talks about himself, because I didn't know that. He's just got a very high tennis IQ. He sees different styles. I just respect his opinion. I feel like there's a very, very, very small group of people who get stroke production, tendencies, in and outs of how to play. You know, he definitely gets that.
You know, he's very good about kind of I guess adjusting. He's had a lot of different personalities he's worked with, from myself to Henman to Rios to McEnroe. With the exception of Tim, some pretty difficult personalities. I think that's a talent in itself.
Q. You talked the other day about being injured, just how frustrating and difficult that can be. Is there a tug of war that goes on internally or externally when you know you have sponsor obligations or the public wants to see you? How does that play into just the process of knowing when to come back?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know that it's so much sponsor obligations. It's just that you want to be out there. You don't want to miss stuff. There's been a couple times where you play a little dinged up and it works; the majority of the time it doesn't. As an athlete, you're almost an eternal optimist going into something. Like last year with mono, the week before Cincinnati, the doc told me I was supposed to play 30 minutes a day, and I promptly went and played five straight three setters. To me that's better than sitting at home. That's kind of the give and take. I like what I do. I enjoy it. I think that's kind of where the hardest part of it is.
Q. Tiger announced he won't be returning to his tournament. What would you give advice to someone like him?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm sure he's diligent. He knows what he's doing as far as golf goes.
Q. Can you sympathize?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know what's going on with his knee. But anytime you're not doing, you know, what you want as far as you're living and what you do I mean, he is a golfer. He plays golf. And when that's not there and that's not an option, it's probably frustrating.
Q. You said you played those three setters. Did you do that because you know there's a finite period, you won't be doing this at 60, 70 like journalists?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I don't know that I fear not playing forever. When I'm home, I'm perfectly happy. As long as I can still play, I enjoy playing tennis when I'm home, when I'm not at a tournament. I don't think I really fear that. I'm pretty happy with what I've put in that far and I'm at peace with it. I don't know that I force something because I feel, like you said, there's an end of the road. I don't know that I make decisions based upon that.
Roddick determined to soldier on
For someone who has been in the top 10 for a decade Andy Roddick's honesty is what shines through as much as his ability, his theme being that he is not as talented as some in the sport but he is willing to work at it and, most important of all, to adapt. So Roddick was insisting after his defeat by Feliciano Lopez (after having beaten him seven straight times previously) that he will take on board what happened and move forward.
Roddick's honesty was evident when he praised Lopez for "an outstanding match" , adding, "He played better than I did. He played as complete a match as he's played against me" That made it easier, he stressed, to walk away from Wimbledon and move forward than in 2008, when he felt he choked in losing to Janko Tipsarevic in the second round or last year when he had "a million opportunities and kind of gave it away" against Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei in the fourth round. Those defeats, he said, were tougher to take then, and still are.
In between those defeats came Roddick's third appearance in a Wimbledon final, when he lost 16-14 in the fifth set to Roger Federer, after which his coach, Larry Stefanki, praised Andy as "among the top four grass court players on the planet".
Roddick denied that another early defeat here was a blow to his ambitions at a tournament he loves above all others. "No, you keep moving forward until you decide to stop. At this point I've not decided to stop so I'll keep moving forward."
Roddick has been the torchbearer for American tennis in an era dominated by two Europeans, Federer and Rafael Nadal. In Grand Slam terms he has only the 2003 US Open title to cherish but fulfilled another great ambition by winning the Davis Cup for the United States in 2007 and now is able to look forward to another Davis Cup occasion next month, in his home town of Austin, against a Spain team which will include Lopez.
Going forward to that tie, Roddick sums up his season so far as "average". He explained, "I felt good coming in [to Wimbledon]. Normally when you don't play well at a Slam you don't feel on top of things. But I felt on top of things since I got here. I feel like I've played worse and gotten further before, so it's disappointing in that sense."
Asked whether he felt he was still improving as a tennis player, Roddick replied, "Not this year. I don't think I've played my best since probably April of last year. But it has to get better there's no doubt."
Meantime, Roddick gave away the racket which had brought him defeat as he left Centre Court to a small boy. "I figured it was going to go to waste on the bottom of my foot", he smiled. "So I figured a seven-year-old would get more use out of it."
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po porażce w 3 rundzie
A. Roddick def. by F. Lopez 6-7, 6-7, 4-6.
Q. How tough is it when a guy plays as good grass court tennis as he did out there today?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, he played well. I mean, this year's a lot easier to deal with than, let's say, last year where I feel like I gave it away.
I got beat. He came out. He served about as well as someone has.
You know, the stuff that's enabled me to beat him seven times, making passing shots under duress, making him play defence on his forehand, he did well today. Mixed up his serve. There weren't a whole lot of patterns.
So he played an outstanding match.
Q. Do you feel like Feliciano's serving is in the top five of the tour right now or top three?
ANDY RODDICK: I think in order to be one of those guys, I think you have to do it for a long period of time. You know, today for sure. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Q. Last time you played, he fired 35 aces. You still won. Today you lost. He didn't fire as many aces. It was just the passing shots or the level of consistency he had?
ANDY RODDICK: Let's not get too caught up on a number of aces. I mean, the way that you represented that stat was that it was the be all, end all. I'm not sure that's the case.
I thought his second serve was great today. He mixed it up. You know, he was consistently you know, for a lefty to be able to play both sides of the box on a second serve with pace was tough. And he didn't, you know with Feliciano, he holds a lot at Love or 15. A couple times a set you normally get a look at Love 15, Love 30. And today he didn't dig himself any holes. He played the first points of the games very well.
Q. How are the emotions different for you as you get older in your career at these opportunities when they disappear, even if it's when another player just picks up his game against you?
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, I'm not sure. I mean, I think it is a big difference to where if you feel like, you know, you played pretty well. I mean, you look at the numbers. He played great.
He played better than I did. You know, I think, you know, he beat me. It's easier for me to walk out of here with that and move forward with that than, let's say, '08 where I lost to Tipsarevic and I felt like I completely choked or last year where I just kind of had a million opportunities and kind of gave it away. Those are tougher to take now, I think.
Q. You say you played well and still lost. Does it not make it harder thinking you have to come back next year and play even better to get beyond this?
ANDY RODDICK: Say that again.
Q. If you say you played well but still lost today, it's easier to take, does it not make it harder for the future?
ANDY RODDICK: I probably played like shit in third rounds and won before, too. The thing you guys have to understand is there's no script. Some days you're going to play well and lose, and some days you're going to play like crap and win.
Of course you have to come back and play better next year. I lost in the third round. Is that what you're looking for? I'm confused on how to go about that question.
Q. You said you lost a couple years ago and gave it away.
ANDY RODDICK: Yes, last year.
Q. Today you said you played well and still lost.
ANDY RODDICK: He beat me. It's easier to take that way. I just don't understand the context to next year.
Q. To know you may have to play even better next year.
ANDY RODDICK: It's fine. I played well and I've finaled here also. It's just the way it goes in sports sometimes. If it was predictable, it would be like watching a DVD.
Q. As the years go by, do you let thoughts creep in that it might never happen for you here?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, sure. You're human. I mean, of course it does. You know, you may never get your favourite job either. No offence to your current employer.
Q. I'm quite happy.
ANDY RODDICK: That's good. Me, too.
Q. My question was, it must be harder as the year goes on to think of this dream of yours.
ANDY RODDICK: It's similar to the question just asked. What do you do? You keep moving forward until you decide to stop. At this point I've not decided to stop so I'll keep moving forward.
Q. Somebody asked you for an autograph when you were walking off the court, and then you threw the racquet at them.
ANDY RODDICK: No. I just had the racquet in my hand. I figured it was just going to go to waste like a doorstop or something or the bottom of my foot. I figured a seven year old boy would probably get more use out of it than my grass court bottoms.
Q. Were the tiebreakers really the problem?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, a couple times I got in to his backhand, which is known where you want to be in a rally against him. He hit some good shots.
He went big on second serves in those tiebreakers and didn't double once. I mean, he played pretty high risk. He was able to cover up some things that are normally weaknesses.
You know, I feel like he played as complete a match as he's played against me.
Q. Do you have any thoughts about moving forward, the rest of the summer, your plans?
ANDY RODDICK: The next plan is you get ready for Davis Cup. I'm going to be seeing some of these guys again in two weeks. So you go home and regroup and see where we're at then.
Q. Do you think Serena had a just cause, stuck out on Court 2? What were your reflections on that?
ANDY RODDICK: 'Just cause'?
Q. Moaning about the fact she gets relegated to Court 2.
ANDY RODDICK: I don't choose the courts. If it wasn't a little surprising, we wouldn't be talking about it. So there's got to be something to it.
But, you know, I haven't talked to her. We were all pretty surprised about it, I've got to be honest, when we saw it. But as far as I don't know any you're making it sound like there's been some sort of fallout since then.
I haven't seen anything about that. I mean, you know, certainly if anybody deserves to play anywhere, the two Williams sisters do.
Q. How do you see your season so far?
ANDY RODDICK: Average. Average. Uhm, you know, I feel like the way I practised and prepared the last month, I wish I would have gotten more out of it.
I felt good coming in. You know, normally when I don't play well at a slam, you kind of don't feel on top of things. I felt on top of things since I got here.
You know, like I mentioned before, I feel like I've played worse and gotten further before. So, uhm, it's disappointing in that sense. But, you know, I don't feel horrible going into the summer by any means.
Q. Do you feel like the Davis Cup in Chile was the highlight so far? Where does that fit?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. We're talking about a six month window of my entire career. I mean, winning Memphis is nice, keeping kind of that streak alive of winning a tournament for however many odd years that is.
Sure, I mean, winning an away tie on clay gave us an opportunity to move on, so that's good.
You know, listen, guys, you guys have a rough day at work, you get chewed out by your boss, something happens, you pick up and you move on. That's it. That's it.
Q. Have you finally got that song out of your head yet?
ANDY RODDICK: I had till you mentioned that. Thank you. I think you're my favourite journalist this press conference so far (smiling).
Q. You're my favourite tennis player I've spoken to, no shadow of a doubt.
ANDY RODDICK: Thank you (smiling).
Q. They said they sent you a CD of their hits.
ANDY RODDICK: Really? I haven't gotten it yet. Isn't it like a cider drinker?
Q. With Royal Mail delivering it, you'll get it probably by next year.
ANDY RODDICK: When I have to play well again (smiling).
Q. How fast will that court be in Austin?
ANDY RODDICK: It will be on the faster side. I don't think we're going to want to play them on anything slow.
Q. Ryan Harrison said you're an important mentor to him. He talked about some of the advice you give him. What would you want him to take away from the tough match that he had with Ferrer, and what example do you try to show him when you've had a tough match and leave on the wrong side?
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, you know, Ryan's got a lot of good. He wants to win. I mean, the way he played through three sets is probably the best I've seen him play.
You know, for him it's not so much how he plays. He likes the big stage. He plays well at some bigger events. For him, he's going to have to take care of business in some minor league events so he is there full time.
I told him, I said, You make a career of you make highlights playing above yourself playing good players, but you make a career winning the majority of matches you're supposed to win. I think once he starts doing that, you'll see him rise up pretty quickly.
Q. Do you think you're still improving?
ANDY RODDICK: Not this year. No, I haven't played well this year, for sure. I don't think I've played my best since probably April of last year.
I think I can. Have I over the last year? Probably not. I've been up against some stuff. But it has to get better. There's no doubt.
Q. Talk a little bit about the tie in Austin, what that means to you personally.
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, it's tough to think about it right now. I'm certainly thankful for the opportunity. It's weird to have my home life in Austin and my tennis life, it seems like they're almost two different existences. For the two of them to come together for that weekend, it's pretty cool.
There's normally such a distinct line between the two. I'm curious to see how it goes. I was excited to see the support that it got in Austin.
Q. How much do you watch this when you leave early? Will you have a chance to watch?
ANDY RODDICK: I normally don't watch much, to be honest. I watch a lot while I'm here. But no disrespect, it's tough for me to watch after I go.
I have a hard time planning my day around watching tennis. I'd rather try to get better at it.
Andy Roddick fears he may never win Wimbledon
ANDY Roddick fears he may never win Wimbledon after the three-time finalist suffered a shock third round exit against Feliciano Lopez on Friday.
Roddick has always believed the faster grass courts of Wimbledon made the tournament his best bet to win another grand slam.
But the former US Open champion looks increasingly unlikely to fulfil his dream after yet another early exit from the All England Club.
Although Roddick made the final in 2009 -- losing in five sets to Roger Federer -- the American has now failed to get past the fourth round in three of the last four years.
With age no longer on the 28-year-old's side, he concedes it has occurred to him that he may never get to lift the championship trophy.
"Well, sure. You're human. I mean, of course it does. You may never get your favourite job either," Roddick said.
"I haven't played well this year for sure. I don't think I've played my best since probably April of last year.
"I've been up against some stuff. But it has to get better, there's no doubt.
"You keep moving forward until you decide to stop. At this point I've not decided to stop so I'll keep moving forward."
Although Roddick was hugely disappointed not to make the second week of his favourite grand slam, he insisted he wasn't as devastated as when he lost in the second round against Janko Tipsarevic in 2008 and Lu Yen-Hsun in the fourth round last year.
"It's easier for me to walk out of here and move forward with that than, let's say, 2008 where I lost to Tipsarevic and I felt like I completely choked or last year where I had a million opportunities and gave it away," Roddick said.
"The thing you guys have to understand is there's no script. Some days you're going to play well and lose, and some days you're going to play like crap and win."
Lopez, twice a Wimbledon quarter-finalist, served brilliantly and stopped Roddick establishing his power-game as the world No.44 secured a tie against Gael Monfils or Lukasz Kubot in the last 16.
The Spaniard once ended Tim Henman's Wimbledon career in 2007, but he described the win over Roddick as the best of his career.
"It's definitely great win for me. I beat a couple of great players in Wimbledon in the last 10 years. But to beat Andy in this court is very special, of course. I would say maybe the best probably," said Lopez who sent 57 winners past the American.
"When you play Andy Roddick here, you never expect to win two straight tiebreaks against him. So I'm really happy with my performance. I think the grass, it was always my best surface."
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Andy Roddick’s Davis Cup Legacy
At the age of 28, Andy Roddick is preparing to play in his 25th Davis Cup tie this weekend when the United States meets Spain in the World Group quarter-finals in Austin. He is joined in the American team by Mardy Fish and Wimbledon doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan as they look to take a step closer to winning a 33rd title in the ITF men’s team competition.
Roddick made his Davis Cup debut in February 2001 in a World Group first-round tie against Switzerland. He has gone on to compile a staggering 33-11 win-loss record, most recently helping his team to a 4-1 victory over Chile in the first round in March.
At a time when more and more of the top players are sacrificing Davis Cup to focus on their individual success, Roddick’s commitment to his country and his teammates has not gone unnoticed. AndyRoddick.com caught up with some of the people who know the American best to discuss his Davis Cup legacy.
James Blake – a member of the winning United States team in 2007
“He’s been huge [for American tennis]. He leads by example, but he also will get in there and be hands on. He’s taken tons of the guys, such as Sam Querrey, to his house to practise. He’s practiced with Mardy [Fish] there; he’s practiced with Donald Young there. He really puts in the work with the guys to get them better. Ryan Harrison now, he’s played doubles with him, worked out with him a bunch. He wants American tennis to get better; he shows that in Davis Cup with as much heart as he puts in there and then he shows it off the court by giving his expertise to those guys.
“He’s been our anchorman. Every time I was on the Davis Cup team, you’ve got a guy that closes it out, never loses that fourth match. It’s just such a good feeling. I was prepared and ready for every one of those fifth matches and they never needed me. I hope I helped him a little bit in being prepared for that, but he was just an absolute anchor, he really carried us.”
Bob and Mike Bryan – members of the winning United States team in 2007
“The guy’s been the rock star of this generation. He took the torch from Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi and has inspired thousands and thousands of kids. He just has a lot of fun out on the court. People like to watch him play because he’s such a great competitor. He’s maybe the best competitor the U.S. has ever had. That’s probably why he’s so well liked.
“He’s got an amazing Davis Cup record. When we’re up 2-1, we call him ‘The Closer’. It’s been fun to have him on our team and he’s back, so we’re excited about that. He’s clutch. He loves playing for his country and his teammates. He spills his guts on the court and puts everything he has into his matches.”
Justin Gimelstob – former player and ATP Board Member
“Davis Cup will be a huge legacy of his; his commitment to it, his consistency, and the amount he’s played. He has got some staggering statistics of closing out matches and his commitment winning it once and they’re in contention again this year. His Davis Cup legacy, the team competition, the leadership, the responsibility of being the main guy in American tennis for so long for a decade, I mean that’s a huge, huge part of his legacy.”
http://www.twitvid.com/0TN1G
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Fysz wyzwał Roda na twitterze na pojedynek w "plank off" (jak najbardziej "artystyczne" leżenie). Mardy też wrzucił fotę niczego sobie :D
robpal napisał:
Fysz wyzwał Roda na twitterze na pojedynek w "plank off" (jak najbardziej "artystyczne" leżenie). Mardy też wrzucił fotę niczego sobie :D
Póki co Mardy wygrywa. hahaha :D
