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.

Ostatnio edytowany przez Evans (16-06-2011 14:17:08)

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.

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.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2 … iary_n.htm

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.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … ances.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9rQmyAxS3U

Piosenka o której Rod mówił podczas konferencji prasowej po 1 rundzie.

Ostatnio edytowany przez COA (22-06-2011 16:32:16)

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).

http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/int … 70869.html

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

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."

http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/art … 70100.html

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."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tenni … 6081820804

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.andyroddick.com/2011/07/06/a … up-legacy/