Tennis Update: Andy Roddick ready to defend the title at Brisbane
The season opener at Brisbane is just round the corner and tennis pros are in full swing with their practices. Hoping to get off on the right foot in 2011, tennis stars are giving it their all in preparing for the event especially the defending champion
Andy Roddick.
Former world number one Roddick was at his prime before the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal hegemony. However, he has lost his position at the top although he remains steadfast in the top eight. Determined to return to the top in 2011, Roddick hit the practice
courts almost immediately after the regular ATP season ended. Having had an almost tumultuous season in 2010, Roddick is hopeful for a better 2011.
Roddick’s recent surge in practice has filled him with much confidence when it comes to meeting Nadal or Federer on the courts. The Texan native believes he will be better prepared in 2011 to match the top two.
Talking about this, Roddick said, “The biggest thing with them is that they bring their best day after day after day and that’s the difference between those guys and the rest of the top 10, the rest of the guys 50 or 60, it’s just a matter of how often you
can produce it. The thing about them is mentally they play well on big occasions, they take care of themselves, they’re professional as far as the way they treat their bodies, they’re true professionals and it shows. I think we’re all capable of matching them
on a given day but they bring it more often and that’s probably what we strive for.”
Roddick finished off last year ranked eighth in the world with two title wins, two final appearances and an acceptable 48-18 win loss mark. Roddick got off to a strong start in 2010 winning the 2010 Brisbane International. Defeating Tomas Berdych in the
semis and 2009 champion Radek Stepanek in the finals, Roddick clinched his first title of the year. His next title win for the year came in March when he made it to the finals of the Miami Masters and defeated Berdych. Roddick also made it to the finals of
the Indian Wells Masters as well as to that of the San Jose event.
Battling with mononucleosis, Roddick failed to live up to his past glory in 2010. A former world number one and a Grand Slam winner, 2010 Grand Slams were a disappointing affair for the American. Battling with a shoulder injury, Roddick lost his quarterfinal
match to Marin Cilic at the Australian Open. He exited the Roland Garros and Wimbledon in third and fourth rounds respectively. His worst performance at the Grand Slams came at the US Open when he was ousted of the event in the second round by Janko Tipsarevic.
Although, Roddick qualified for the season finale event, he failed to make it past the round robin stage losing his matches to Novak Djokovic, Nadal and Berdych.
However, as 2011 approaches Roddick believes he is better prepared and hopes to make it to the top. Confident about his preparations, Roddick believes that 2011 Brisbane International will be his stepping stone back to the top. He said, “I come in last year
and I hadn’t been playing much and so this was a really good springboard for me and I enjoyed my time and I’m happy to be back. I like this event [and] they put on a first-class event. My wife enjoys coming here, so let’s not pretend like I make any decisions,”
Roddick joked. “It’s a good place to start the year.”
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