Roddick Written Off
By: Dan Arkans of Tennis Mates

Keywords: Roddick written off

Andy Roddick had been written off.

Written off by everyone that followed the sport – the print media, the television media, everyone wrote him off at age 23. Even Bud Collins probably started looking for the next great American.

This was shocking news to Roddick, who delivered a U.S. Open title three years ago. But three years is a long time to wait for another impressive grand slam result, while Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal dominate the sport.

The results weren’t as baffling, as what happened to Roddick. He lost his confidence. When he burst onto the scene, Roddick made a loud statement that he arrived. A serve that was 30 percent better than anyone else on tour and a huge forehand helped him dictate the tempo of every one of his matches.

Roddick and the crowd bonded quickly and he was labeled the heir apparent to Andre Agassi.

Then Roger Federer put the book out on how to beat Roddick – just keep his serve in play and work over the backhand. Roddick then stopped going for broke on serve, stopped pounding his forehand into the corner and just kept his backhand in play.

The results got worse and worse. He hasn’t made a deep run in a grand slam this year and shockingly was discarded in the first week of Wimbledon against British teen Andy Murray.

Roddick was forced to find his form and certainly found it in Cincinnati, getting revenge on Murray and old coach Brad Gilbert in the quarters and overwhelming Juan Carlos Ferrero in the finals, his first title since October. Roddick was broken twice in the finals, a testament of how dominant his return game was on both sides.

The natural reaction to Roddick’s results was that the American is back in form. That a week-long visit in Texas from advisor Jimmy Connors has helped him turn the corner. That by admitting to him that his game needed work he’s back on top.

Yes, Roddick did do all that. He listens to and respects Connors. He’s playing with a chip on his shoulder that resembles what Connors did for years.

Being mentored by Connors is a nice story and no doubt has helped Roddick.

The 23 year-old American is the one who has changed his game. Yes, it has changed. It’s not back in form, it’s a new version of Roddick. At every chance he got in Cincinnati Roddick was at net. He served and volleyed on big points, he played closer to the baseline.

Basically he played all week like he was on a grass court and why shouldn’t he? Roddick doesn’t have to be Pete Sampras at net with his serve. He doesn’t have to hit volleys like John McEnroe with his larger than life approach shots.

Roddick just has to believe in his net game, just a little. And give him credit, he kept coming in all week even when he was getting passed. Roddick’s natural tendency is to sit 10 feet behind the baseline and blast forehands all over the court. That doesn’t work against the top 10 players and he knows it.

We’ll see if he continues coming to net and being aggressive when he’s at the U.S. Open against Nadal or Federer. He’s now ranked 10^th and could very well see a Nadal or Federer in the quarters. 

Right now he’s dangerous because he believes in himself. I don’t think that credit should go to Connors, but to Roddick.