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Taking him apart Roddick blows by French Open finalist Corretja
Updated: Monday September 03, 2001 12:30 AM
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Teenager Andy Roddick is the emerging tennis talent of the United States but he is already getting tired of talking about it. The subject came up after he ousted 11th-seeded Alex Corretja of Spain 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in the third round of the U.S. Open on Sunday. "There's a certain question that's getting a little redundant," said 19-year-old Roddick, slumping over in mock weariness to emphasize his point during the news conference after his victory. Even so, only a year since Roddick won the U.S. Open junior title -- he also won the 2000 Australian Open junior event -- he has emerged as the next great American hope. "I think I have a chance in every match now," Roddick acknowledged. "When I go on the court I may not think I'm going to win. I may not think I'm going to go out there and get killed. I know I have a chance going into every match."
Since January, Roddick has won titles at Atlanta, Houston and two weeks ago in Washington. He also has taken a few famous scalps along the way, upsetting his idol Pete Sampras in the third round at the Ericsson Open and world number one Gustavo Kuerten in the third round of the Tennis Masters Series-Canada last month. Starting the year as the 158th-ranked player in the world, Roddick had climbed 140 placed when the U.S. Open started last Monday. With his win over Corretja, he has now earned his first fourth-round berth at a Grand Slam. This year, having skipped the trip to the Australian Open where he would have had to play the qualifying tournament, Roddick reached the third round at the French Open and Wimbledon. Roddick, whose first appearance in a Grand Slam main draw was at last year's U.S. Open where he lost in the first round, has always been credited with a scorching serve from his junior days. His forehand has always been his stronger side, but Roddick has taken great pains in the past few months to work with coach Tarik Benhabiles on his backhand, which definitely was not a weakness during the Corretja match. The win over Corretja also exposed a very different Roddick than many expected -- he not only can orchestrate winning points off his power, but he showed great judgement in patiently playing out a point to a more lengthy conclusion when necessary. "People know I can serve," he said. "I can hit with power. But it makes me feel good to know that I grinded out a match. I used my head, did what I had to do out there." Roddick's speedy rise to the upper echelon of the game means that players have investigated his game rather carefully and are aware of what he is capable of doing. "I'm no longer the new guy," Roddick said. "I'm not surprising anybody. I'm not sneaking up on anyone any more. "Still I'm definitely having fun."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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