Archive for: andy roddick

Andy Roddick Sits Down to Answer Twitter Questions

Andy Roddick sat down to answer some Twitter questions from fans. Interesting but boring at the same time!

Is it just me or does he also come across as a douche?

Lleyton Hewitt Moves On in Australian Open 2012 as Andy Roddick Retires

Lleyton Hewitt has moved into the third round of the Australian Open 2012 at the expense of Andy Roddick. Roddick had to retire injured with Hewitt leading two sets to one at the time.

Hewitt was leading 3-6 6-3 6-4.

“In the last four years I’ve had five surgeries, and last year I played just two grand slams and two Davis Cup ties,” Hewitt said.

“I came in here with nothing to lose, I’ll play with my heart on my sleeve and see where it gets me.”

Hewitt will now play Canadian Milos Raonic in the third round.

Signed Andy Roddick Babolat 2012 Propulse 3 Shoes

Babolat has announced that their star player, Andy Roddick, will be wearing Propulse 3 shoes at the Australian Open 2012. The 2012 edition has great durability and has even more comfort that previous years.

Roddick’s signature shoe will be available starting January 1, 2012.

ATP Tour 2010 Finals – Funny Questions

Here is a little clip from the 2010 ATP year end finals in London. I love it when they ask players funny and embarrassing questions.. makes them a little bit more human and you can relate.

Andy Roddick Storms Out of Press Conference at China Open

Andy Roddick didnt have a great time at the China Open where he lost to Kevin Anderson in the first round.

When a reporter asked about his retirement plans, he needed a few moments to summon the strength to retort: “I think you should retire.”

Andy Roddick Gets an Attitude

Is it just me or is Andy Roddick getting more of an attitude as he gets older? I like it!

Players Very Fustrated at Having to Play in the Rain

It was yet another fustrating day in New York at the US Open 2011. Day 10 was rained out, but there was at least 10 minutes of play. In those 10 minutes the worlds top players started their fourth round matches, but they weren’t very happy with tournament referee Brian Earley.

Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick vented their frustrations at having to play on slipper courts!

Andy Roddick Acts Like a 12 Year Old After McEnroe’s Comments

A source has just confirmed to us that Andy Roddick kicked John McEnroe out of the ESPN suite at the US Open.

Roddick ordered John McEnroe to be removed from the ESPN suite before his interview scheduled there with Chris Fowler following his first-round victory Wednesday night.

Roddick was acting out because he wasnt happy with McEnroe’s criticism.

Roddick acting like a bit of a 12 year old because he wasnt happy with what someone said… this doesnt sound out of the ordinary. McEnroe speaks the truth if you like it or not.

Jack Sock Wins First Round US Open: Next is Andy Roddick

Jack Sock received a wildcard into the US Open 2011 main draw by winning the 18s USA National Championships. Now, Jack Sock has also won his first round match at the US Open.

Sock defeated Marc Gicquel of France 6-4 6-3 1-6 6-4.

Now Sock will take on Andy Roddick in the second round.

Sock reminds me a lot of an early Roddick (who I played against in juniors). It will be very interesting to see how the match goes and how Sock’s career progresses.

Andy Roddick Questions Tennis Analysts

Andy Roddick gave a very interesting interview after his first round victory at the US Open. Roddick questioned tennis analysts in general and the interviewer really didnt seem to like it!

RODDICK: “I’m convinced being a tennis analyst is the easiest job in the world. Whatever the person does, if it works you just say ‘that’s what works.’ If it doesn’t work you say ‘he should have done the other thing.’ So you know I’m pretty convinced I could be a tennis analyst when I’m done. . .it just doesn’t take much thought. If I’m grinding and I’m winning you guys are like ‘he’s reinvented himself,’ and if I’m playing like crap and pushing then it’s ‘he’s horrible and needs to hit the ball.’ Everyone’s an expert but I’m better than most have been. . .” Pauses for some Chris Fowler chorteling and then: “Hey you guys can take it too.”

Improving Coordination

For most of us, coordination is something innate and we don’t believe it is possible to improve it. Let’s look at coordination and see what new concepts and what kind of training is available for it.

Hand-Eye Coordination

We have experienced an evolution in our concepts of coordination. I remember first reading about hand-eye coordination three decades ago. This was the idea that explored the relationship between what we saw and what action we were able to take as a result. So, this concept talked about seeing the ball and being able to take a swing and hitting the ball. It was a very good concept for helping us understand that there was a relationship between what we saw and what actions we could take because of it.

Rhythm and Timing

The latest ideas about coordination are based in the concepts of rhythm and timing. This concept gets us a little deeper into the relationships between our brain circuits and the rest of our body. This concept explores timing circuits in our brain and how they relate to our muscles, our sensory mechanisms, and our perceptions.

It looks at something called “motor sequencing and planning.” Basically, our coordination is about which muscles are fired off, in which sequence, to achieve some action. Coordination happens when those muscles are contracted and relaxed in the proper form at the proper time. I know that this all sounds very complex, and in reality it is incredibly complex. But, we don’t have to know exactly which brain cell or which nerve path, or which muscle gets involved with these actions. All we need to do is swing the racket and hit the ball where we want it to go.

What are Rhythm And Timing?

Timing is about the action happening at the appropriate moment to achieve the outcome. In a tennis serve, if the athlete hits the ball too early, the ball will go beyond the line and if the athlete hits the ball too late the ball will hit the net. Timing is about hitting the ball at the right time.

We often hear broadcasters telling us that an athlete has lost their timing. They (and we) see this when the player starts making double faults and unforced errors. The athlete is not hitting the ball at the precise time needed, so the ball is not going to the appropriate place.

Rhythm is about the flow of events. For the highest level of performance, an athlete needs to recognize and enter the flow of the play (often referred to as the rhythm-of-the-game) and then match it or manage it. Roger Federer is a master at entering into the rhythm of the other player’s game, and then changing the rhythm and ‘confusing’ the other player, which causes the other player to make an unforced error. Broadcasters often refer to Roger “stealing” the other player’s rhythm.

Athletes with the highest capability in rhythm are able to enter any rhythm, can change their rhythm whenever they want, and are not confused when the rhythm changes. The most common problems in rhythm is inability to recognize and match the rhythm of the other player and the inability to maintain themselves steady in their own rhythm.

Scott Hamilton talks about an ice skater entering a jump for 3 revolutions and “popping-out” after only one revolution. I really like that term to describe what I see when an athlete loses their rhythm in the middle of their play. As they lose their rhythm, they stop their own flow of play. Maintaining a steady rhythm and adapting to the existing rhythm are essential for the highest level of play.

What Affects Rhythm And Timing?

Poor rhythm and timing can be improved with proper training. This training involves tens of thousands of reps of very simple exercises maintaining a precise rhythm. It involves testing to track improvement in rhythm and timing.

Good rhythm and timing can be reduced by a variety of things. Injury, surgery, and some illnesses can disrupt the timing relationships between brain circuits and muscles and this requires training to re-establish the proper timing relationships.

Improper diet, environmental toxins, and emotional or physical trauma can temporarily degrade rhythm and timing. These can be avoided with proper precautions or overcome with some mental and physical techniques.

Rhythm And Timing On The Tennis Court

Want to see your favorite tennis player testing and activating their good rhythm and timing? Watch the player prepare to serve the ball. Notice the bouncing they do before the serve? They are verifying their continued good rhythm and timing. If they cannot maintain a good rhythm in that bouncing and catching exercise, they will perform poorly in the next point.

The same goes for receiving a serve. The swaying back and forth is a way of verifying and activating their own good rhythm and timing. Some (like Juan Martin del Potro) even do a little dance to test and re-connect with their good rhythm and timing, when waiting for a serve.

Rhythm and Timing, So What?

From my perspective, Novak Djokovic is doing so well this year because his rhythm and timing are so precise. And, Roger Federer, James Blake, and Andy Roddick are players who could move up dramatically in the standings by improving their rhythm and timing.

The State of Men’s Tennis in America

If you were to ask the casual tennis fan to name as many American male tennis players off of the top of their head as possible, most would easily name Mardy Fish, Andy Roddick, and John Isner.  After these three, a blank would be drawn.  The lack of resurgence from American male players since the end of the Sampras-Agassi era has been disappointing in the eyes of many fans to say the least.  The only two American players to have reached a Grand Slam semifinal since 2003 are Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.  In the defense of American players, the male game has become very top heavy in recent years with Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic becoming fixtures in the final four of majors.

The letdown of American male tennis players in the last 5-7 years is often viewed the wrong way.  Many have been led to believe that there simply has been a lag in American talent.  This statement is easily falsifiable.   Currently, there are 10 Americans in the top 100 in the world.   This is the most of any country apart from Spain, which has 13 men ranked in the top 100.

Now this begs question of has there actually been a letdown of talent or a failure of high expectations?   I think undoubtedly the latter is the answer.  Following the legacies of greats such as Agassi, Sampras,  and Courier is no short task.  It would be unreasonable to expect any group of any players from any country during any time period to achieve on the same level as these Americans did during the 80s’ and 90s.

If you go back in history, the only county since the beginning of the open era (1968) to achieve something comparable to what the Americans of the 1990′s achieved were Swedes in the 70s and 80s.  Wilander, Borg, and Edberg combined for 24 grand slams over an 18 year period.  The combination of Agassi, Sampras, Courier, collected 27 grandslams in 13 years.

A prime example of a player that has “failed” in the eyes of many Americans is Donald Young.  When Donald Young was 15 people were sighting him as the next big star and a shoe in as a future number one based on his success at Junior National Championships in Kalamazoo which he was winning.    Currently ranked 89th in the world, Young is 22 and already considered a bust.  It is extremely premature to declare the career of a 22 year old a disappointment.   Recently, many players have enjoyed their greatest successes near the end of their careers.  Two examples of this are Mardy Fish, who has surged to a career high ranking of number 7 at age 29 and Jurgen Melzer, a journeymen Austrian who made his deepest career run in every single major coincidentally at the age of 29.

With players on the rise such as  Mardy Fish, Ryan Harrison, Sam Querrey, Donald Young, John Isner, Alex Bogomolov Jr. , and Ryan Sweeting the future of American tennis appears to be very promising.  And while this group of players will unlikely achieve the greatness of those in the 1990s, it would be wise to hold off on the bust word for a while.

US Open 2011 Injury List is Growing

The injury list for the US Open is growing by the day, so it is going to be a very interesting tournament. The only top male player not on the list is Roger Federer.

• Novak Djokovic – Shoulder and general fatigue. Has had some issues with patella tendinitis this season
• Rafael Nadal – Large burn blisters on fingers and left foot
• Andy Murray – Sore arm
• Mardy Fish – Heel
• Tomas Berdych – Shoulder
• Robin Soderling – Wrist – he has announced he will travel to NYC
• Jo Wilfried Tsonga – Arm. Ultrasound showed no muscle tear after he withdrew in Montreal.
• Andy Roddick – Recently pulled out of Montreal with an oblique but played in Cincinnati.
• Milos Raonic – Recovering from hip surgery
• David Ferrer – Recovering from hairline fracture in left hand
• Tommy Robredo – Withdrawn – Ongoing groin issues
• Sam Querrey – Withdrawn – Recovering from elbow surgery (spurs)
• Juan Carlos Ferrero – Recovering from multiple injuries

Womens injuries so far:

• Serena Williams – Aggravation of toe injury
• Andrea Petkovic – Torn meniscus
• Kim Clijsters – Withdrawn – Abdominal muscle tear
• Venus Williams – Recovering from virus

Andy Roddick Launches His Own Lacoste Clothing Line

Andy Roddick has just released his first main clothing line with Lacoste and Im a big fan! It will be interesting to see if the clothes sell. Here is the promotional video for the Lacoste clothing line and the thoughts of Andy Roddick and the Lacoste CEO.

Andy Roddick Gets Point Penalty and Gives Away The Match at Western and Southern Open

Andy Roddick lost his cool and also the match to Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Western and Southern Open 6-7 7-5 6-1.

After losing the second set Roddick smashed his racquet to get a warning, then at the start of the final set he hit a ball into the stand and got a point penalty.

Roddick, wake up! That was hit in anger!

Andy Roddick Half Naked in Lacoste Refresh Ad Campaign

Andy Roddick seems refreshed with the new Lacoste Refresh! Very interesting ad campaign Andy!

Andy Roddick and Robin Soderling Withdraw from Montreal Masters

Former world number one Andy Roddick has withdrawn from the Rogers Cup which is also known as the Montreal Masters. Andy has cited that he has an injured oblique muscle, making it the second week in a row that Roddick withdrew from an event. Roddick has been bothered by injuries over the past two years, and was forced to pull out of Roland Garros about two months ago with a shoulder injury.

A local Montreal newspaper also reported that world number five Robin Soderling has also withdrawn from the event with a wrist injury. Among others who have opted out of the tournament include Jurgen Melzer (quad), and Xavier Malisse (personal).

After losing in the 3rd round of Wimbledon to Feliciano Lopez and then playing Davis Cup, Roddick has not played since and was forced to withdraw from this week’s tournament in Washington. Luckily, he hasn’t got any points to defend at Montreal since he has also pulled out from from the tournament last year. He should be able to compete at the Cincinnati event the week after Montreal and has sent a message about his return on Twitter: ”Hopefully I’ll be ready for cincy in 10 days or so…. Fingers crossed.” Let’s hope Andy will make it to the Cincy event since he does have 360 semifinal points to defend there, and also will make an appearance at the new tournament in Winston-Salem, NC just before the last Grand Slam of the year (US Open).

Well, it is a pity that some of the best players in the world have cancelled their appearance at Montreal but there are still plenty more great players who should make up for it.

Andy Roddick & Michelle Bernstein Team Up for Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis

It is time again for the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis. The tournament brings together the top tennis players in the world and the top chefs in a pro-am type format.

The star-studded charity event produced by AYS Sports Marketing will hold court Thursday, August 25^th, 7-10pm at the W New York in midtown Manhattan. For more information check out their website: www.bnpparibastasteoftennis.com.

Tennis Players include:

• Andy Roddick
• Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
• Mardy Fish
• Tomas Berdych
• Kei Nishikori
• Andrea Petkovic
• Marin Cilic
• Lleyton Hewitt
• Darren Cahill
• Victoria Azarenka
• Milos Raonic
• Francesca Schiavone
• Li Na
• Jarmila Gajdosova
• Lucie Safarova
• Dominika Cibulkova
• Gilles Simon
• and more…

Andy Roddick Pulls Out of Legg Mason Championships

Andy Roddick has had to withdraw from the Legg Mason tournament with a grade 2 strain or partial tear of the oblique abdominal muscle. The injury was suffered in practice, but hopefully it wont keep him out for upcoming tournaments and the US Open 2011.

“Make no mistake; it’s disappointing to lose a player of Andy’s caliber, especially in light of his success and many years of participation throughout his career here in DC,” said Tournament Director, Jeff Newman.

Andy Roddick on the Weakest Link

Good work Andy. Here is Andy Roddick’s appearance on the weakest link!