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Improved Roddick putting on show at French Open

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Updated May 30, 2009 5:57 PM ET
     
 

PARIS

By no means should anyone bring up the possibility of winning the French Open to Andy Roddick. He's a serious man, and that's not a serious topic. He knows better than anyone else that his possibilities are limited on dirt, and that potential does not include beating the likes of Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer. But while the 26-year-old is realistic, he's also convinced that he's far better than his results in Paris, which until this week, have been poor. Consider this: In seven previous appearances, where he hasn't advanced past the third round, these are the players he has lost to — Wayne Arthurs, Sargis Sargsian, Olivier Mutis, Jose Acasuso, Alberto Martin and Igor Andreev (the seventh loss was an injury retirement against Lleyton Hewitt in 2001). That's not exactly a "Who's Who" of men's tennis. Moving gingerly, slipping frequently, framing balls, totally frustrated with how to impose his high-power game on a low-wattage surface, Roddick flamed out again and again. But experiences matter a great deal in sports, as does a better perspective, improved quickness and willingness to learn. So after his 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 victory over France's Marc Gicquel in the third round, Roddick was quite satisfied. He reached the second week and will confront a more talented Frenchman — Gael Monfils, who reached the semifinals last year — on Monday. "I like my chances maybe more than the other years," Roddick said. "It feels nice, but there's certainly some more work to be done." Roddick was sick and tired of going to one Paris press conference after another where the decline of U.S. tennis on dirt was the topic du jour. His coach, Larry Stefanki, let him know that it was about time he played up to his ability. "I told him there's no reason why you can't do well here," Stefanki said. "Rafter and Henman have done it (both serve and volleyers who reached the semifinals), there are other big-game players who have done well here and you are good enough and a lot tougher mentally than some of these guys. He's starting to believe." The Texan is fitter, faster and has added some necessary elements to his game on dirt: a drop shot, short-angled groundstrokes, a dependable backhand slice and a consistently improving transition game to the net. "I'm moving a little better on this stuff," he said. "I'm able to kind of slide into my forehand. I think that's just a comfort level. When I'm playing well, I can play well on clay. But it's that middle area when I don't feel like I'm playing that well when the matches can get a little shifty. That's when it becomes a huge neutralizer." In his first three matches, Roddick has done almost nothing wrong, serving smart and big, clocking his forehand, hitting consistent cross-court backhands and even some stunningly effective backhand down-the-line winners.
"He's using variety on his serve to get the guys out of position and using three or four shots after that," Stefanki said. "It's a big improvement. He knows he's fit and he's not doing it all with power and that's clay. He has to work the points and not go to brute strength." Roddick has been working his volleys for what seems like eons and over the past two years has seen some substantial improvements. But his transition game to the net was often lacking, which is why he finds himself ranked outside of the top five. Guys like Federer and Nadal have passed him nearly at will, and Stefanki believes that's because Roddick too often approaches on the wrong shots, or is approaching the wrong way. "His success is based on how good his approaches are, so he doesn't feel like a fish out of water," Stefanki says. "Short balls are the time to go. But he likes to go to the meat of the court for safety, which is usually cross-court, and on this surface that's not the play. You have to get behind them in the backhand corner and control the court geometrically." Due to an offseason spent at the track and an improved diet, Roddick is said to be 10 pounds lighter. He'll never be a burner like Monfils, whom Stefanki calls the tour's best athlete. Stefanki thinks that Roddick has to stay calm and says that his recent marriage to model Brooklyn Decker has done him a good turn. "She's the greatest and has really helped him a lot. He's a high-strung guy, and she's calmed him. A good person can always help when you are overwhelmed a little, and she's a straight shooter. She has her own career and understands what's its like to be in pressure situations. She's done a lot of good things for him mentally." Roddick and Monfils have split their six matches, with Roddick winning their two matches on hard courts this year and Monfils taking their only two meetings on clay. Roddick says that if he can keep the points tight, he'll go in with a shot. On paper, Stefanki likes the matchup because Monfils stands so far back that Roddick can control the court. Plus, he calls Roddick a big-match player. "Andy knows when to turn the crank emotionally," Stefanki said. "He's a very hyper, excitable guy and there are times to use it and there are times not to use it. If you put it on 10 in the crank level from the very first game, you run out of gas. I believe in staying calm. I tell Andy — it's a long race."

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