The 20-year-old's game, and a new coach, should help him thrive at the All England Club.
By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published June 22, 2003
You are Andy Roddick.
You are the great hope of American tennis.
Your skills are sharp and personality fresh.
You draw comparisons to Jimmy Connors because of your heart and John McEnroe because of your fire.
You're ranked sixth and own seven tournament titles (two this year). You reached the quarterfinals at the past two U.S. Opens and the semifinals of this year's Australian Open, but you haven't won a major - you've only played in 10 - and sometimes get treated as if you're Phil Mickelson, golf's best player to never win a major.
On the eve of Wimbledon, the world's most prestigious tournament, an Associated Press columnist wrote, "Tennis desperately needs Andy Roddick to step up to stardom."
You don't turn 21 for another two months.
You are Andy Roddick. And you're playing in front of a tough crowd.
"Is he ready to win?" TV commentator Patrick McEnroe said. "I think it's possible."
Many will focus on the fifth-seeded Roddick when Wimbledon begins Monday at the All England Club. With his power - he tied the professional record by smashing a 149 mph serve June 14 - mobility and solid net capabilities, he has the game to thrive at Wimbledon.
Roddick won last week's Queen's Club title on grass, beating world No.1 Andre Agassi for the first time in the semifinals.
"He has all kinds of game for grass," commentator Mary Carillo said of Roddick. "And I think he's taking himself a lot more serious this year. He'll be a presence."
His coach deserves some credit.
Roddick recently hired Brad Gilbert, who is largely responsible for resurrecting the career of a down-and-out Agassi a few years ago. Some consider Gilbert a master of strategy.
"We're starting right in the thick of things. It's boom, Queen's and Wimbledon, so it's not like we're going to start making changes in his game right now," Gilbert told the Associated Press. "We'll work on tactics, dissecting opponents, subtle little things."
Said McEnroe: "Gilbert was a great choice."
But winning his first major at Wimbledon won't be easy for Roddick.
The second-seeded Agassi won the championship in 1992 and is playing perhaps the best of his career. A victory would move the 33-year-old into sixth place on the all-time Grand Slam singles title list with nine.
Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, the top seed, has struggled this year and is in Roddick's half of the draw. French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero is known for his play on clay, but he and a slew of others, like fifth-ranked Roger Federer, could be a factor.
The women's field is equally compelling.
Top-seeded Serena Williams enters after having been bounced by eventual champion Justine Henin-Hardenne in the French Open semifinals. Williams was booed by fans at Roland Garros throughout the final set, which didn't sit well.
"She's going to be extra motivated," commentator Pam Shriver said.
Williams defeated sister Venus to win last year's title, her first at Wimbledon. Venus is searching for her first major championship in two years, and is, by her standards, having a down season. But she has won the championship twice.
"I don't think Venus has shown any signs of breaking out of her slump," Shriver said. "I don't expect her to get too far along."
Henin-Hardenne lacks a powerful serve but has played well in England before. Second-ranked Kim Clijsters has the talent to win, but she had meltdowns in both majors this season, leaving doubt whether she'll win her first Grand Slam event any time soon.
