An Interview With: ANDY RODDICK from ATPTennis.com
GREG SHARKO: Thank you for joining us for today's conference call with Andy Roddick, who joins us from his home in Boca Raton. Andy enters his second US Open at a career high 16th on the ATP Champions Race and 18th on the ATP Entry System. He goes in as the No. 18th seed.
He's the first American teenager in the top 20 since Michael Chang in February of 1992. In the draw released earlier today Andy plays 1999 US Open quarterfinalist Slava Dosedel of the Czech Republic in the first round. It will be their first meeting. He comes into the U.S. open with a 33-11 match record on the season and off his 3rd ATP title on Sunday at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington. He's the first American teenager to win at least 3 titles in the season since Pete Sampras won 4 in 1990.
Q. What are your expectations going into this tournament?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't really have any. Obviously I think that I'm playing pretty well right now, and I just want to keep that up. If I play well, I think I should have a good chance in most matches.
Q. Are you raising the expectations in your own mind going into these Grand Slams as you play more? Do you have higher hopes for this tournament than you did, say, for the French?
ANDY RODDICK: Obviously I feel like I'm a better player now than I was going into the French. Maybe I feel I will do better. I want to play well, and if someone is going to beat me, I want to make sure they play well. For example, Goran at Wimbledon, he just played too good.
Q. Did you compare what it's like to be going into this US Open as compared with a year ago? Much different situation for you, I would assume.
ANDY RODDICK: For sure. This year I'm 18 in the world going in, and last year I was just happy to be getting the chance to even participate, and I definitely feel like I belong there a little bit more now.
Q. I was wondering when you were a little kid growing up and messing around on the practice courts, was there anybody's service motion you tried to imitate?
ANDY RODDICK: No. I had fun imitating players to imitate them, but I didn't really imitate anybody serving, actually, and use it.
Q. Could you give us a little bit of a time line about how your serve has developed over the years?
ANDY RODDICK: I wasn't always big. One day in practice, when I was probably 16, it was probably 1998 I was getting mad in practice, and I just kind of walked up to the line and threw this half serve thing and tried to hit the ball as hard as I could, just out of anger, and the ball went in. And I did it three or four more times and the serve was pretty good, and that's what happened.
Q. You've had such an extraordinary break-neck ride on the Tour this year. Can you tell me what are the three best things about being a professional tennis players, and what are the three worst things be being a professional player?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't really know. Obviously the best thing is you get to travel around. I get to play in front of people. And I don't know if there are three bad things about it. The hardest thing is being away from home and being away from friends and family for extended periods of time.
Q. And, of course, you haven't played Slava before, but have you scouted him and has your coach scouted him?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, we've seen him play before. I've seen him play a couple of times before. He can hit every shot. He's an all-around player. I'm looking guard to a good match.
Q. How are you preparing for the U.S. open this year?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm at home right now training in Florida. Bob Bryan is down here training with us, and we're getting in some good practice.
Q. I was wondering when you hear the introduction that Greg gave you and hear all those superlatives, what goes through your mind? You're the youngest this, youngest that, being named in the same breath as the Samprases, Aggassies, and Changs. What goes through your mind?
ANDY RODDICK: It's flattering and it feels good. But at the same time, I know I'm nowhere near Agassi, Sampras, Chang or anywhere near what they've accomplished in their careers, so I still have a long ways to go.
Q. People who saw you perform in DC say that you have quite a rapping career in your future. What do you have to say about that?
ANDY RODDICK: That was more of a goof-off thing. I was out at the Bryans' house and they're great musicians, Bob plays the keyboard and Mike plays the drums, and they said what do you do? So I just kind of had some fun. And they called me up on stage at a charity event and I did it. I don't know if there's much more of that in my future.
Q. People who know you in Juniors, say you've always been quite the Singer, and that just something you like to do or do you just like to perform?
ANDY RODDICK: I love music, and I think it brings out the best in everybody. It can set a mood and makes for a fun atmosphere. So I just love music.
Q. Lastly, how would you describe yourself?
ANDY RODDICK: Off the court I'm pretty laid back. I definitely have a bit of goof ball in me, but at the same time when it comes to being on the court I'm pretty tenacious and pretty intense.
Q. Given the fact that you were kind of small as a player, and you had a brother that was so good in Juniors, did you ever think you'd get to this point or did you think it would be your brother?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I never really thought about that when I was younger. I never thought about him making it or me making it. I always looked up to him and thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. I didn't really think about it too much when I was little. I'm still kind of taking it in stride.
Q. Everyone is looking for the next great American to come about and just wondering what you thought of those expectations. Is it too much, too soon to be talking about you in that way and do you feel that Patrick McEnroe saying today it's just a matter of time?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I'm just going to keep trying to improve. I don't know what the future holds. Your guess is as good as mine. But if I don't make it as big as Pete and Andre, which I probably won't, considering they're two of the greatest ever, I just said it's not going to be because of lack of hard work or effort on my part.
Q. At this point what separates you right now? Is it just match experience? What do you think is separating you from being in the top five?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, time. I haven't been out there very long. It's kind of tough to do it all in six months. But I definitely think the more experience I get, the more I'll learn, and therefore the better I'll get.
Q. Andy, I know your focus is all on the Open right now, but could you talk about your commitment to Davis Cup and why it's important for you to play Davis Cup?
ANDY RODDICK: I think playing for your country is one of sport's ultimate honors, and to be able to do that in a major competition like Davis Cup is just a dream of mine.
Q. Have you looked at all at the tie in Winston Salem?
ANDY RODDICK: I think about that tie every day. I've known about it since early this year, who were going to play, and I've waited a long time. I'm anxious to get out there.
Q. Of all of your victories over top players like Sampras and Chang, which one was the most exciting for you and why?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm not sure. It's tough to pick one. Once you get that feeling after winning a really tough match, it's just -- you can't really decipher which one was better. And obviously Pete was a great one for my confidence and helped me believe in myself. Michael was great because the guts, and it was kind of a weird situation with him doing it earlier. And Gustavo was the first player rated No. 1 that I've beaten. They were all great but for different reasons.
Q. I know you live at home and you still drive your parents' car around when you're at Boca. Do you have any plans to buy a car or your own home anytime soon?
ANDY RODDICK: It will happen sometime in the future. I'm not sure -- it's going to happen sooner or later. Obviously that's another step in my life that I'm going to have to take.
Q. What do you feel (inaudible)?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm going to have to get through the first round or two, and those are the toughest when everybody is there and everybody is hungry, and you can't take anybody for granted. And I'm the type of player where the more matches I get under my belt, the better I start playing. Hopefully I'll be able to get my feet in the tournament.
Q. Was the seed kind of a surprise for you?
ANDY RODDICK: No, after Washington I was ranked 18, so being the 18th seed isn't too much of a surprise.
Q. How big a confidence boost was this, the win in Washington?
ANDY RODDICK: Great. I needed some matches. Even though I did well in Montreal by getting to the quarters there, I lost first round in LA and first round in Cincinnati. I definitely felt I could use a couple more matches going into the Open.
Q. Going into the Open, what do you feel will be the crowd support?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm hoping it will be some pretty big support. Obviously I'm an American. It's going to be in New York where they're known for their rowdy crowds. So hopefully I'll be able to vie with them a little bit and they'll get into it.
Q. Should you make the final, looking ahead, would it be hard to concentrate with a Nebraska and Notre Dame game on?
ANDY RODDICK: If I make it to the finals of the Grand Slam, I don't think I'll have trouble concentrating.
Q. I wanted to ask you one of the things I find impressive about your game is you're able to take risk and play aggressively on the big points. Was that always part of your game or was that as you developed, the big serve and the more aggressive game?
ANDY RODDICK: That just developed over time. When I was little I kind of pushed. I didn't have a lot of shots. I couldn't hit the ball hard because I wasn't very big. When I did get some size, I just wanted to use it in the right way. And I think that's the best way for me if I'm down to get it back.
Q. When you started this season, did you set any goals for yourself in terms of ranking or titles or anything like that?
ANDY RODDICK: I wanted to end this year top 60 ATP at the beginning of the year, I wanted to get to the semis of a Tour event, and get main draw in French, Wimbledon and U.S. open, those were my goals at the beginning of the year.
Q. How important is emotion in your game and success? And it seems like here in the states the crowds get behind you. What kind of crowd support do you think you'll get at the Open, and how does that play into your game? You seem like an emotional player.
ANDY RODDICK: I definitely -- I'm emotional. I'm pretty energetic out there and maybe the crowd feels they can relate to me a little bit because I show emotion, and maybe that's a little more of what they're used to. And I'm sure the crowd in New York will hopefully relate to that and get behind me. That would be great.
Q. Were you aware the way the U.S. open draw worked out today and how the top half is interestingly open for you?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know how open any draw is at the beginning of a Grand Slam. I mean everybody is going to be there; everybody is playing. So it's going to be tough. But I haven't looked much past my first round.
Q. Andy, is being in the next generation of the guys considered the people to succeed Agassi and Sampras something you can embrace, or does that add pressure to your daily performance at a Grand Slam?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I haven't really been feeling any pressure. I get asked that question more than any other question, and I think I've showed through my play that it doesn't really bother me too much. And I'm definitely excited about the next generation. I think we have a lot of good up-and-coming players, and I'm looking forward to being a part of that.
Q. Does that come with responsibility to promote the game, to give the up-and-coming players more of a name as Agassi and Sampras are getting into the twilight of their careers?
ANDY RODDICK: I think the ATP is doing a great job with their "New Balls Please" campaign I think it has some style to it and stuff that the pictures are pretty sweet. And that hasn't been seen before in tennis. And I definitely think that they're doing the right things to promote the game in the right way.
Q. Any special preparation going into the U.S. open? It being in the caldron of New York activity it will be, do you take any special effort going in?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I'm really going to try to treat it like I've treated the rest of the year. I'm not going to try to get psyched out or do anything wild and crazy. I'm going to stick to my normal routine and go for it.
Q. Andy, Texas is really short right now on top pros in the men's and women's. Are we allowed to claim you as a Texan from your time in Austin?
ANDY RODDICK: I definitely am. I love Austin and I would love to move back there some day. It's a beautiful city, and I definitely had some good years there.
Q. Playing Gustavo on hard court, does he seem more beatable, or is that perception changing now?
ANDY RODDICK: No, obviously his best surface is clay. He dominates on clay. But he's won a master's series on hard, and last week on hard and semifinal in LA. So I think he's had an awesome summer on the hard courts as well, better than anybody else, maybe with the exception of Rafter.
Q. About playing him? What's the toughest thing about playing him? What specifically separates him from the other guys?
ANDY RODDICK: He hits the ball heavy. He has big looping strokes and gets nice length on them. He's constantly firing. I think he has an underrated serve, also.
Q. A lot of us were wondering if Pete has kind of lost some of his aura. Are we seeing the end of his career? What are your thoughts about playing him now? Would you feel more confident going up against him at this stage of his career?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I'm not sure because I've never -- I have nothing to base comparison, because I haven't played him before this year. But I think he definitely still has an aura about him. He's probably still with Andre. They're probably the two most respected guys in the locker room. So he definitely can still play some great tennis. And I don't think people should be sleeping on him just yet.
Q. Do you have any good luck charms?
ANDY RODDICK: Not really. I'm kind of superstitious in the fact that if I'm feeling good, I'll eat the same breakfast or just kind of keep the same routine, but nothing really as a good luck charm.
Q. Andy, have you ever met Alex Rodriquez?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I haven't.
Q. Or spoken to him?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I haven't. And he's going to be upset that I'm trying to sneak in on his big name.
Q. That all started with -- until the Davis Cup, I understand, is that right?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, my friends at home have called me that for a little while, and I guess it just caught on. And now that I play tennis on a little bigger stage, it's the first time people have actually taken notice of it.
Q. Andy, who do you consider the favorites in this tournament?
ANDY RODDICK: Obviously Andre -- I think he's been the best hard court playing throughout the year so far. And Gustavo has had a great summer leading up in Cincinnati and the final last week, and Pat Rafter has had a great summer. I think those are the favorites.
Q. Where do you put yourself in relation to that group?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm not close to those guys. I'm still trying to work in and I'm just going to try to do my best.
Q. Andy you've had a chance to do some pretty fun off court stuff, as far as appearing on different shows. Any experience or two that really stand out that you particularly enjoyed?
ANDY RODDICK: The Kilborn show was fun. That was my first actual talk show. I was a little nervous, but it was a good time. And also I got to throw out the first pitch at the Reds game.
Q. Any luck with that mystery girl that you mentioned?
ANDY RODDICK: We've been talking a little bit on the phone, so maybe I'll be able to work it a little bit.
Q. When you were in Juniors people said that you would never, if you double faulted or missed a shot, you would just kind of smile and blow it off. And I was wondering what changed, because now you obviously get a little upset at yourself and talk to yourself and sometimes yell at yourself, and just what has changed the last couple of years?
ANDY RODDICK: I think I still smile a lot on the court, and it's obvious that I'm having a good time. But Juniors I didn't have to worry about it so much. I was pretty confident even if I double faulted in Juniors I was going to hold serve. And maybe that was cause for a more laid back attitude. I was more confident. If I played good or bad that, I would win the match.
Q. It seems now that every point is so much more important or the matches are obviously more important.
ANDY RODDICK: It's just that I'm playing better players, therefore, every match is crucial. I still have a temper in Juniors. I'm not sure who said I was all smiling all the time, but I've pretty much acted the same throughout.
Q. Andy, how do you feel your health is right now?
ANDY RODDICK: Really good. In Washington I had no problems. I was playing a lot of tennis. I played 8 matches that week, singles and doubles, and I had no soreness, no aches and pains. So this is probably the best I've felt this year so far.
Q. Do you have any plans for your birthday?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't have any plans, considering it's probably going to be the day I play or something like that. Maybe I'll go out to dinner with some close friends and family. That would be nice.
GREG SHARKO: We appreciate your time, Andy. All the best at the Open.
ANDY RODDICK: Thanks.
End of FastScripts.
An Interview With: ANDY RODDICK from