TNT Sports
Roddick's clay-court hope
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Published 20/05/2004 at 11:49 GMT+1
Watching Andy Roddick practice with Andre Agassi at Roland Garros on Court Philippe Chatrier on Wednesday, you couldn't help but feel that the reigning U.S. Open champion would realise his goal at this year's 103rd championship. Simply to go one better th
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Brad Gilbert, Agassi's former coach, has coached the 21-year-old for 50 weeks now, and the French Open will be a first tournament.
In this time, Roddick has tightened up his game, adding greater consistency to his serve and backhand and was crowned world champion last year.
It is his fear of losing in the first round for the third successive year that has brought Roddick to Paris one week early.
"That's one reason I have come over here early and been training every day at Roland Garros," Roddick said.
"There's no real excuse if I don't perform up to what is necessary."
His first round loss to Armenian Sargis Sargsian last year forced Roddick to make the biggest decision of his young career.
Keep his long-time coach Tarik Benhabiles of France, or go for new inspiration.
Roddick phones Gilbert during the second week of the French Open, and within a few days the pair were at Queen's Club in west London, beginning a partnership, which has yielded one Grand Slam title and six tour titles.
While the clay surface will work against his power-serving game, the Nebraskan believes he could be a threat if he was playing his best.
"For me it's just a matter of being consistent on clay," Roddick said.
"When I'm not playing my best, it shows a little more on the dirty stuff."
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