Andy Roddick was focused on launching his title assault at next
week's Australian Open even though he will probably have to do
without his coach Jimmy Connors.
The death of Connors's mother, Gloria, on Tuesday in Illinois
means that the eight-times grand slam champion is unlikely to
travel half way around the world to support Roddick in the season's
opening grand slam tournament.
But Roddick, who is hoping to capture a second major following
his success at the 2003 US Open, said his game plan was already in
place after a productive off season with Connors.
"We have put the work in together and I think we're on the same
wavelength. Regardless of what happens, he'll be watching the
matches and we'll be talking," Roddick told reporters after
enjoying a swift 6-2, 6-3 win over Germany's Tommy Haas at the
Kooyong Classic yesterday.
"Obviously, I'd love to have him here, but right now I'm not
sure if that's an option, and so you make the best of it. But his
influence isn't gone, he's still very much involved."
Roddick hooked up with Connors last July and the move
immediately paid dividends as he won his first title in 2006 just
weeks later at the Cincinnati Masters.
With that success achieved through a long-distance coaching
relationship, Roddick remained upbeat about his challenge Down
Under.
"Arguably my best tournament last year was in Cincinnati, and we
were talking on the phone," said the 24-year-old.
"We're still talking every day... (but) the last thing I'm going
to do is force him into decisions right now. I think that would be
pretty insensitive."
However, Roddick admitted he would miss having Connors around on
a day-to-day basis.
"It's just a matter of having Jimmy's energy around and his
knowledge there at our disposal 16 hours a day," he said.
"Now it's just going to have to be a little bit less and it's
going to have to be over the phone.
"The biggest thing is just keeping the momentum that I had going
towards the end of last year. The first six months was very
ordinary, and I felt the last six months especially, through to the
US Open, was very good.
"So I'm just trying to build on that."
(China Daily via Agencies January 11, 2007)