The Fighter

Andy Roddick has always felt at ease on the American hardcourts. However, after some really disappointing months at the beginning of the season, his credentials going into the North American swing were pretty low. He managed to get back to winning ways in July with a title run in Eastbourne, but after a third round loss at Wimbledon to Spaniard David Ferrer, Andy seemed to still be struggling with a lack of confidence and a rather poor display.

At a time when most of the top players opted to take time out to prepare for the upcoming London Olympics, the American chose to find remedy for his crisis and entered Atlanta, a tournament he won as an 18 year old in 2001. Relying on his solid serving, Roddick advanced without much trouble to the semifinals where he faced top-seeded compatriot, John Isner. In a battle of big servers, it was Andy who proved more efficient holding his serve throughout the encounter and managing to break Isner two times to seal a hard-fought 6-4,6-7,6-4 victory and book his place in the final.

A huge favorite against Luxembourger Gilles Müller, Andy got off to the worst possible start. Visibly hindered by a nasty shoulder injury, the American was barely able to put a serve across the net and his opponent too full advantage of the situation. Quickly, Müller bagged the opener and with Roddick continuing to struggle, he looked set to finally break the duck and win his maiden career title. Having served superbly throughout, Gilles got tight at the conclusion of the second set, allowing his opponent to get into the match. A poorly played tiebreak proved the decisive point of the final, as Andy, once back on level terms, was unreachable. He broke Müller's serve at the beginning of the decider and carried to advantage to the end, serving out the win at 5-2, leaving the Luxembourger to rue on yet another missed opportunity. He is now 0-3 in title matches.

“I know by now the score of a set is irrelevant. Whether it’s 7-6 or 6-1, it still counts the same. With most other sports, you get way up in the first quarter and it actually means something in regards to the rest of the game. In tennis, it’s not really the case too often, with the exception of momentum. You just try to start over and put some holds together. I was able to [slide] out the second set and I think he might have gotten a little tired in the third,” declared the American after a match that provided another clear example of how sheer determination and a tremendous fight can dug you out of some deep trouble. Andy is a great fighter and he showed he was plenty of gas left in the tank, so I hope he will stick around for a few more years. “I’ve won 32 times now and every one of them, I’ve never assumed I was going to win again,” said Roddick. “I’ve always appreciated it... I go through the process of playing, work hard, and hope that I can put myself in position enough times to create some success.”

With his second title in the last three tournament, his season is starting to turn around and he now looks set to challenge Federer, Djokovic and co. for the Olympic gold, especially as the tournament is played at Wimbledon, on grass, his favorite surface. 

Although injured, Andy Roddick delighted the American crowd coming from behind to ensure a 1-6,7-6,6-2 victory of Gilles Müller to win his second Atlanta crown. The Luxembourqer was chasing his maiden career trophy, but has now fallen 0-3 in title matches.

photos: GETTY IMAGES