Third set of match with Cilic today, the umpire, a very experienced Brazilian, I think, had the audacity to first call a replay of a point Roddick won b/c a crowd noise distracted Cilic right at the time of the serve. Roddick, down a break, conceded rather nicely to the umpire to replay the point. He was down a break and had already been testy with the umpire (the TC announcer said he felt Roddick often hurt himself while playing in No. America b/c he lets his anger show more freely than when he plays in Europe). So Roddick served again and his first serve nipped the corner of the sideline and service line. The linesman called it good, but the umpire quickly overruled and called it out. Roddick challenged the call and the replay showed that the ball did just nip the outside of both lines. The challenge gave Roddick the game, but he was outraged.

He stormed off to his chair, yapping at the umpire the whole way about why he would overrule a call on the far sideline from him. Roddick said something about how he was so nice to replay the point before the serve, but the umpire still had the audacity to overrule on a ball that was not close to him. Roddick went on and on, at one point, saying something like, "How could you do that?" The umpire nicely admitted that he had made a mistake, but he thought the serve was out.

Roddick's whole act has worn thin with a lot of people I think by now. I've never seen any of the other top players lash out at umpires and try to belittle them the way Roddick does. To me, he seems almost pathological. In his mind, it seems like he can't believe that anyone question the way he goes about his business.

Ironically, while his temper has gotten hotter, his game has lost a great deal of his fire. Against Cilic today, it was the same old story. If he didn't win the point with his serve, he had no firepower to hit winners, particularly off of his forehand which when he was younger was lethal. Cilic was the one who had the bigger forehand and seemed the more confident player. 

I've just gotten tired of Roddick's act from the beating of the ball with his racket before his serve, to the way he wipes his face with his shirt, to the way he squints his eyes at the sun, to the way he looks at his brother in the stands with a look of mock disbelief when something doesn't go his way on the court, to his brow-beating, bad-humored, quick-talking, huffy way he deals with umpires. Yes, the guy has a great charity, but that doesn't absolve him of the way he acts on the court and in front of most media members.

While the umpire was trying to explain to Roddick why he was ordering the replay of the point b/c of the crowd noise, he said to Roddick, "This isn't the Davis Cup," meaning the crowd can't be as loud or disruptive as a DCup crowd. For Roddick, it's too bad that every match can't be a DCup match b/c the guy has gone near-completely south in every other match since he conquered Mathieu in Winston Salem. 

This is just the way he is sometimes, when he's losing a match he feels he should win. He has to vent. Tennis can be a very frustrating sport sometimes. I mean surely we all have seen or lived some pretty tough to take moments in tennis. The worst one I ever heard was when my friend saved 10 MPs in a college match. The opponent who lost, after it was over, took each one of his racquets out of his bag one at a time, a total of six or eight racquets, and just smashed them to bits then threw them over the fence and into the woods one after the other.

I mean tennis can drive you crazy sometimes. There was  a thread on the tenniswarehouse forum about stories about people losing it on court and there were dozens of incredible stories, I mean INCREDIBLE ) Guy destroying a full metal garbage can, etc etc. It still is up, highly recommend taking a look, you will laugh for sure.

You gotta forgive Roddick, he is a warrior who absolutely hates to lose. At least admire his severe intolerance and distaste for defeat. Hey at least he didn't tank.    

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:

Scoop,

There is a fundamental difference between taking out your anger on your rackets or venting loudly to yourself or to the air--not that that's great behavior, either--but what Roddick does is that he belittles--or tries to--opponents and the umpires, in a way that JMac used to but JMac was younger than Roddick is today when he did his real bad behavior.

I'm not part of the behavior police, but I'm real sensitive to people using their power to insult others, especially when it's not called for. The umpire in yesterday's match may have used poor judgment in over-ruling a call on the far sideline, but it's not like the first time an umpire has ever done this.

It also didn't hurt Roddick as he used his challenge and won the point. So say something to the umpire, but don't go off on a rant, especially when you're down a break in the third. Better to set your mind on winning back that break. 

As Roddick's game has lost its muster, he has become full of more bluster. I see that he doesn't have those outbursts when his fiancee is in the crowd. He knows better, he's just a bully who likes to berate others. He doesn't practice too much self-flagellation.

Red,

 
Full disclosure - I am a Roddick fan so my comments will have a bias.

 
While I can understand you should be tired of his huffiness, and while you obviously have a right to not like the way he "wipes his face with his shirt before a point", I think you go a bit far in your dislike of his routines (which most players have).  Do you also dislike the way Rafa picks his butt, or the way "the Djoke" bounces the ball nineteen times, or Maria shrieks and has her routine ... I could go on about players idiosyncrasies.

 
Me thinks you don't like Roddick and hence you will find fault with most of what he does.  Maybe you didn't like his reaction after he beat Roger this year or the fact the he wears Lacoste.  Of course I am being factitious but maybe temper your comments about him to his game (or lack there of in the last couple of months), or his display of anger.

 
I give the guy a lot of credit for working hard, showing up and laying his heart out on the line every time.

 
I read an article a couple of days ago when a reporter asked him (I am paraphrasing) whether he felt unlucky to be playing tennis at a time when Roger Federere and Nadal were playing and Roddick's reply, which showed a lot of maturity and perspective, was something to the effect of ... let's not get carried away with calling him unlucky.   I think he said he felt very lucky in his life given what others go through and explaining that we was fortunate to be playing a great sport and competing with great athletes.

 
He is human and he lets the emotions and frustrations of a tense match get the better of him sometimes.  I think he is a rare talent and a great player - the fact that he has a wonderful charity and that players on the circuit would not say too many bad things about should not get lost in the noise.  Everyone does not have ice running in their veins.  I like the fact that he is believes he is right on the court and that he expects umpires to have an incredibly high standard and agree with him.  We don't want a world of mamby-pamby, quilt purse carrying, gold crested sweater wearing, Roger Federer's on the court all the time do we.  Nor do we want everyone to be a butt picking, pirate outfit wearing, taking 5 minutes between points, bottle in a line placing, Nadal's do we.  I actually admire and am a fan of both Nadal and Federer and the way I describe them above does not reflect how I feel about them or their outfits - my point here is that we can criticize any player for routines and outfits and shrieking and entourages etc. etc.

 
Maybe we expect too much from Roddick - I hope we are wrong and that he can get his game together and perform the way he is capable of.  The tennis world is littered with talent that has not achieved what they are capable of - anyone here of Safin, Rios etc. etc.  maybe Roddick will be one of those guys who never finds the right mix of coaching, mental balance and health to win another major or be as consistent as he should be. I hope he does. 

 
He is good for the game, he brings a lot to the table, he doesn't quit or tank, he wears his heart on his sleeve and is not politically correct all the time.  I like that in my players - having said all that I'd also like him to win more.

 
Ciao, 

 

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Cyboat

From the first time I saw Roddick practice close up at The Open, I thought he was a young punk.He showed up his practice partner who that day happened to be his "close" friend Fish, and seemed to glow in the fact that PMac and Courier (who was involved with DC at the time) were kissing his butt right in front of Benhabilles(sp)

Since then he has tried to become a master of intimidation and gamesmanship while his game hasnt grown. He tries to come off as the intelligent, thoughtful,witty jock, I dont see it. I see it as an act,sorry. It would be great to be able to like an American kid, he just doesnt bring out the loyalty.

On another note, Can anyone tell me exactly what Connors might have done for Roddick? His game is back to the same 10 feet behind the baseline, I hope you make an error first tennis.

Connors should never get another coaching job, nor should John Roddick.

Ok, RP doesn't want me to get another Roddick interview ever again by posting my name to my "I thought" somewhat annonymous comments on this blog. But that's ok, I've done my Roddick articles in the past. And these were my impressions of him.

I did a phone interview with him when he was about 18 and I came away thinking he was a good guy, talkative, funny, mature. But over the years I've seen his persona change with the press. Now, I'm sure he's reacting to the grilling he sometimes receives, but a lot of it has had to do with the fact--I think--now he's the one in power. He grants interviews or puts more into a press conference when he wants to. Before, he stepped up the mike or tape recorder more willingly and expressively.

The best way I can describe Roddick--just from my observations--is he's the kind of guy, even if he's a friend of yours, who will come up and punch you hard in the arm and then laugh like such an action is funny. He's got a mature, intelligent side to him, but he's more comfortable playing poker or messing around with his friends and being a wiseguy.

At Davis Cup, I was surprised he kidded Ginepri pretty harshly in the pc's b/c Robby seems like a pretty good, straight-shooter kind of guy. Maybe he's not the most intelligent guy on the circuit, but Roddick more than anyone else on that team, was giving Ginepri some razzing and I think it was b/c Ginepri wasn't a top player on the team and his ranking had fallen.

Spadea said to me once that he initially got along with Roddick well, but then their relationship turned sour b/c he felt Roddick didn't want him stealing any of his fame and fortune. Now that's Vince's opinion, but Roddick is a guy who has carefully gone about building his image.

I think his actions on the court are in bad taste. He treats people, even umpires who have a certain stature, as if they're his employees. He has treated his opponents, like Spadea and Tsonga, with disrespect, and he fired Brad Gilbert after Gilbert took him to No. 1 and had the nerve to ask for a bigger salary.

If you want to look at great champions, look at Fed and Nadal, even Djoko, not for their great player only, but b/c these guys don't use intimidation tactics. They treat their coaches and opponents with respect and they don't scream at umpires as if they're little boys.

Redhead:

   Sorry! I thought your exchange with Cyboat was well done wih both of you (And Scoop) making excellent points. Since a lot more people read our homepage than this message board wanted everyone to see it, but if it is an issue for you (or Cyboat as I posted his rebuttal) than let me know and I will certainly remove it or change it to your on-screen name. Just let me know.

 

Red I agree with you..used to like Roddick but now he has become a total ***..maybe you were too polite but you didn't mention one of his most tackiest "mannerisms"..I know ........wont go there..rgds..Robert

Redhead and Cyboat make great points and analysis of the Roddick personality/personna.

 In this day of the instant replay I can't believe that an umpire would overrule in that situation.  They chair needs access to the same instant replay that the players are allowed limited access to appeal to.  Don't even suggest that it would change the pace of play because that's horse manure.  It's obvious that the replay is more reliable than the umpire so the chair "umpire" should do nothing more than announce the score.  But since the present tournament "directors" are unwilling to empower the "umpires" as such Roddick has every right to stand up for himself and call the guy an idiot, etc, at risk of whatever sportmanship violations he risks.  I give Andy credit for berating a guy for using poor judgement when the guy is supposed to be the epitome of good judgement.

It's clear Roddick has a margin for growth in showing respect for other people.  It's probably similiar for most people.  There don't seem to be too many people out there who are huge Roddick fans and I don't see the crocodile and big plain baseball cap becoming the latest fashion.

 Did anyone really expect Jimmy Connors to do much for Roddick?  I think Connors was just looking for a way to sell cheesy video and cover his house payments.  Roddick plays from too far behind the baseline and doesn't know how to get to the net or win points there and every player into the 500s knows that now.

I just think that Roddick is angry that he is just not playing that well, though Cilic did earn the win.  Roddick lost his timing on his shots since his injury in Rome.  I actually think he has not recovered his game since then. He may recover for the US Open, and if the top 3 are tired after the Olympics, he increases his chances to win. I did not see what happened in the 3rd set yesterday, but it does not surprise me.  He wanted to win so badly that as he saw himself losing, he took his frustrations out on whoever he could.  Not excusing him, but that is what I observed of him over the years, just like in the 2001 Quarters at the US Open.  I personally do not like this behavior, but I ultimately would have an issue with it if he had won the match; just like back in 2001, he did not win either.  Roddick is better off  keeping his cool, and endearing himself to his fans, the few he may have.

Andy may have learned that it's ok to berate and humiliate an umpre from Jimmy. Back in Jimmy's great run at the 1991 Open he got incensed at a call by the umpire. The call was probably wrong but Jimmy went over the top. He called the umpire a bum, demanded that he get out of the chair and it sounded like he called him an abortion as well although I can't tell for sure from the video. The crowd roared with delight and Jimmy was not penalized. He got more popular than ever from that tirade. The message was the more crude you get, the more the crowd adores you. 

Yes, RP, if you could use my cyber name rather than my real name, that would be cool.

Tommyboy, I don't think Roddick has a chance to win the US Open even if the Big 3 come back tired. At this point, I think a host of other players have moved past him, unless the Open courts are very quick. Roddick plays best on either a slow court (better than he does on a medium-paced fast court) or lightening-quick courts. But I think his confidence is too much in desrepair to be a real factor at the Open. I could be wrong, but that's what I see.

Redhead:

   No problem, I just made that change. And when you finalize your book signing dates with Spadea just email me or post here and we will post those on the front page as well so that more people will see them.

I did not see the match in question today but here are my observations of this thread:

WC:

How do you know Connors was making $75,000 per month coaching Roddick. That sounds high to me b/c most coaches in pro tennis are lucky to make $100,000 in a year, I'd think. The usual rate is around $1500 and the player picks up the travel expenses. The better coaches get a 10 % cut of the player's purse. But Connors usually didn't travel every week so I highly doubt he was making that kind of money.