Advice to Roddick.

[Aykhan Mammadov]

I noticed that during the match against Hewitt he came to the net and hited volleys.

Of course his services made the weather despite Lleyton is better master of base-line. But I thought that service of Roddick may become even more dangerous weapon in his hand if he starts to volley more often and improve volley's techinque.

It is sad to watch such a great service of the player who can't use it for 100% just because he is not S&V player.

My advice for Roddick - to become S&V completely.

 

[Docalex007]

he has indeed become much more effective with his S&V playing. But he should not only S&V. He needs to find the proper mix with his baseline play....since that aspect is still a weapon.

 

[Pushmaster]

This is one time when I have to agree with you. Roddick has a monster serve and should come in every time behind it, his backhand isn't any weapon so if he stays at the baseline too much he's dead meat against Federer or just about any other top 10 player. If he can improve that slice backhand by getting more pace on it he should chip and charge more often as well.

 

[efice32]

This could be a successful strategy for Andy, but it'll be a cold day you know where before it happens.

 

[dennis10is]

I was thinking similar thoughts watching Roddick v Federer. Federer, the master tactician that he is, uses the classic low slice against Roddick. It seems that this was more effective than the topspin returns of most others on the ATP. The topspin give Roddick more pace to work with, Roddick has difficulties volleying shots that gives him no pace.

Give credit to Roddick for changing his game thus far.

 

[The tennis guy]

You guys are crazy as well as those who advise him serve and volley.

He will never be a serve and volley player. Either you have it or you don't. He should instead learn when to come to the net, and come to the net as a surprise. He came to net against Federer like crazy earlier in the match today, and he was like committing suicide.

Just think about it, which one is easier for him at this point, improve serve and volley or backhand and service return or court position? Obviously it is the later two, otherwise, there would be so many more serve and volleyers today. Now against Federer, he isn't sure what he needs to do. He used to at least have a chance playing his own game, now, it seems he has none!

 

[West Coast Ace]

Against the top players Roddick needs to come in - he's not going to win that many points once they get into a rally. But he still needs to mix it up and work on his approach shots - he can't just make kamikazi runs to the net.

 

[Aykhan Mammadov]

He fails in approaching to the net against Fed because he is not master of volleys like Sampras. He doesn't know exactly when, where and with what speed to come to the net. Those who watched match Fed-Sampras of 2001 know that Fed played similar to what he is doing today and was at his maximum at that match. But Sampras style was extremely hard for him to overplay.

From another point, Docalex007, it would be great if somebody is universal and can play both - as S&V and as a base-liner. But we have to be realistic. Roddick is not at 12 years old. Either improving base-line skills what is much more harder for him now ( it needs more time), or working on volleys. To dream abouth both ways means to miss both.

The main task is that he has already service , and nobody has similar. Why for base-liner to use such a powerful service ? He will use it for 60%. But S&V can use it's benefit because such a fast service gives him immediately tremendouse advantage over opponent in time, in the choice of position and net covering.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Again, its pretty simple, Federer has more weapons then Roddick, his groundstrokes are off the charts!

 

[newnuse]

I have always thought his best chance of beating Hewitt and Federer was to S&V. The guy does have a good serve and should take advantage of it.

He needs to put pressure on the Federer/Hewitt return. His volleys are awful and needs to improve quite a bit though. If he stays back, Federe & Hewitt can hit a defensive return. Since Roddick has a peanut for a tennis brain, I don't think he can out think any of the top players. He won't win many matches by working the point from the baseline. He needs to attack the net when possible. If he stays back, he is playing right into their hands. His lousy head to head record is a clear indication of this.

An attacking style would limit his need to "think"/work the point. The guy is basically a dumb blonde on the court.

It's amazing how a top player can volley so badly. What the heck do they teach these players during all of those sessions?

 

[AAAA]

Let's discuss what Nadal can do to beat Roddick on hard-courts and then maybe he'll give Federer a tougher match in the USO final.

 

[newnuse]

Let's discuss what Nadal can do to beat Roddick on hard-courts and then maybe he'll give Federer a tougher match in the USO final.

LOL

yeah, I've pretty much given up hope that Roddick will ever challenge Federer.

 

[The tennis guy]

I have always thought his best chance of beating Hewitt and Federer was to S&V. The guy does have a good serve and should take advantage of it.

He needs to put pressure on the Federer/Hewitt return. His volleys are awful and needs to improve quite a bit though. If he stays back, Federe & Hewitt can hit a defensive return. Since Roddick has a peanut for a tennis brain, I don't think he can out think any of the top players. He won't win many matches by working the point from the baseline. He needs to attack the net when possible. If he stays back, he is playing right into their hands. His lousy head to head record is a clear indication of this.

An attacking style would limit his need to "think"/work the point. The guy is basically a dumb blonde on the court.

It's amazing how a top player can volley so badly. What the heck do they teach these players during all of those sessions?

Technically speaking, coming to the net is the right approach. However, after watching him coming to the net committing suicide against Federer one match after another, you have to re-evaluate this approach. He is not even an average volleyer, he can improve a little bit, from what I have seen, I have to conclude he will never be a good volleyer to bother Federer's superior passing. It may work against other players, but never will against Federer unless he can be a very good volleyer which he will never be.

 

[pound cat]

Advice to Roddick: Pray you don't meet Federer in a final. Until he can hold his head up and play as if he could actually beat Federer he has no chance.

 

[Taram_Nifas]

Roddick lacks the grace to volley affectively... He's a big clumsy player, I can't imagine him volleying affectively.

 

[Aykhan Mammadov]

This was only advice. To be honest I don't think myself that he can realise it and whenever beat genius Federer. But against others this may help.

 

[newnuse]

Technically speaking, coming to the net is the right approach. However, after watching him coming to the net committing suicide against Federer one match after another, you have to re-evaluate this approach. He is not even an average volleyer, he can improve a little bit, from what I have seen, I have to conclude he will never be a good volleyer to bother Federer's superior passing. It may work against other players, but never will against Federer unless he can be a very good volleyer which he will never be.

I agree with you about his net game being so poor it is committing suicide when he comes in. I just don't see him being able to beat those guys staying back. I don't think he has a prayer trading groundies with those guys considering his mental makeup.

His only chance is to attack and take the game to them. The only way he will ever beat them on a consistent basis is to improve his volleys a couple of levels and S&V'ing. You can't beat Hewitt and Federer at their own game. Hewitt can't beat Federer at his own game.

I think the best way of beating Federer is too attack the net and force the action. If you trade groundies with him, it allows him to dictate the point. Henman has a decent record against Federer. He is an average S&V'er in my book.

If you are Nadal, playing on clay... well that's a different story.

 

[araghava]

While learning how to volley better might not help against Federer, i think it will definitely help him against Hewitt, Nadal and Safin. None of these players can use the slice as effectively as Federer. On occasion Federer even uses the forehand slice return to guarantee that he will have another crack at the passing shot.

 

[The tennis guy]

I agree with you about his net game being so poor it is committing suicide when he comes in. I just don't see him being able to beat those guys staying back. I don't think he has a prayer trading groundies with those guys considering his mental makeup.

His only chance is to attack and take the game to them. The only way he will ever beat them on a consistent basis is to improve his volleys a couple of levels and S&V'ing. You can't beat Hewitt and Federer at their own game. Hewitt can't beat Federer at his own game.

I think the best way of beating Federer is too attack the net and force the action. If you trade groundies with him, it allows him to dictate the point. Henman has a decent record against Federer. He is an average S&V'er in my book.

For Roddick to improve his serve and volley a couple of levels, it is almost impossible. It's more likely for him to improve his ground game, standing closer to baseline, attacking from baseline, coming to net when floater comes. He can improve his volley for sure, but serve and volley needs special talent - he had no clue what to do with those low volleys or balls dip to his feet, it's not like everyone can do it, otherwise we would have had more serve and volleyers on tour.

By the way, Tim Henman maybe an average serve and volleyer in your book, but he is 10 times maybe more better than Roddick. No one can become a serve and volleyer after being a pure baseliner for 22 years at professional level.

 

[Rickson]

Roddick hits slice volleys from the backhand side and while it's ok for some backhand volleys, he does it on 100% of his. Roddick should practice the backhand volley more and maybe he could become a halfway decent net player some day.

 

[newnuse]

Don't get me wrong, Henman is much better of a S&V'er than Roddick. I consider him average in that he is not Mac or Edberg level. Roddick does have a much better serve than Henman, so he wouldn't have to be as good a volleyer as Henman to have some success.

Like I mentioned before, I don't think Roddick will ever beat Federer playing from the baseline. I don't think he can improve his BH that much and his FH is not consistent enough. He is a baseliner so I assume he works on his groundies quite a bit already.

I'm assuming he for some unknown reason neglected developing his volleys. I see it as him being very raw at the net, thus leaving room for substantial improvement. I don't see that much room for improvement with his groundies or the mental aspect of the baseline game. His best shot is to win at the net. It does not mean only S&V'ing, but coming to the net as often as he can to put pressure on Federer.