Is too much expected of Andy.

[federerhoogenbandfan]

It seems to me there is alot of negatively surrounding Roddick from U.S tennis fans and the U.S media. I have read countless times "he is only a serve", he is "dissapointing", he "does not live up to expectations", he "is not dedicated". Sometimes I think the U.S public and press expect too much of him. They want a new Sampras, but he will never be the next Sampras, and the fact it is a rival from a foreign European nation who is more likely to fill that role, seems to disgust alot of the American public. He is still one of the top players in the World, and has been a contender for slam titles for atleast 3 years, and may be for a couple more. None of the other Americans, except Agassi who is probably on the way out, can say that. If the American public are indeed too harsh with Andy, I think alot it could be due they want more from him than he really is.

That American Express commerical after the U.S Open was plain cruel and degrading. How humiliating to even have "mojo" show up at the U.S open during his 1st round match, probably the only consolation he gets from losing is to not have mojo at all his matches.

 

[Noelle]

You make good points. You could say that a large part of the dissatisfaction with Andy is that at the time Andy came onto the scene, Sampras seemed like he was on the decline and Agassi wasn't expected to last as long as he has. For so long Americans (as personified by Sampras, Agassi, and the like) had been at the top of the game, but young guns such as Hewitt and Safin (non-Americans both of them) had struck blows. American tennis had Roddick and contemporaries Ginepri, Fish, and Blake bubbling up through the rankings, and the hype machine did its best to promote those players as the next powerhouses. After Andy gained the year-end #1 in 2003, all was going according to plan. I guess they weren't counting on Federer to get his head on straight and plow through the ATP for the past two years.

I agree, much was expected of Roddick, and there was hell to pay when he was trumped by a better player and couldn't live up to those overblown expectations.

 

[Dilettante]

I'm not American, but I think people should be proud of what Roddick has achieved instead of complaining about Roddick has not achieved or maybe never will.

He's a great player, you might like his style or not, but he is a solid top 10 player, and that's a success in itself.

 

[Noelle]

Yes, my post was not a knock on Andy. God knows I'm a huge fan. I do understand where his critics are coming from, though. I hope he wins a few more Grand Slams (and may his head-to-head with Federer never reach 1-20!).

 

[Cybele]

I'm not American, but I think people should be proud of what Roddick has achieved instead of complaining about Roddick has not achieved or maybe never will.

He's a great player, you might like his style or not, but he is a solid top 10 player, and that's a success in itself.

exactly - the poor guy has fallen victim to 'Tim Henman' syndrome- they're focusing on what he hasn't achieved, rather than what he has. Very few people can be all-time greats. That doesn't mean that poeple who are very, very good, but not great, should be written off as failures.

Andy's a Grand Slam winner, consistent top ten player, which are fantastic achievements: but he's being slated because he's not Sampras or Agassi. And he has the misfortune to be a contemporary of one of the all time greats, Federer

Tim was a top ten player for years, multiple Grand Slam semi-finalist: but was written off as a failure by idiots because he never won Wimbledon. He too was constantly beaten by one of the all time greats: Sampras

In both cases, it's a huge insult based, on ignorance and stupidity, to great talents and their years of hard work, and the pleasure they have given to tennis fans.

It makes me mad...

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

I agree that there are some parralels to Henman. Another very good player, who has an admirable career, and who was slated to do extraordinary things, and burdened, in the minds of British to perhaps unreasonably expanded, or atleast overly demanding to expect with certainty, expectations.

With all due respect to Henman, Roddick has accomplished alot more than he has in the sense he has been getting top results for 3 years on two surfaces, grass and hard courts, whereas Henman was only on grass except for last year. Also of course reaching the year-end #1 ahead of Federer once, and being year-end #2 the next year. Still there are alot of parralels between the two and how they are dissected and raked over the coals constantly by their home country.

 

[Cybele]

With all due respect to Henman, Roddick has accomplished alot more than he has in the sense he has been getting top results for 3 years on two surfaces, grass and hard courts, whereas Henman was only on grass except for last year. Also of course reaching the year-end #1 ahead of Federer once, and being year-end #2 the next year.

You're absolutely right - he has achieved a lot more than Henman, which makes it all the worse that he's being denigrated in this way.

 

[fist pump]

here in america - the hyped him up too much , now he cant back it up anymore so a lot are disappointed.

 

[drak]

I actually think that given his overall athletic ability (modest IMO) that he has done about as well as he could have. Being at one time number one(I think?), winning a slam, and consistently being in the Top 3 or 4 is outstanding IMO.

Drak

 

[ACE of Hearts]

I am not a big fan of the duck meaning Roddick but the guy is consistent, although he could work on his game a little more.

 

[Matthew]

I would definetely agree that the bar was set a little too high for Andy and we were all "led on" by some fantastic results in a short time span and the media jumping all over him. It will be tough for Andy to repeat his 2003 year and unfortunately a lot of us are expecting something even better that 2003.

One thing has to happen before Roddick becomes anything close to what we all expect him to be - he has to down Federer. Once he gets that an elusive win against him, I think that will do worlds for him mentally, which IMO, is his biggest problem. Not an easy task however...

I'm sure Roddick himself has felt the pressure that has been put on him by the media and I think he thought it would just go away once he won the USO, but as we all know that once you finally get that kind of success, you are expected now to CONTINUE to be successful. It just doesn't go away, and unfortunately I think that has taken a toll on Roddick mentally. He has a few mountains to climb before he reaches some sort of state of mind and game that could be considered "comfortable".

 

[Galactus]

I thought this thread was about Murray not Roddick... :mrgreen:

 

[Matthew]

I thought this thread was about Murray not Roddick... :mrgreen:

Well while we are at it... when is Murray going to win a GS!? This is RIDICULOUS!

 

[Galactus]

Well while we are at it... when is Murray going to win a GS!? This is RIDICULOUS!

I'd have favoured him on grass more than anything, but as Federer owns Wimbledon at the moment, that's a bit tricky!

 

[Matthew]

I'd have favoured him on grass more than anything, but as Federer owns Wimbledon at the moment, that's a bit tricky!

Roddick would crush Murray on grass, hands down.

 

[Cybele]

I'd have favoured him on grass more than anything, but as Federer owns Wimbledon at the moment, that's a bit tricky!

He's been trained on clay courts, not grass, but apparently hard courts are his favourite surface. His great ambition is to win the USO one day..that's his favourite tournament.

 

[FREDDY]

roddick's been pro for 5 years already hes a one slam wonder

 

[FREDDY]

....i think

 

[tangysox]

These things happen in cycles. It was only a few months ago when Agassi was being written off and people saying he was due to retire before he went on a tear during the summer hardcourts and at USO where he played some of the best tennis I've ever seen him play.

Roddick is a bit of a rut right now but I feel that soon all of the improvements he has been making to his game will eventually fall into place. His performance at Wimbledon and Cincinnati this year proved that he can adjust and dig deep. His biggest problems right now are consistency and lack of confidence. Hopefully in the off season he and his team can work out a plan to get everything together for 2006.

 

[Exile]

Here's the thing, hype makes you think crazy things.
The only reason so much is expected of him, is because every one is made to believe that he is capable of so much.

 

[srv vlly]

in america more is expected out of ppl. 2 much pressure is put on roddick though

 

[Exile]

I know, I live here, it's not that it's expected, it's just that we are too cocky or we just overrate things just to make them sound better than thay really are.

 

[Docalex007]

Roddick is a good guy. He IMO has a great personality and is great for the game. I know I am entertained when I watch one of his matches.

He has achieved more than any of us and 99.999% of the other tennis playing peoples across the world. I can't even begin to imagine me with that kind of success. 6.5 billion people on the planet and Andy can say that for a short time he was at the very peak of mt. tennis. A disappointment??? Get the **** outta here.


Besides, I'm a huge Federer fan. But I give applaus where applaus is due.

 

[krnboijunsung]

But there isn't much bashing on Hewitt as much as there is on Roddick because Hewitt is just more consistent. Roddick was knocked out first round of the US Open, while Hewitt, plays through deep into every major.

But both have yet to put up a good fight with Federer.

 

[DashaandSafin]

I think its a combination of Americans hoping he is the next Sampras.
And the fact that he IS American...which is hated in itself just about everywhere else in the world.

 

[Match Point]

Andy game does not have very much strategy involved. He needs Brad Gilbert to best utilize his weapons depending on each opponent Andy plays. Without Gilbert he's just another top 10-20 player with big serve and good forehand and not much more. He will not win another major due to lack of game strategy. I don't believe Andy staying back 8 feet behind the baseline is good for his game.

 

[The tennis guy]

I would definetely agree that the bar was set a little too high for Andy and we were all "led on" by some fantastic results in a short time span and the media jumping all over him. It will be tough for Andy to repeat his 2003 year and unfortunately a lot of us are expecting something even better that 2003.

Many people even in 2003 predicted Roddick wouldn't be able to sustain his result then. We all got dismissed as Roddick haters. Roddick has achieved what his talent warranted. People just expect too much out of his talent level.

 

[Talent]

Many people even in 2003 predicted Roddick wouldn't be able to sustain his result then. We all got dismissed as Roddick haters. Roddick has achieved what his talent warranted. People just expect too much out of his talent level.

Good point covered here. Hate to say, but no matter how much hard-nosed work Roddick puts in, I believe he has reached his capacity in talent. To rise to that level again, Roddick has to come up with something special mentally.

 

[bcslice]

If Roddick can keep it together mentally and stay in the top 5 for the next 2-3 years, he'll definitely have his shot at winning another Slam tournament. He's got a terrific shot at Wimbledon if he doesn't have to play Federer. With injuries, tough draws, and unknown surprises, he could definitely win on grass.

 

[The tennis guy]

That's realistic expectation of him. However, I am not sure if that's what he expects, just another slam title.

 

[callitout]

Just as people have said that Hewitt would have more slams without the great Roger, clearly Andy would have at least won Wimby 20004 (he played quite well that day) and only an incredible player on fire could beat him then. Andy's having a good career, but if people expect him to routinely win slams against the current crop they do expect too much. His lateral movement's not good enough which is why he's standing so far back, and his backhand and volley arent good enough. His serve and forehand are terrific. But its hard to beat great players in 5 set matches with 2 great shots and 2 lousy ones.

As for improving those strokes, good for him for trying. But at his level its gonna be nearly impossible to make huge progress. Theres no offseason to do it, and he's probably tried to improve his backhand for about 22 years. He could improve his volley, because it doesnt appear to be a stroke which he's spent tons of time on (but thats just speculation). As for improving lateral movement almost impossible at his stage.

 

[Ravi]

Yes...Roddick is by anyone's estimation one of the best 5 players in the world...maybe some eccentric could claim that he's only oh the 8th best or so...but he's not. He's clearly top 5 and has been for what 3+ years...he's won the Open, played in 2 Wimbledon finals, had some great (and some less than great) results in Davis Cup...but the tennis press eats its young, and so do many of its fans, judging by some of the criticisms of top players one reads on this board.

Look, the world's 5th best basketball or soccer player is roundly hailed as a legend in the making and rarely if ever would get the kind of criticism Roddick has to put up with. You ever hear anyone putting down Tracy McGrady's lateral movement or how Kobe Bryant needs to learn to win the big one? But in tennis there's this notion that only the guy holding the trophy really acquitted himself properly. I dunno, maybe I'm too much of a fan of all the top players, but I'm simply amazed at Roddick's career so far.

 

[The tennis guy]

You are comparing team sports with individual sports. They are completely different.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Roddick will win 2 GS in his career, unless he changes his game, thank u. :mrgreen:

 

[Rodzilla]

Roddick handles the pressure well, but you have to know there is a breaking point. I think Andy loves the expectations put on him, and he is willing to give his best to live up to them. I think a true testament is how Roddick led the US in Davis Cup two weekends ago, on clay nonetheless. That play, to me, shows Roddick is regaining that fire, swagger, and heart that gave his rise to #1 in the past.

 

[Matthew]

I think a true testament is how Roddick led the US in Davis Cup two weekends ago, on clay nonetheless. That play, to me, shows Roddick is regaining that fire, swagger, and heart that gave his rise to #1 in the past.

I think Roddick just gets fired up for Davis Cup. Completely different atmosphere than any other tournament. I would love to go to a Davis Cup tie like USA v Australia or Argentina.