Roddick's Approach Shots

[Murray1337]

Roddick was an amazing ball-striker but this video makes me chuckle every time I watch it, when he gets passed at the net.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7iw4nMOF7g

Good highlights though, shows how good Murray is on Grass.

 

[GoaLaSSo]

Roddick gets a bad rap about his volleys because of how risky he is with approaching the net.

When you watch videos of young Roddick, he has pretty good hands and more powerful approaches.

Murray is good on grass, but this was also against a Roddick that was close to retirement. Murray has better anticipation than most of the other top players and his strokes are a bit flatter. This combined with the fact that he has good hands make him an excellent grass player.

 

[Midaso240]

Yes,he got sucked in hook,line and sinker approaching the net so many times playing Federer. Always made me laugh...

 

[SStrikerR]

I've said this so many times...Andy Roddick was not a bad volleyer. In fact, compared to most guys today he was actually pretty good. But yes, his approaches did suck. I have a very good slice, and I get passed A LOT when I use it, and I'm only a college player. If players my level can set up passes with ease against slices, then to professionals it must be (and usually is, as we've seen) child's play. However, Andy was a top 10 player for a long time. You can't do that without successful patterns. I'm sure people pointed out to him that he got passed a million times when trying that, but he did it anyway. It can't have been for no reason.

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

I would cringe when he approached. It seemed like he always approached at the wrong time to the wrong side.

 

[Flash O'Groove]

I have seen two patterns of approach, both of them unsuccessful.

1. Roddick stand in the middle of the court. He hit a down the line backhand slice (straight in front of him). Murray has plenty of space to pass him on both side with a short cross court shot.

2. Roddick hit a crosscourt forehand, Murray can pass him if an angled answer or a down the line forehand.

What I haven't seen is Roddick hitting a down the line forehand from his forehand side of the court and then rush the net, in a position where Murray could only pass him with a crosscourt backhand.

 

[MichaelNadal]

The worst was vs Nadal at the 2011 USO. He got passed like a gravy bowl the entire match.

 

[NatF]

Yeah Roddick turned into a bit of a suicide net rusher. His volleys were actually pretty good he just spammed poor approaches.

 

[Tshooter]

Roddick's approach shot was one of the funniest things in tennis. I miss it.

For a top ten player he had awful court sense.

 

[Tennisguy3000]

The worst was vs Nadal at the 2011 USO. He got passed like a gravy bowl the entire match.

Haha nice!

I forgot how much ARod sliced on his backhand. Those types of approaches are something I would do... works ok in my rec leagues lol.

 

[Vcore89]

deleted post.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Haha nice!

I forgot how much ARod sliced on his backhand. Those types of approaches are something I would do... works ok in my rec leagues lol.

Have you seen the highlights recently? I'm not sure anyone ever had a sexier passing day. Beautiful stuff!

 

[tennisdad65]

When Roddick got Connors as his coach, I figured that's what they would work on. Connors had the greatest approach shots in tennis. Flat and 2 ft from both corners.

Nope.. Roddick did the same silly short BH slice and even shorter FH topspin approaches. I always wondered what Connors did as his coach :-?

 

[Tshooter]

I always wondered what Connors did as his coach :-?

Well I did see Connors squeegee the practice court after it rained.

Also Connors got Roddick to choke way up on the backhand. I don't know whether it was effective but it looked funny so credit that.

A coach can only do so much with what he's given.

 

[comeback]

Roddick gets a bad rap about his volleys because of how risky he is with approaching the net.

When you watch videos of young Roddick, he has pretty good hands and more powerful approaches.

Murray is good on grass, but this was also against a Roddick that was close to retirement. Murray has better anticipation than most of the other top players and his strokes are a bit flatter. This combined with the fact that he has good hands make him an excellent grass player.

It's easy to post a video of Roddick getting passed. But i agree Roddick was a good vollyer and his slice approach shot was not as bad as these posters say. For Roddick to stay at a top ten level, i'll bet he won more points than he lost on approaches. We just don't get to see those videos.

 

[Tshooter]

his slice approach shot was not as bad as these posters say.

I agree. It was worse. And more than that it was always good for a laugh. Anytime Roddick was South of the service line he looked lost.

 

[Vensai]

Watching his approach shots suddenly reminded me of Wimbledon 2009 all over again.