| I recently enjoyed watching Andy Roddick win the | | | | speed, and developed a more well-rounded game. We |
| Sony Ericsson open tournament on Easter Sunday. If | | | | saw the improvement beginning to take shape through |
| you have watched Andy Roddick play over the past | | | | 2009. Roddick made it to the finals of Wimbledon in |
| five years, you can see that his game has changed. In | | | | 2009. All this work was preceded by soul-searching. |
| this article I want share my thoughts on Roddick's | | | | Roddick previously had some poor tournament |
| game, what I think he is doing well, and applications to | | | | performances during 2008, and he started questioning |
| competitive tennis players. | | | | if his career was on the decline. For him, there was no |
| The Sony Ericsson tournament is one level below the | | | | way to know if his professional tennis career was |
| Grand Slams. It was Roddick's first win since 2006, | | | | over until he gave himself every opportunity to |
| and at this point in 2010, Andy Roddick has a record of | | | | succeed. |
| 26-4 going to the Monte Carlo Masters tournament | | | | The third and final takeaway from Roddick that was |
| April 12th. During the press conference, Roddick | | | | on display during the Sony Ericsson Open was |
| summarized his play as follows: he played well at the | | | | consistency. Even Roddick admitted that day that it |
| big moments, he executed his game plan well, and he | | | | wasn't really his serve that was winning the match for |
| was encouraged by his performance in many areas. | | | | him but the rest of his game. For example, Roddick |
| What are some of the takeaways you can take from | | | | was comfortable to settle into long rallies that lasted |
| Roddick's play in your tennis game. I have summarized | | | | more than 10 strokes. One rally lasted 29 strokes. |
| the top three tips from Roddick which are based on | | | | Even more telling, when you look at the statistics, |
| clues from his interview. One clue from the quote was | | | | Roddick committed only 16 unforced errors during the |
| that he had a gameplan. During the final match, | | | | match. When you can begin to rally and hit the ball |
| Roddick really changed up his stroke choice and | | | | more than 10 times back to your opponent without |
| repeatedly used a slice backhand to force his tall | | | | error, you will win tournaments. |
| opponent ( Tomas Berdych is 6-foot-5) to hit the ball | | | | In summary, are you thinking about your opponent and |
| at ankle level. This prevented Berdych from hitting his | | | | crafting a game plan? Are you hitting lots of tennis |
| forehands with power. | | | | balls and exercising daily to keep fit and tune up your |
| The second take away from Roddick is his will, | | | | tennis strokes? Are you focusing on developing |
| determination, and drive. This focus on improving his | | | | consistency and practicing high percentage tennis? |
| game meant hiring a new coach, losing weight, and | | | | Taking these tips from Andy's finals match win will |
| practice. Roddick has lost 10 pounds, improved his foot | | | | surely improve your tennis game. |