Roddick lost magic, but not charm

看板US_Army作者carillon (Get better soon!)時間21年前 (2004/02/21 23:28)推噓0(0推 0噓 0→)

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非常感人的文章... 很少有選手會在輸了尤其又是因為受傷以後還為球迷簽名和球迷合照吧 Andy就是這樣如同蓉妹所講的好的讓人心疼 Andy加油!! 趕快好起來喔 *鼻酸酸* --------- Roddick lost magic, but not charm By Zack McMillin Memphis Commercial Appeal February 21, 2004 The fans at The Racquet Club urged and cajoled and tried to channel some bit of positive karma toward Andy Roddick, the second-ranked tennis player in the world. C'mon, Andy! Let's go, Andy! Get it going, Andy! Grant Morgan sat above the court, and pulled for Roddick, too. But like the man to his right, Roddick coach Brad Gilbert, he betrayed little emotion. Suffice to say, no Memphian in the crowd wanted Roddick to win more than Morgan. "He's a great guy," Morgan said before Friday's match. "I can't tell you how much I've learned from this 21-year-old guy who could be a prima donna if he wanted but is just not." But it was not meant to be, not on this Friday night at the Kroger St. Jude. No, Swedish veteran Thomas Enqvist had too much game to allow Roddick to prevail on a night when the 21-year-old American's game seemed stuck in first gear. Enqvist continued his now-resurgent career comeback by moving into the semifinals with a 7-6 (8), 6-3 victory. It was not the best night for Team Roddick, and certainly not the kind of night Morgan had envisioned when he started yanking the Babolat string onto Roddick's rackets Friday afternoon. Morgan, 35, is a Raleigh-Egypt graduate who has served as the exclusive stringer for Roddick since last fall. Normally, he has the pleasure of watching Roddick conjure magic with his rackets,but Roddick could not deliver on Friday. The net snagged his backhands. His forehands sailed long or wide. His powerful serve rarely buzzed above 130 mph. The crowd was not aware, but Roddick played with a stiff back. By the third game, it was clear that Roddick did not have his best stuff, nor even anything resembling pretty good. When Roddick double-faulted while ahead 6-5 in the first-set tiebreak, Enqvist took command and sent Roddick home early. "I really wanted to win here," said Roddick, the 2002 KSJ champ and '03 runnerup. "The support here has been amazing." Only, Roddick didn't head straight home. After patiently answering questions from the media, Roddick headed downstairs and promised to sign for everyone in a long autograph line. He even posed for pictures with anyone wielding a camera. For Morgan, that likability is part of the reason why his is such a sweet gig. "I've struck gold," Morgan said. Morgan began stringing rackets as a way to save money, back when he played competitive tennis locally. The more he tinkered with his new stringing machine, the more the hobby became a pursuit. He's now a full-time member of Team Roddick, having traveled to Australia earlier this month. He'll be in Paris for the French, at Wimbledon and in Athens for the Olympics. "Stringer is almost an insulting term when it comes to him," Roddick said. "I'm very particular......He's a great fit. Brad and I are big on joking around and having fun and I love my team I have around me now." The travel and the tennis are nice. Spending quality time with an athlete as motivated, dedicated and down to earth as Roddick is even better. He remembers going for a walk with Roddick in Australia and thinking he's just like a kid from down the street. And being around people as relentlessly positive and focused as Roddick and Gilbert has helped Morgan, who says he was "devastated" by a relationship-gone -bad five years ago. "For a long time, the sun could have risen in the West and it didn't matter," Morgan said. "But these guys have taught me a lot about trust and respect." Morgan told Roddick he plans to lose 30 pounds between Memphis and Paris, and, the very next day, when Morgan ordered a soda, Roddick dumped it. "I said, 'I'll lay off if you want,' but he said, 'No, I want you to,'"Roddick said. Morgan's ultimate goal is to drop 60 pounds by next year's Kroger St. Jude. Which, Memphis fans will be glad to know, will include Team Roddick. "See you here next year," Roddick said as he left the media room. We'll hold you to that, Andy. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.231.96.60 ※ 編輯: carillon 來自: 61.231.96.60 (02/21 23:46)