Roddick hopes three kings will be ace in the Pack
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=afp-tennis_atp_fra_roddick&prov=afp&type
=lgns
PARIS (AFP) - Andy Roddick celebrated becoming the second youngest player ever
to reach number one in the world by predicting a new golden age for tennis
which will wipe out the bitter taste left by financial troubles and allegations
of match-fixing in the sport.
Roddick believes that the golden trio of himself, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Roger
Federer are about to put the sport into the headlines for all the right reasons
.
At 21 years and two months, Roddick is the same age as Bjorn Borg when the
legendary Swede hit the top spot in 1977 and just a little older than
countryman McEnroe who was 21 years and 15 days when he made it to the top.
Roddick clinched top spot at the Paris Masters here on Thursday when his
victory against Tommy Robredo knocked previous holder Ferrero off the peak
following the Spaniard's unexpected defeat to Jiri Novak.
But that's already in the past for the brash American whose US Open crown was
one of six titles gathered in 2003.
"The race for the number one spot gives something positive to look at and
that's what I choose to look at," said Roddick, the 22nd man and sixth from
his country to boast number one honours.
"The fact is that there are a hell of a lot of guys out there who give their
heart and soul every time they go out on the court. They are clean and play by
the rules. It would be cool if a lot more was focused on that."
Roddick has battled French Open winner Ferrero and Wimbledon champion Federer
for most of the season.And with the Masters Cup still to play in Houston in
November, his place at number one as well as top man in the Champions Race
could change again.
As far as he is concerned, that's good news for the sport which earlier this
month found itself mired in allegations of illegal betting.
"It's exciting for me and for tennis in general to have that last shoot-out at
the end of the season," said Roddick.
"Also look at the top 100 and see how many players are under 23 and younger,
it will shock you.
"I think that with the way it's happened with Juan Carlos winning on clay,
Roger winning on grass and me at the US Open, it's almost been scripted. It's
almost a fairytale year for us - but only one of us gets to finish on the
fairytale.
"People were always saying about us three: 'When is it going to happen?
Why, why, why.' It's a big relief now and I think all of our best tennis is
still ahead of us."
Roddick is desperate not to get carried away by his success and try as the
media might, being number one in the world was never an obsession.
"It's pretty cool that I got there and no-one can take it away from me," he
said.
"But I never thought about it as a kid. I was too busy trying to figure out
how to tie my shoes when I was 12. Being number one in the world seemed a long
way off then."
Updated on Thursday, Oct 30, 2003 8:06 pm EST
--
fairytale!? 今年真的是很"fairytale"的一年....
不只是Andy 看到蚊子和Rogi都達成了某種"被人"所既定的期望
還真的蠻fairytale
Andy也是有感而發吧
他說的話居然讓我鼻頭酸酸的......
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 140.115.206.119
US_Army 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
