Male Player of the Year (tennisreporters.net)
Male Player of the Year
By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net
The praise showered on the super-popular Roger Federer after his remarkable
title run at the Tennis Masters Cup Houston were worthy of a king. After the
brilliant 2003 Wimbledon champ ran through Andy Roddick in the semis and then
blasted Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 in the final, even the eight-time Grand Slam
champ couldn't find holes in his game.
"He's doing everything great," Agassi said. "He's a great mover, great striker
of the ball off both sides. He's a factor from the back of the court, when he
comes to the net. His serve is very effective. He knows the game real well,
knows court position. As good as it gets out there."
Not quite in 2003.
While it could be argued that No. 2 Federer is as good or better than No. 1
Andy Roddick – especially given his 6-1 match record against him – it doesn't
mean that the Swiss is a more accomplished big-match player, or had a better
year than Roddick did when it really counted.
Both men won a Slam, with Federer taking Wimbledon and Roddick the US Open. But
Roddick also reached the Aussie Open and Wimby semis, while Federer only
reached the fourth round of the Aussie and US Open–losing two critical matches
to David Nalbandian. Both Roddick and Federer flamed out in the first round of
Roland Garros.
Roddick won two Masters Series titles (Canada and Cincy), while Federer won
"only won" Houston. It could be argued that Federer had a more consistent year
than Roddick at the Masters Series. He also won seven overall titles to six
from Roddick and had a better match record (78-17 to 72-19), but Roddick's Slam
performances simply push him over the top.
RODDICK STEPPED IT UP AT HOME
Sure, the underachieving Federer faced a lot of pressure at Wimbledon,
especially without grass court legend Pete Sampras in the draw. But with three
of America's famed Fab 4 legends having retired (Sampras, Jim Courier and
Michael Chang) and coming off a sizzling summer hard court season, Roddick was
under much more pressure to win his first Slam at home.
Showing a Sampras-type first serve, Courier's in-you-face attitude and a bit of
Chang's huge heart, Roddick won his first Slam title in resounding fashion,
knocking off No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final.
It may have taken the 20-year-old a little longer than some might have wanted
to win a Slam, but Roddick came through in flying colors. "No more what's it
like to be the future of American tennis crap. No more," Roddick said with a
smile. "You couldn't have written a script any better, starting it off with
Pete's retirement, Chang is gone. It was just amazing, too good."
FEDERER WAS ONLY A MATCH OR TWO SHORT
Had Federer found a way to figure out Nalbandian, he would have faced Roddick
in the semis and could have seized control of the entire season with a victory
there. But he didn't.
Roddick didn't stop progressing in NY. With a savvy new coach, Brad Gilbert, he
fought through the fall season and did what he had to do at the Tennis Masters
Cup in Houston: securing the No. 1 ranking when Juan Carlos flamed out early.
Had Ferrero survived and reached the semis, Roddick may have taken a different
attitude on court against Federer.
Plus, while Federer is one of the most accomplished Davis Cup players ever,
when push came to shove in the semis against Lleyton Hewitt, he lost a critical
five-setter.
"Andy deserves his No. 1 spot," Federer said in Houston. "I think he should
walk away from here and feel the best. I would feel the same way if I would be
No. 1. I'll try to reach what he achieved next year."
Enough said.
---
Andy和Federer對戰紀錄是1-5 不是1-6
--
"The canvas on the easel is empty.
He's got the paint in his hand and only time will tell."
-Brad Gilbert on how good Andy Roddick can become
--
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