Andy Roddick has been putting in the hard yards during the off season as the tennis world looks towards Australia.
Roddick has never reached an Australian Open final, losing in the semi-finals on four occasions with Roger Federer denying him twice at that stage. The American's vast experience will ensure he goes into the 2011 competition as one of the main contenders and Roddick has been working harder than ever to ensure he is as prepared as possible for the most physically demanding fortnight in the calendar.
After the ATP World Finals, Roddick told the media that he was looking forward to getting healthy again after an injury ravaged year and that quest began almost as soon as he arrived home in Texas.
“The planning and talking about it started the day that the season ended,” Roddick’s physio, Doug Spreen said. “At that point he and Larry [Stefanki] had a chance to sit down and talk and go over a few things. Within a few days of getting back to Austin he was already starting to do some conditioning work and strength training, so it started up pretty quick.”
“The goal coming out of December is that when you go down to Australia you want to feel good. The goal is to find a happy medium where you continue to do a lot of work to get yourself in shape, but at the same time you want to show up in Australia feeling healthy and hopefully a little bit rejuvenated.”
Spreen says he has never seen Roddick so motivated before during the off season. The American was frustrated illness and injury had prevented him building on a promising start to 2010 and he is keen to make up for lost time.
Roddick begins 2011 by defending his title in Brisbane.
