Roddick is Not a Fan of Clay Courts

Written by: Staff on 29th May 2012

Roddick is Not a Fan of Clay Courts |

United States Davis Cup captain Jim Courier admitted he expects Andy Roddick to announce his retirement if the current slump down the ATP World Tour rankings continues for the 29 year-old former world no.1

This time last year Roddick was still a member of the world’s top ten, now he is ranked 33rd and has major points to defend in a fortnight after last year reaching the AEGON Championships at London’s Queen’s Club.

Courier said: “If at the end of the year Andy is ranked in the 50’s or the 60’s, it would be hard to see Andy continuing with his career. He’s had a great run but at the moment he’s really, really struggling. It’s been a very tough road.”

However Courier added: “This tournament has never been one where he’s had great expectations. He is just using the French Open as a springboard into the grass court season at Queen’s and Wimbledon.”

Roddick has only played three matches since March and he hasn’t registered more than two wins in a row since last October. He conceded: “Maybe it was a big ask coming off what I was dealing with this spring and starting here in Paris. I don’t know.

Clay is clearly an anathema to Roddick. “I move just horrendously out here,” he maintained. “My footwork on this stuff now is just really bad. I feel like I’m always shuffling, or hopping, or not stopping ,or something.

“I just feel like I get exposed too easily. I feel like I’m not set on most shots and it’s tough to get a flow going. It lends itself to sporadic play and it all adds up.

“It sucks. You can’t fake it out here. These are the best tournaments in the world. It’s tough to lie out here. My footwork on this stuff is really, really bad.”

Topics: Andy Roddick, Tennis