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Roddick upbeat over London chances


 

Originally published on: 12/10/10 15:47

The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is looming ever closer and the players hovering around the fringes of the coverted top eight are beginning to get itchy feet.

Andy Roddick, who has been a permanent fixture in the world’s top ten over the years and a regular feature at the World Tour Finals, is feeling the itch more than most. The world No.11 is desperate to make his first trip to the O2 after missing out last year with a knee injury.

“I qualified [for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals] last year and didn’t get to play because of my knee that I hurt here [Shanghai],” said the Nebraska-native.

The 28-year-old will now hope he can turn last year’s despair into strong performances in the events leading up to the season-ending showpiece if he is to stand a chance of playing in the Dome.

“It’s a goal at the beginning of every year. It’s in my hands now. I’m in the position I need to be in,” said Roddick.

And the real work to completing that goal starts this week at the Shanghai Masters, which happens to be the same event that caused him so much agony last year.

After a tricky summer – in which he struggled for form and suffered with mononucleosis – Roddick’s luck seems to have returned. Illness forced Phillipp Kohlschreiber to retire at the beginning of the second set in their first round clash in Shanghai, with the American leading 6-3 2-1.

Roddick faces Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round with the prospect of Thomas Berdych and Novak Djokovic to come in the rounds ahead.

And the American remains upbeat about his chances of a 30th title at the Masters 1000 event.

“I feel good. I don’t feel like I’m fighting myself out there right now,” he said. “I feel like, after the US Open, I was kind of able to train the way I want to for the first time in a while.”

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.