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Monday, August 31, 2009

10 Questions for Andy Roddick



Andy Roddick

How exactly does it feel to hit a serve at 150 m.p.h.? Gerardo Valero, MEXICO CITY


It's better hitting it than having someone hit it against you. But I'll take a slow one that wins me the point as opposed to a faster one that doesn't.
You definitely had your chances of winning against Roger Federer at this year's Wimbledon final. What do you think are the things that cost you the match? Andrea Kim NORTHBROOK, ILL.
I don't think there are things. In the end, he put more returns on the court than I did in the fifth set.
Do you believe that you are unfortunate to play tennis in the era of Federer and Rafael Nadal and hence not able to win as many Grand Slams as you deserve? Harish Bijwe WESTLAND, MICH.
No. You know, I feel fortunate that I get to play tennis at all. There have been great champions in every generation. Maybe not as dominant as Roger has been, but I'm certainly not going to complain about the hand that I've been dealt.
Your famous temper has mellowed. What do you attribute this change to? Kimi Chan, PROVIDENCE, R.I.
I don't think it's rare for a 26-year-old to be more mature than they were at 19. I think I've just had an audience for a lot of it. With that come some good decisions, some bad decisions. I certainly like to think I learned from a majority of them.
Why is it that American tennis just seems to be unable to produce the tennis stars that we used to? Danny Wang, ALBANY, N.Y.
Well, to me it's pretty obvious. The fact of the matter is, [tennis is] now pulling from a worldwide talent pool. We're probably the second biggest sport worldwide, and there's not really a country that's not involved in tennis right now. So with the growth of the game worldwide, the talent is going to be a lot more spread out. I think you're seeing that on a smaller scale with basketball. It used to just be, How much is the American team going to win by? Now the sport has grown so much that the Olympics are interesting again.
Who do you really idolize in the world of tennis? Roberto Juanez MIDDLEBURY, VT.
I was completely lucky and spoiled growing up. I was able to catch the tail end of John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors and lived through the golden age of American tennis with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras and Jim Courier and Michael Chang. Even cooler than that, I've been able to establish a relationship with most of them. I'm glad that I had those guys to look up to.
Which former tennis star would you like to go up against in their prime? Michael Petrini Jr. INDEPENDENCE, MO.
It'd probably be Arthur Ashe. It'd be great to take Bobby Riggs' spot in the "battle of the sexes" too and let Billie Jean King beat up on me a little bit.
I have hardly seen you play tennis without your cap. Is it your lucky charm? Chandru Boopalam AUBURN HILLS, MICH.
No. It's just habit. It's something that I used to do in Florida when I was younger just because of the heat and sun. To be honest, now it just feels weird without it.
Why don't you like chair umpires? Octavio Barretto NEW BERLIN, WIS.
Because they're the ones who have a lot of the control at our matches, and if it doesn't go my way, I'm a little annoyed. I talk to them, and they're like, "You're fine away from the court, and we actually like you. But you are evil when you're on the court." They say I'm getting a little better.
Is it really true that you lost a match to Serena Williams a long time ago? Yeyoon Choi, IRVINE, CALIF.
Serena and Venus and I, we all grew up together training at the same place in Florida, and I did lose to Serena when we were 9 or 10 years old. She is very forthcoming with that result whenever she's asked about it. But she won't give me a rematch.


Yuki: Pictures of The tennis wizard of Oz






THE MATCHMAKER

THE MATCHMAKER

Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas poses with his runners up trophy with Yuki, after his Boys junior final's match against India's Yuki Bhambri, at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne

TRYING TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT

TRYING TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT

Yuki Bhambri poses with his trophy after winning his Boys junior final's match against Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne

THE WIZARD AND HIS STAND

THE WIZARD AND HIS STAND

Yuki Bhambri poses with his trophy after winning his Boys junior final's match against Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas at the Australian Open tennis tournament

TO VICTOR BELONGS THE SPOILS

TO VICTOR BELONGS THE SPOILS

Yuki Bhambri poses with his trophy after winning his Boys junior final's match against Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne

YUP!

YUP!

Yuki Bhambri celebrates winning his Boys junior final's match against Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne

ALL

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS SWELL

Yuki Bhambri celebrates winning his Boys junior final's match against Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne

OH YES!

OH YES!

Yuki Bhambri celebrates winning his Boys junior final's match against Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne

INTO THE MAKING

INTO THE MAKING

India's Yuki Bhambri returns to Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas during their Boys junior final's match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 31, 2009.

Yuki follows in the footsteps of Indian tennis greats Ramanathan, Ramesh Krishnan and Leander Paes to win a junior Grand Slam.

Download Free pictures of Sania Mirza (top) and Mahesh Bhupathi form Australian Open Mixed Doubles Final





Serving an ace

Serving an ace

Sania Mirza (top) and Mahesh Bhupathi play France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram on their way to winning the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

Showing the Way

Showing the Way

Sania Mirza (L) and Mahesh Bhupathi play France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram on their way to winning the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

Enjoying the Win

Enjoying the Win

Sania Mirza (L)and Mahesh Bhupathi hold the trophy during the awarding ceremony after beating France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram in the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne

Winners and losers

Winners and losers

Sania Mirza (L) and Mahesh Bhupathi (2nd left) hold the trophy along with runners-up France's Nathalie Dechy (2nd right) and Israel's Andy Ram (right) during the awarding ceremony of the Mixed doubles final matc

Looking up

Looking up

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi hold the trophy during the awarding ceremony after beating France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

Meeting the opponents

Meeting the opponents

Sania Mirza (2nd right) and Mahesh Bhupath (R) greet France's Nathalie Dechy (L) and Israel's Andy Ram after winning the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

One more for India

One more for India

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi hold the trophy during the awarding ceremony after beating France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

Cup of Joy

Cup of Joy

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi holds the trophy during the awarding ceremony after beating France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne

On top

On top

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi celebrate after beating France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

Deadly duo

Deadly duo

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi celebrate after beating France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne

Well Done

Well Done

Sania Mirza hugs Mahesh Bhupathi after beating France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

It

It's Over

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi celebrate after beating France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

Eyeing the Trophy

Eyeing the Trophy

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi look on during a break in the mixed doubles final against France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

SMASH HIT

SMASH HIT

Sania Mirza (L) and Mahesh Bhupathi play France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia.

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi

Sania Mirza (L) and Mahesh Bhupathi play France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza TENNIS WINNERS





THE WINNERS

THE WINNERS

Sania Mirza, left, and Mahesh Bhupathi, second left, hold the trophy along with runners-up France's Nathalie Dechy, second right, and Israel's Andy Ram, right, during the awarding ceremony of the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

SKY IS THE LIMIT

SKY IS THE LIMIT

Sania Mirza, left, and Mahesh Bhupathi hold the trophy during the awarding ceremony.

TWOSOME AWESOME

Sania Mirza, center, and Mahesh Bhupathi, right, hold the trophy after beating France's Nathalie Dechy, left, and Israel's Andy Ram, second left.

TRIUMPHANT TWO

TRIUMPHANT TWO

Sania Mirza, left, and Mahesh Bhupathi celebrate after beating France's Nathalie Dechy and Israel's Andy Ram during the Mixed doubles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne.

HAPPY TALKING

Indian tennis player Sania Mirza addresses the media upon her arrival after the Australian Open tennis championship

STYLE ICON

STYLE ICON

Tennis player Sania Mirza, wearing sunglasses, arrives at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

GRAND WELCOME

GRAND WELCOME

Tennis players, Mahesh Bhupathi, center left, and Sania Mirza, center right, arrive at Mumbai international airport in Mumbai

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