The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Connors to coach Roddick

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Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006

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Connors to coach Roddick

LOS ANGELES: Andy Roddick named Jimmy Connors as his new coach as the former World No. 1 looks to rekindle his career.

Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion and runner-up at Wimbledon in 2004 and 2005, has not won a title this year and slipped out of the top 10 rankings earlier this month for the first time since 2002.

``First of all, it's just belief,'' the 23-year-old told reporters at the Los Angeles Open on Monday over his reasons for linking up with the legendary left-hander.

``It means a lot when someone who has won as many tennis championships as Jimmy Connors comes through and says, 'I believe in you. I think you can really do some great things, and here's how.'''

``I never felt that I couldn't play tennis any more. It was just a matter of taking what you're doing on the practice court and applying it in matches. Jimmy gave me some things to work on (for Indianopolis) and I went and tried to apply them the best I could, and I'm pretty optimistic after the first week.''

Neither Roddick nor Connors would, or could, clarify the parameters of their relationship.

Connors, one of tennis's most fiery competitors, said he wanted to instil some of his famed intensity in Roddick and help lead him back to the top of the world rankings. ``It's not rocket science, my job is quite simply to make Andy the best player he can be.

``I would like to try to give him a little bit of what made me what I was,'' added Connors, who won a record 105 singles events including eight Grand Slam titles.

Connors and Roddick first discussed the possibility of joining forces after the French Open.

Roddick said he and Connors spent four days working together in Santa Barbara, California, where Connors lives, before Roddick played at Indianapolis last week. Roddick reached the finals at Indianapolis, losing to James Blake. But Roddick said he came away optimistic about the association.

Connors said, 'we're just starting out'' and will try to ``get through this year and see how things go,'' and Roddick said he wasn't sure how much time they would spend togther. Connors is a willing participant, though, after some initial reluctance.

``The one major concern from my standpoint was what he was willing to give and how much he as willing to give and it didn't take him long to prove that to me,'' Connors said. — Agencies

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