[NYCtennisfan]

Muller played unbelieveably tonight but this is a low point for Andy now. He needs to do something to shake things up. I don't think his current team is going to get him where he wants to go. No coach might be able to make up for his lack of return instincts and stiff left arm on the BH but he is definitely regressing. I am not a Roddick fan nor am I a basher/hater but to see Roddick out in the 1st round of the USO just doesn't seem right.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

Roddick was in a groove then there was a lapse in concentration in the first set. he gets broken, Lux starts playing well, then unbelieveably well, and before you know it, Roddick is being blown away in the 3rd set TB. If Roddick holds on in that 1st set, the result might've been a lot different. He needs someone else I think.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

Roddick should take Cahill when Agassi retires

Cahill would be perfect for him.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

you think Goldfine will survive till the end of the year?

Right now I doubt it.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

I just wanted to say that Roddick lost what he used to do the best (beat the crap out of ball) and didn't get anything in return. At times he looked kind of confused. All that slicing on a backhand is not his game. Although it might help him to get to the second round of the French Oopen next year


Counting minutes before Goldfine is unemployed. If I was Goldfine, I would have probably spent my night dusting my resume and calling old contacts.

Goldfine is in over his head in turning this mess around. Roddick came out on fire, Lux was stinking it up and he let him off of the hook. He gave him a little bit of hope and Muller played a truly outstanding match. I wish Muller would play like this all the time.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

not sure if Cahill would jump at this offer

He would if the $$$$$$$$$$$$ were right I think that's what is going to happen really.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

hard to say, I mean Roddick played fantastically today, it was definitely not his fault that he lost, it was just Muller's strength

if he fires Goldfine, he should try it on his own maybe, the way Federer did some time

Roddick did serve extremely well and made not too many errors but he did keep on hitting it to the Muller Fh which controlled all the points. Muller hit some great BH's too but wasn't controlling the points with it.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

^He wasn't patient enough with Gilbert, that is true. He probably didn't like Gilbert in his face either and probably thought that Gilbert was too opinionated. Goldfine seems like a nice enogh guy and I think Roddick is comfortable with that. He's not someone who will get in his face and challenge him.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

Goldfine would be good for an player just rising from the junior ranks. He can teach technique and positioning and so on. Roddick's basic game isn't going to change all that much. He needs someone who can work on his head.

Roddick was tremendously confident coming out to play. He was confident in the beginning but he makes a few mistakes, Lux hits some shots and then you can see his confidence go away even though he was simpoly tied in the 1st set after Lux broke back. Then Lux started playing really well and ANdy started playing more passively, not hitting big FH's whne he had the chance, hitting short shots off of both the FH and BH wings and then Muller ripped some amazing shots.

To Muller's credit, he didn't crack under pressure. 99% of Roddick's oponents crack under the pressure because he his holding serve so easily. His opponents hold serve well against him but then there is always that game that has a Df, an eror, a good Fh by Roddick and then the pressure builds because it is so hard to break Roddick. Muller totally kept his cool and kept hitting big shot after big shot after big volley.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

As many people have said here, Andy doesn't really have a tennis brain. Gilbert did all the thinking for him by telling him what to do and what to focus on during a match. I don't think Goldfine helps him at all in this manner.

Frankly, I think Andy like Goldfine because he is a nice, passivle guy. That's what it seems like to me. I could be totally wrong. I don't think he liked the irksome, in-your-face Gilbert style but I think that is what he needs.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

His backhand is less effective than alot of the women's two-handed backhands.
His strategy of just hitting the ball hard, keeping it fairly centered is not working. Someone needs to introduce Andy to a protractor so he knows what an angle is.
And he doesn't seem to go out there with any type of game plan. It should have occurred to Andy at one time or another that Muller was eating up his pace with no problem. Andy did not try anything to change things up. And his standing 5-10 feet behind the baseline doesn't threaten anyone.

This is his biggest problem. He cannot threaten anyone from the baseline with the BH. He can keep the ball in play but not gain the advantage or move people around with it. Muller just pinned him to his BH with powerful approaches to the BH and Andy couldn't pass him. I think he passed him twice from that side. add to this that he has a poor return of service, his opponent is controlling most of the points on his serve. Roddick couldn't have served any better but did nothing on Muller's serve.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

Roddick is a victim of the USTA and their system. Until American players are taught to play on clay, a surface that demands both physical and mental strength travesties like this will continue to happen. I'm afraid that Donald Young, who is at least two to three years away (he hasn't gone through his growth spurt yet) will be pushed faster than he should be. I hope his parents don't let this happen but you never know.
There is nothing wrong with being good on the hardcourts but the most entertaining players today know how to build a point, not rush, and take advantage of an opening when it occurs.

The USTA didn't hurt Pete or Agassi. Roddick's BH wasn't developed along the way and that is his main problemm That and his return of serve. But if just one of these areas were developed further, he would be very difficult to beat. Give him a average or slightly above average BH and he would be an entirely different player.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

Agree K-Dog.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

I think Roddick will stick with Goldfine until the end of the year unless he has a disastrous 1st round loss again or gets humilated in Davis Cup.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

They meant Ivo Karlovic who will play Andre tommorrow night probably.

 

[NYCtennisfan]

^Yes you did.