Andy Roddick

Former world number one Andy Roddick has hired fellow American Larry Stefanki as his new coach, the player announced on his personal website on Thursday.

Stefanki has previously coached John McEnroe, Marcelo Rios, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Tim Henman and most recently Fernando Gonzalez. Under his guidance both Rios and Kafelnikov reached the world number one ranking.

Roddick, 26, the 2003 US Open champion, is now at number six in the world rankings and suffered a miserable end of season when injury forced him to quit the Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Tennis stars Andy Roddick and Serena Williams are scheduled to compete in an exhibition tennis match Dec. 12 at Freedom Hall.
 
Roddick, ranked the No. 6 men’s tennis player in the world, and Williams, currently ranked the No. 2 women’s player in the world, will face up-and-coming players John Isner and Caroline Wozniacki in the ICAP Energy Rock-n-Racquets event to benefit the Andy Roddick Foundation.
 
The foundation provides needy children with educational opportunities and other resources.
 

Rafael Nadal's absence from the Masters Cup was supposed to make things easier for two-time defending champion Roger Federer. It hasn't worked out that way so far, with the Swiss landing in the group of death, feeling the effects of a back injury and battling a stomach ailment. Still, if he beats the sizzling Andy Murray on Friday, Federer will reach the semis.

Andy Roddick, meanwhile, won't see action this weekend.

Here's a glance at some of the big issues of the first week.

Federer's tribulations

 Tennis chiefs on Thursday rejected calls to re-think next year's schedule after world number six Andy Roddick criticised plans to force players to attend more tournaments.

Senior ATP official Brad Drewett said the new format, where players must attend eight new Masters 1000 events and four lower-tier events, was not up for discussion.

"I respect Andy's view. He's a very intelligent and good-thinking young man and his views are valued," said the ATP International chief.

 World number six Andy Roddick lashed out at plans to force players to turn up to more tournaments after joining Rafael Nadal on the Masters Cup injury list.

Roddick refused to blame the rigorous tennis schedule for his "unlucky" ankle injury but said too much pressure was being put on players, including Nadal.

"I think too much is asked of us as far as playing 11 months of the year, and now they're imposing more mandatory tournaments," Roddick said.

Roger Federer kept his hopes alive for a fifth Masters Cup title Wednesday by beating Radek Stepanek 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Federer, who pulled out of the Paris Masters less than two weeks ago with a sore back, still showed some of the rust that plagued his opening loss to Gilles Simon. His first-serve percentage was higher than in his first match, but the shots still lacked some of their usual sting.

American Andy Roddick withdrew from Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai with an ankle injury ahead of his Red Group clash against four-time champion Roger Federer on Wednesday. The World No. 6, who sustained the injury in practice on Tuesday, failed to respond sufficiently from treatment.

The Nebraskan will be replaced by No. 27-ranked Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.

"Yesterday, when I was doing a warm up drill in practice I just went over on it," said Roddick. “We tried as much as we could to get it better."

World number six Andy Roddick pulled out of the $4.45 million Masters Cup on Wednesday because of a right ankle injury.

The 26-year-old American lost his opening match in the season-ending championship for the world's top eight players to Andy Murray on Monday and was due to play top seed Roger Federer in his second group encounter later on Wednesday.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Red Group
Not Before 6:00 PM
A Murray (GBR) vs G Simon (FRA)

Not Before 8:00 PM
R Federer (SUI) vs A Roddick (USA)
 
Results : Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai ATP
Videos :
Master Cup - Djokovic Interview (November 8, 2008)

For the 18th time in their careers, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick will take to the court against each other tonight.

Their first meeting came way back in 2001 in Federer’s backyard at the Basel tournament – the Swiss Master did not disappoint his hometown fans on that occasion, taking the match 7-6 in the third set. And the victory set up the pace for their majority of their future meetings as Federer went on to win 15 of the 17 times the two have played.