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Roddick settles flap over antics
Fourth seed Andy Roddick has handled the flap over his crowd-arousing antics as easily as his opponents at the US Open.
Fourth seed Andy Roddick has handled the flap over his crowd-arousing antics as easily as his opponents at the US Open.
Roddick won his 15th match in a row, defeating Brazil's Flavio Saretta 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 here Sunday to reach the fourth round at the year's final Grand Slam tennis championship.
The 21-year-old American, who won three titles and went 21-1 between Wimbledon and the US Open, was the center of a spat with his second-round opponent, Croatian Ivan Ljubicic.
Ljubicic blasted Roddick's playing to the crowd Friday, saying it affected umpires and linesmen and influenced their calls.
He also said Roddick was only ranked so high because he plays so many tournaments in the United States where he can intimidate officials.
Roddick and Ljubicic settled their differences early Saturday, Roddick's 21st birthday. The entire dispute shocked Roddick because he had never heard the complaint before Ljubicic went public with his complaints.
"I was surprised because I didn't realize it was on his mind," Roddick said. "I talked to him a little while, wanted to get it straight from the source, from his mouth. We had a very professional talk. It's over. It's done."
Ljubicic said no one among ATP players liked Roddick but later backed off such a sweeping condemnation. Roddick said he does not feel like he is disliked but has an open mind to criticism.
"Who knows what's said when people aren't around?" he said. "That was one of my main issues. I said, 'If it's an issue between you and me we'll keep it that way and discuss it between me and you.' He understood. It's all good."
As for Roddick's ranking being aided by having so many US events, three hardcourt titles in North America in he past six weeks and semi-final runs at Wimbledon and the Australian Open have put him atop the ATP Champions Race.
"I am where I am," Roddick said. "Who knows what the case would be? I feel fortunate a lot of the tournaments are in the US. But last I checked I've gotten to two semi-finals in foreign countries this year, in Grand Slams."
Roddick kept his 21st birthday celebration low key.
"I saw my friends and my family. It wasn't too big a deal," Roddick said. "I wanted to kind of forget it was my birthday."
Roddick said he is saving his first alcohol drink since reaching the legal US drinking age of 21 for when his US Open run is done.
"That's afterwards," he said. "I get to make up for it afterwards."
