“There’s no getting around the fact that he’s been the biggest obstacle in my career, and, you know, his game matches up well against mine, just the Xs and Os of it,’’ Roddick said in anticipation of Monday night’s match against Roger Federer.

What is normally billed as a Semifinal or Final match comes earlier than usual for the pair who will face off Monday night in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open.

“You don’t win matches, and you’re struggling, you go down and you play guys earlier in tournaments,’’ Andy admitted. “That’s the way it goes. I know the name value for a third round is certainly there with Roger. We’ve played a ton; there’s no secrets. I know I have to execute really, really well.”

This will be the 24th time the two have faced each other with Roger holding a significant 21-2 lead. One of Andy’s victories was in Miami in 2008 where he defeated Federer in three sets in the Quarterfinals.

“I have to be really good to give myself a shot against him, better than against most. So it’s rewarding when you beat a guy who’s the best ever at his sport, it’s a big deal.’’ Andy is appreciative of how special those victorious are and will be fighting for another “big deal” on Monday night.

Check back to AndyRoddick.com for more from the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami!

Andy is through to the third round in Miami after a straight sets win over Gilles Muller 6-3, 6-2.

Andy played a solid match, with a high first serve percentage and few errors, and after the match talked about his good preparation coming into the tournament:
“I’m moving a lot better you know. The last three or four days is probably kind of the best leadup I’ve had into an event where I didn’t feel like I was fighting it.”

In the third round, Andy faces a foe he’s played many times over his career – Roger Federer. The former world number one is in hot form at the moment, last week clinching the Indian Wells title. Andy and Federer met recently at an exhibition in Madison Square Gardens, which Andy won. Looking ahead to his match against Federer, Andy said,

“We’ve played a ton; there’s no secrets. I know I have to execute really, really well. We have had a couple really tight ones here before at night. I’m guessing that’s when it would be. It’s always fun. I have to be really good to give myself a shot against him, better than against most.”

After a difficult past few months with injuries, feeling fit and healthy again, Andy is looking forward to the coming weeks:

“I feel like something good is coming. You know, if I can keep this progress, then, you know, hopefully the next, you know, two months will be fine, but then I can build hopefully.”

Stay tuned to AndyRoddick.com as we bring you the latest from Miami.

HORSESHOE BAY, TX (March 2012) – The Andy Roddick Foundation’s Youth Tennis Program has placed racquets in the hands of children who would normally not have the opportunity to enjoy the great game of tennis. Nationally, the youth tennis program has placed racquets in the hands of over 5000 children.

Locally, the Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program has helped over 1,000 children right here in the Texas Hill Country. Students from Highland Lakes Elementary, Spicewood Elementary and Colt Elementary are currently participating in the Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program and enjoying the game of tennis.

Students in the program enjoy weekly tennis clinics and mentoring sessions, and benefit from the physical and mental competition. They enjoy the challenges and rewards of learning a new sport and gain respect for a healthy lifestyle – possibilities are limitless! Andy Roddick started playing tennis when he was 5, and today he travels the world playing in dozens of countries. Just imagine what tennis can do for any child.

In January of 2011 the construction of the Quickstart courts in Granite Shoals, TX were completed and Jeff Savage, administrator of the after-school Youth Tennis
QuickStart Program, in cooperation with Highland Lakes Elementary began weekly tennis clinics for students.

“We already have children ready to start on full-size courts and start playing in USTA tournaments,” said Jeff Savage U.S.P.T.A. Professional.

“Full-size tennis courts are desperately needed for the children currently graduating from the Quickstart courts. Donations of all sizes are welcome,” said Dave Holder, Fundraising Director for the Granite Shoals project.

Donations can be made to the Andy Roddick Foundation and mailed to: 308 Silver Spur, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657. To request additional information on the Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program please contact Dave Holder at daveholder@andyroddick.com or call 830.832.2799.

The Sony Ericsson Open gets underway on Wednesday in Miami and, seeded No. 31, Andy Roddick has a bye through the first round of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 hard-court tournament.

Roddick, a two-time former champion in Miami, will open his campaign in the second round against either Alex Bogomolov Jr., or Gilles Muller. He is on course for a third-round clash with World No. 3 Roger Federer, who comes into Miami on the back of his third straight ATP World Tour title at last week’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Also in the top half of the draw with Roddick and Federer are top seed Novak Djokovic, fifth seed David Ferrer, eighth seed Mardy Fish and 11th seed Juan Martin del Potro.

The 29-year-old Roddick has a 31-10 event record, having lifted the trophy in 2004 with victory over Guillermo Coria, and again two years ago when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals before topping Tomas Berdych in the title match.

Stay tuned to www.andyroddick.com for all the latest news from Miami.

Go, Andy!

“My favorite shot is the between-the-legs top spin drop shot,” is Roddick’s opening line in his 2011 ATP Player Vignette.

At the end of the year, the ATP interviewed all of the top ATP and WTA players, with our American being one of them, and then created a video montage of each player’s answers, successes on court, and epic moments.

To view Andy’s two-minute vignette, click here: http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Media/Videos/2011/Vignettes/Andy-Roddick-Vignette.aspx

Kevin Stephens was able to see Andy play at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, and wrote in to AndyRoddick.com to tell us about his experience.

“For several years I have been trying to go to the tennis tournament in Delray Beach, Florida. Every year something comes up that I can’t go and it passes by. Well this year it looked very promising that I would be able to attend and being that Roddick was going to be there and I had wanted to see him play live for awhile, I figured that I would try and get tickets.

Well, luck would have it that my wife gave me tickets for my birthday and I was able to attend his first round match against Philipp Petzschner. I had great seats. I was in the East Box, second row. I enjoyed the night out with 3 of my friends and we all had a blast. The match started slow for Roddick, but he picked it back up in the 2nd set and dominated in the 3rd set. I was also sitting pretty close to his coach and wife so I was able to meet her and get a photo with her. Overall the night was very fun and memorable.”

Thank you, Kevin!

If you’ve had the opportunity to see Andy play this year, we’d like to hear about it! The address to write to is: iwasthere@andyroddick.com

After a two-hour, three set battle, No. 7 seed Tomas Berdych prevailed victorious over Andy Roddick, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.

The match opened on the Czech’s racquet, who held the lead since serving the first ball, and won the first set after two breaks in 45 minutes. The second set, however, was when the American fought back, and one break at 3-all was all Roddick needed to even the score. In the third and final set, Berdych broke early and then again to claim the match, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Stay tuned to AR.com as Andy prepares for the next ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, the Sony Ericcson Open in Miami, Florida.

In Round 3 at the BNP Paribas Open, American Andy Roddick will face a familiar competitor, the Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych.

Meeting for the tenth time, the 2010 Finalist here holds a six win lead over the world No. 7, with the Monaco-resident winning their last battle at the 2010 ATP World Tour Finals in London. Berdych, whose been in the Top 10 for the past two years, reached a career high of 6th in late 2010 and has remained a top contender with his strong serving game and powerful forehand. Since both players have similar strengths, it comes as no surprise that most of their encounters include hard fought tie breaks, six out of the nine matches to be exact
.
Below are more stats on Berdych:
Age: 26 (17.09.1985)
Birthplace: Valasske Mezirici, Czech
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6’5″ (196 cm)
Weight: 200 lbs (91 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2002
Coach: Tomas Krupa

Stay tuned to AR.com for the Order of Play in Indian Wells and full match updates. To catch the action in real-time, go to www.bnpparibasopen.com to follow the live scoring, or if you have the Tennis Channel, you can catch it all either live or on delay.

Andy prevailed against Lukasz Kubot Saturday in the desert in a three set battle, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. It was just a matter of making him pay for not making first serves, and I did not do that at all early in the match and then I did it well. It was like a line in the sand. It went from terrible to good for whatever reason,” Andy explained following the match.
In the opening set Andy saved break points in both the 3rd and 5th games but an unfortunate double fault gave Kubot the break and the chance to serve out the set.

Andy saw more opportunities in the second set but it was Kubot who converted the break first in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead. The American hung tough, and broke back with a perfectly placed backhand winner to level the set at 5-5. Fans were thrilled as the set headed into a tie-break. Andy immediately took a dominant 5-1 lead and despite Kubot’s impressive effort to gain those points back, Andy claimed the second set 7-6(5).

With the momentum and crowd in Andy’s corner the American patiently found his opportunities in the decisive set. The win places Andy in the third round where he will next face Tomas Berdych.

Check back for more from the BNP Pariabs Open on AndyRoddick.com

Andy kicks off his 2012 singles debut at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells Saturday against Lukasz Kubot. As the 30th seed, Andy received a bye in the opening round, where Kubot defeated Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-2 to reach the second round.

The two have played once before, in 2009 at the Chine Open where Kubot defeated Andy 6-2, 6-4. The American will be looking to even the score Saturday.

Andy joined Mardy Fish Friday for some doubles fun. Despite being edged out by Florian Mayer and Jarkko Nieminen, the American’s drew an excited crowd in the desert.

Tune in to the Tennis Channel who will be covering matches live Saturday.

Check out some stats on Kubot courtesy of the ATP World Tour:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Lukasz-Kubot.aspx”>http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Lukasz-Kubot.aspx