The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Roddick eager to make more memories at Key Biscayne

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida (AP)

For Andy Roddick, the annual return to Key Biscayne stirs up plenty of good memories.

He came to the tournament site as a school student, bused in with hundreds of other kids for clinics. Seven years ago, at age 18, he nearly decapitated Pete Sampras with a 136-mph serve en route to a third-round upset. In 2004, he won the title.

''I have a little bit of history here,'' Roddick said yesterday.

He hopes to make more with a title run at this year's Sony Ericsson Open. Roddick plays his opening match tomorrow against Serbian qualifier Viktor Troicki.

Right timing

The timing might be right for a repeat of 2004. Roddick is off to a good start this year - he's one of five players with two ATP titles - while nemesis Roger Federer has yet to reach a final.

With the top-ranked Federer off his game, does that create an opportunity for Roddick? They could meet in the quarter-finals.

''I've got to get there, so it's not even relevant for me right now,'' said Roddick, who is 1-15 against Federer. ''I'm sure Roger would tell you he's probably not playing his best right now. That being said, I think Roger's earned the right for us to give him the benefit of the doubt.

''No matter how much everyone's creating questions, he's still capable of coming out and winning this tennis tournament.''

Roddick said he's pleased with his year so far, aside from a third-round loss to Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Australian Open. Roddick won San Jose, then beat No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Novak Djokovic en route to the Dubai title this month.

''I actually feel very confident right now,'' Roddick said. ''The Dubai field was about as tough as I've ever seen in a tournament like that.''

Roddick split this year with Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors, who had been coaching him since July 2006. Roddick's brother John continues as coach, but at age 25, Roddick said he's ready to follow his own voice.

''I do need to take it upon myself,'' he said. ''It's my responsibility, and it's my career at this point.''

Like everyone else, he's chasing Federer, who is No. 1 for a record 217th consecutive week. Nadal and Djokovic have won major titles in the past year as they try to scramble the rankings.