Roddick at full fitness; 'enthused and ready'
Category: Tennis
Publish Date: 12-28-2010 07:00 PM -0500
Andy Roddick says he is back at full fitness for the first time since coming down with mononucleosis in the spring.
"I think it's the first time I've felt right since last May, so when you are fit it takes a lot of the mental pressure off," he said, speaking to reporters in Brisbane. "You feel like you can play any way you want so I feel fresh and I feel enthused and ready."
After starting the season with a 26-4 record, the American pulled out of his first and only claycourt warmup event with what turned out to be the first signs of the virus and went 22-14 for the rest of the year, also retiring in Shanghai with injury.
Getting back to full strength in the middle of the season was a challenge. "You train hard and you get hurt in training coming back. You don't train you rest and you try and come back and your body is not right and it shows," he said.
Roddick is the defending champion in Brisbane. "I came in last year and hadn't been playing much so this was a really good springboard into the year for me," he said. "I like being in the same country but also I like this event.
"My wife enjoys coming here so let's not pretend I make any decisions," he quipped.
