Roddick Hoping to Smell Better after Gilbert

Sure enough, it was Gilbert to the rescue, and rescue is what he did.

Despite speculation that his opinionated and talkative ways would clash with the traditional values of Roddick’s parents, Gilbert fit right in as part of Team Roddick and quickly molded a player with one of the greatest serves in the game into a thinker and a tactician on the court, and the results were immediate and stunning. Prior to Gilbert, Roddick had been just 25-11 on the season in 2003. Under Gilbert, Roddick’s game flourished and his confidence soared to a new level as he finished the year in remarkable if not improbable fashion posting a 47-8 record with five (of six total) titles, including a U.S. Open crown and a No. 1 finish.

Things could not have started out better for Roddick and Gilbert.

But in 2004, the gifted Roger Federer decided to turn the men’s circuit into his own private playground. Not only did Roddick’s results suffer, losing to the Swiss in a hard-fought Wimbledon final and in a lopsided affair in Bangkok, but so too did everyone else’s. Roddick ended the year with just four titles - no Slams and zero victories since barely winning at Indianapolis in August - and endured a disappointing Davis Cup final against Spain during which he won just one set. His game, by most accounts, appeared to be stagnating even though marked improvements could be seen in his backhand and volley.

Despite the lackluster results in Slams, the onslaught of Federer and the improved play from the likes of Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin and Tim Henman, Roddick still finished No. 2 in the world and still won 74 matches. Not a bad year really, but apparently for Roddick, it wasn’t enough and a change had to be made.

Roddick’s main focus is to win Grand Slams and finish No. 1. And to do that moving forward he’ll have to beat Federer, a man he has defeated just once in nine tries. So the big question is, who can help Roddick to beat Federer? After Monday’s official announcement it’s clear that Roddick felt Gilbert didn’t have the answer.

But who really does? Who out there can impart the wisdom to Roddick needed to beat the Swiss? Early speculation has centered on former No. 1 and two-time French Open champion Jim Courier. Courier, however, will come with a high price tag especially after finishing No. 1 this year on the senior circuit. Plus, Courier is a top notch TV analyst for NBC and has no prior coaching experience on his resume. Former Todd Martin mentor and current USTA coach Dean Goldfine is another name that’s been thrown out there, and according to one report, he's even been offered the job.

Or maybe Andy just figures that he can follow Federer’s path and play without a coach. Probably not, but we’ll soon find out as Roddick surely wouldn’t ax Gilbert without a plan this close to the start of 2005 season.

For his part, Gilbert again showed why he is one of the top coaches in the business. After taking Agassi to No. 1, few people, if any, thought he could reach the same heights with Roddick and his rocket-like serves. With his recent successes, demand for Gilbert will be high.

“I have enjoyed all of my time with Andy,” Gilbert posted on his website. “He has been a great student of the game during the time that we worked together and I am very proud of the results that were achieved. While I believe that there is still a great deal of work to be done, Andy clearly does not feel that way. I wish Andy all of the best and will be rooting for him.”

TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Kim Clijsters is still hopeful for a return at the 2005 Australian Open. The former WTA No. 1 says the brace on her left wrist has been removed and according to her doctor, if her rehab goes as planned she would be ready to play in the year’s first Grand Slam. One wonders, however. if she really would want to return in Australia where the media Down Under would certainly zero-in on her dumping of Lleyton Hewitt…Sad news from Argentina, reports are that David Nalbandian’s father, Norberto, passed following a heart attack at a Cordoba Hospital on Sunday. Norberto was 65…Brad Gilbert is the only coach to lead two different players (Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi) to the year-end No. 1 ranking…Brad Gilbert aside, Andy Roddick should be smelling better in 2005. Roddick just signed a deal with Parlux Fragrances to develop his own fragrance line set for release in spring of 2006. Does it really take like a year to develop a fragrance? Please. Paralux also has celebrity deals with Maria Sharapova and Paris Hilton. Hmm…Speaking of Sharapova, the new queen and ATM machine of tennis has signed a three-year deal with upscale Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer. The deal is reported to be worth $1 million per year. The addition of Tag Heuer adds to existing deals for Maria from Nike, Prince, Parlux, Speedminton, Canon and Motorola. GQ Magazine also announced Sharapova as their “Women of the year”…Meanwhile, fellow Russian Grand Slam champs Anastasia Myskina and Svetlana Kuznetsova are…are what? Are not exactly having their doors beaten down by companies looking to throw money at them...Kim Clijsters has apparently lost her clothing sponsors…As part of a four-day, three-state bus tour by the U.S. Davis Cup team to promote tennis, Andy Roddick & friends are expected to be in St. Paul, Minnesota today where they will attend the Timberwolves-Trailblazers NBA game. On Wednesday, the schedule is to check out the NFL Vikings practice, do some Christmas shopping at the Mall of America and then Roddick will play teammate Mardy Fish in an exhibition match. Memphis, Tenn., Nashville, Tenn., and Mobile, Alabama are among the other stops on the tour. If ya can’t be there for the fun, don’t worry. TV cameras are recording the events for a summer airing in the U.S...For what it's worth, Lleyton Hewitt has been seen hanging out with Aussie TV babe Rebecca Cartwright...Alicia Molik has apparently signed a deal with Aussie haircare company Garnier.