Tennis

Roddick looking to recharge batteries

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-02-26 09:05

Andy Roddick said he was looking forward to recharging his batteries after he was demolished 6-3 6-2 by German Tommy Haas in the final of the Memphis International on Sunday.

The American, who will rise to number three when the new rankings are released on Monday, was distinctly second best against an inspired Haas, who picked up his third Memphis title.

After reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open, Roddick helped the United States win away to the Czech Republic in their Davis Cup first-round tie and then made the semi-finals in San Jose last week.

In the last four here he earned revenge over British teenager Andy Murray for his defeat in San Jose, only to fall short against Haas, who did not face a single break point in the entire week.

With back-to-back Masters Series events next month in Indian Wells and Miami, Roddick said he wanted to be completely rested to be at 100 percent.

"I'm going to take a couple of days off in Austin," Roddick told reporters.

"It's been a pretty hectic three weeks, or even first two months of the year. I've seen my house a couple of times. I will get home, kind of recharge the batteries and go into (the Masters Series) with a really good week of training under my belt."

Roddick struggled with his whole game on Sunday, his first serve missing its mark more often than not, handing Haas the chance to dominate from the baseline.

"I tried mixing (my serve) up but it didn't feel right today. Not a whole lot did. I think it was like the two extremes, everything was coming easy to him and everything was a bit of a struggle for me. That's not a good combination," he said.

Such was the level of Haas's game that Roddick agreed the German had the credentials to win a grand-slam title, given the chance.

"It's not easy to get to a grand-slam final, he said.

"Seemingly with Roger (Federer) being in every single one there's only four spots in a year so you have to make it count.

"He has definitely been one of the top players. I feel like that's a pretty fair goal for Tommy. I think he can accomplish it, it is a legitimate goal."