Small Steps

Larry Stefanki, Andy Roddick's new coach, is thinking small in order to win big. Smaller steps, shorter stance, slimmer body.

Stefanki’s first judgment: that Roddick was too big through a 2008 season when he failed to capture a Slam, had his ranking drop from No. 6 to No.8 and was outplayed by, among others, Robin Soderling, Gael Monfils, Tomas Berdych, Viktor Troicki, Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic, and Janko Tipsarevic, all ranked below him.

According to Stefanki, Roddick at his suggestion had lost 13 pounds before Stefanki left his home in the San Diego County community of Olivenhain to join Roddick for the events preceding the Australian Open.

“He has said to me, ‘I haven’t been at 190-195 pounds in five years,’ “ Stefanki said, “and I said, ‘And what happened then?’ “

It was in 2003 that Roddick achieved his only Grand Slam triumph in the US Open.

(...)

“He is doing everything he can; he works extremely hard,” Stefanki said. “In that area, he is in the Jim Courier class.”

Stefanki has made some determinations concerning what has been at the source of Roddick’s trials. One is that the American has lost a good deal of the zip with his forehand because his feet have been too widely spaced.

“Tennis is a ‘landed’ game," explained Stefanki. "You have to react primarily with your feet. Roger Federer is best at that."



Stefanki said he further is desirous of Roddick taking smaller steps on the court. "He has not been comfortable coming forward because he has been off balance," the coach said. He noted that Roddick's head is too far forward when he goes toward the net. He is not approaching the net as much as stumbling toward it.

Roddick also must focus on returning serve more consistently, in Stefanki's thinking. His percentage in this phase dropped off to 29 per cent a year ago after once standing at 48 percent. To Stefanki, returning so poorly has taken away some of the advantages relating to Roddick holding his own serve 91 percent of the time.

Now if only Stefanki could show some passion from the stands. That's also what Andy needs. He hasn't had exuberant passion in a coach since Tarik Benhabiles. Who can forget his demeanor during that five-set marathon against Michael Chang in the second round of Roland Garros in 2002? Or that once-in-a-lifetime epic he won 21-19 in the fifth against Younes El Aynaoui in the Australian Open quarterfinals in 2003? Stefanki lacks the proper bedside manner, but he's got a recipe for success.

Let's see how it goes.

(Thanks, oddman)