Roddick’s Wrist Passes The Test

(Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle)

The wrist injury that knocked defending champion Andy Roddick out of the Nasdaq-100 Open in his first match two weeks ago didn’t seem to be an issue during his first appearance at River Oaks Country Club on Thursday night.

But, relaxed and joking, Roddick did lose to his childhood buddy and Olympic silver-medalist Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 in an exhibition in conjunction with the River Oaks International.

Roddick had earlier pronounced himself 100 percent fit in a cell phone conversation while he was driving down from Austin, saying he was looking forward to getting back on the court “in a competitive atmosphere.”

“I had a good workout (Wednesday), and it feels perfect today,” he said.

Roddick, who has won 18 of his 22 matches in 2005 and is ranked No. 3 in the world behind Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt, whipped his forehand and served with his usual ferocity, two essential elements of his trademark power game. He had sprained a tendon in the wrist when he swung awkwardly from the baseline in the second set of a second-round match against Fernando Verdasco in Key Biscayne, Fla.

“It’s always a tough dynamic (to decide whether to quit),” he said. “You don’t want to make it worse. When you ask the trainer if (continuing to play) will make it worse and he answers, ‘I don’t know,’ you have to be professional and make the smart decision.”

Roddick is listed in the draw for the Master Series Monte Carlo tournament, which starts Monday, but he hasn’t yet made a decision about traveling to Europe. He must tell the ATP by noon today. He’ll be returning to Houston for the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships at Westside Tennis Club the following week.

While it appears highly unlikely he’ll go to Monaco, Roddick laughed and said: “We’ll see. … I like a little spontaneity in my life.”