Andy Kicks Off 2006 in Kooyong

Andy will kick off his 2006 season at the fan favorite AAMI Classic invitational in Kooyong, Melbourne, Australia this Wednesday. The unique round robin format pits eight of tennis’s top players against each other over the course of four days.

With the strong field of Roddick, Federer, Coria, Nalbandian, Llubicic, Haas, and Monifils to date, the AAMI Classic is heavily regarded as the most anticipated prelude to the Australian Open. And what better way for Andy to start the season than against the best? Immediately following the holidays, Andy trained in Hawaii to better acclimate his game to the conditions he will face next week in Australia.

“I think the biggest thing for me is having an off-season to prepare. I’ve been off six weeks and worked extremely hard on getting fit. I’m trying to become a better athlete in general, and I’m more excited to begin a year than I ever have,” Roddick told reporters in a conference call last week.

The AAMI Classic in Kooyong is the ideal environment for Roddick and Goldfine to prepare for the season’s first Grand Slam. The friendly round robin format allows players to battle in low pressure, high caliber matches. The AAMI Classic does not award ATP Race points, rather provides the opportunity to play in several matches that exceed the level of most tournament finals and add confidence for players heading into the Aussie Open.

Last year Federer edged Roddick in the finals at the AAMI Classic. But a rejuvenated and focused Roddick has adopted a “more aggressive mind-set” for 2006 and will be looking to kick off the new year with some big wins in Kooyong.

For more on the AAMI Classic in Kooyong, visit http://www.aamiclassic.com.au/ and check back to Ar.com for all of Andy in Australia.