Roddick Is Pumped For Olympics

By Marc Katz

Playing in the upcoming Athens Olympics is a bigger deal for Andy Roddick than you might think.

“Why is it important to you to play in the Olympics?” Roddick was asked late Tuesday night after he beat Max Mirnyi 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-3 in a first-round match at the ATP Masters Series event at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

Roddick stared at the questioner for several seconds before sputtering, “That’s a pretty simple question.”

The questioner was ready.

“Not really,” he said. “(Pete) Sampras didn’t play in 2000.”

“Sorry,” Roddick answered. “It’s a simple question for me.”

Here’s a guy who has won the U.S. Open and finished second at Wimbledon, tennis” two crowning moments.

He has been No. 1 in the world and currently is No. 2. At age 21, he has won, or come close to winning, what tennis considers its showcase events.

Yet the Olympics intrigues Roddick, who defeated Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday night after the day session was delayed four hours by rain.

“It’s the biggest sporting event in the world,” Roddick said.

“You know, I relish the opportunity to play. Sampras did play once, so he did get to feel the whole Olympic experience.”

Roddick even has Olympic memories.

“There are a couple,” he said. “Obviously, you know, when Kerry Strug (the gymnast) did her thing on one ankle (in 1996). That was huge, that was pretty cool. You know, Michael Johnson and his golden shoes (in 2000).”

Roddick isn’t certain what to expect. He was told fellow touring pro Tim Henman went to the last Olympics and became so absorbed in the other sports, he didn’t play as well as he wanted.

“I don’t know how I”ll react over there,” Roddick said.

“I don’t know what it feels like to play in the Olympics. But, you know, I”m going over there trying to win a medal, so that will be my first priority.”

The way he talks, the Olympics is as important as anything he can do in tennis.

“It’s up there with the Slams for me, for sure,” Roddick said. “I mean, especially because it’s so prestigious. . . . It’s the Olympics.”