Don’t call him a stringer! While that is the essence of his role within Team Roddick, Grant Morgan has now been Andy’s equipment manager for an entire year. Many of you might have seen the video interview on the website from earlier this year capturing a glimpse of Grant’s daily routine at an event. It seems simple, but there is simply no margin for error, and therefore Grant’s job is vital to Andy’s success. In addition to this, Grant spends more time with Andy than anybody during tournament weeks. This past week, AR.com caught up with this valuable member of Team Roddick during this brief down time at his home in Memphis, Tennessee.
AR.com: Who are some of your favorite players?
GM: “I am lucky I guess when It comes to players. I have been around the players for a while. I really like Tim Henmen, Alex Corretja, Albert Costa. Thomas Johansson, and Thomas Enqvist. These guys are just so nice. They are to me anyway.”
It is a different story now. Grant is stringing only for one player, and thus spends less time socializing at events with other players.
AR.com So are you pleased that you were given this opportunity?
GM: “There are 1 or 2 guys on their own, and somehow the best job in the world fell into my lap!”
Don’t be fooled by Grant’s modesty. The truth is Andy has always had a comfortable feeling when Grant worked on his racquets. That is why Andy recruited Grant at the end of last year to be his full-time….equipment manager, and a full-time member of Team Roddick.
AR.com How is Andy as a boss?
GM: “You can not ask for a better boss. This is a 36 yr old talking about a 22 yr old. He is a great guy funny as hell and good to the people that work for him. I could not be happier than I am. He said to me one day right after I started working for him ” yo dude I trust you that is why you’re here” After that I was like so relaxed. Have I made mistakes you bet? Does it bother me hell yes. Do I loose sleep over it not at all. I am good at what I do and he knows it. Half the time we don’t even talk about what I do. I just do it. Some time I don’t even fell like I work for him. I feel like I am hanging out with a friend.”
Because Grant spends so much time with Andy, he is fortunate to see a side of Andy that few do.
AR.com What is something funny/interesting about Andy that most do not know?
GM: ’something people would not know well, he is a Yahtzee addict! He is also huge on joking around and loves Starbucks. That is where I like hanging with him the most. There he is just Andy. Not A-Rod the star. It is a shame most of his fans only get the tennis side of him.”
AR.com What does being a part of Team Roddick mean to you?
GM: “I like the team thing. It puts you in the one goal mind frame. We all know Andy is the star. But he is also the product of what we do as a team. It is easy if you look at it. BG (Brad Gilbert) has the head, Doug (Spreen) has the body and I have the equipment. I think I have it easy. I am the only one on the team that can make a mid-match adjustment.
AR.com Describe briefly your relationship with BG?
GM: “I give BG space to be BG. The thing I love about Brad is he is funny as hell and has no clue. We all know he is a great coach. If you don’t know just ask him. He is also great at getting things done. He is a good team leader, and the best story teller in the world. He has been in the game a long time and knows a ton of people. BG has a memory like a steel trap, and can pull you into a story or some piece of tennis history… it is like a time warp.”
AR.com What about the routine? How would you describe a typical day at an event?
GM: “Well this is the attitude in the morning. BG is up at 6 and it takes him about 30 seconds to be going full blast. Andy is like 9 to 11 am…He is an ‘I am up but leave me alone for 45 min’ kind of guy. Doug, well there are no mornings. He is just sleeping in till the last minute, then a 45 min shower. I am some where in the middle. If Andy is like first on at 10 or 11. I may have to get up at 5am BUT I will go back to sleep if I need to, or catch a nap later. We all go to practice and from there it is just making time pass till match time. Dinner is the best time of the day. We all joke around and relax. I some times will hang out with BG at night if he is still up. Doug and Andy often have some work to do. We just talk about life or what is hot at the moment. It is really very cool that we are all so different but together, and I think that’s what makes us a good team.”
AR.com When all is said and done, what is your Favorite city/tournament?
GM: “Well I really like the Paris indoor. It is the last tournament at the end of the year before the Masters. The arena is very near the Player hotel and there is good food nearby. Also there subway is very easy to use. I go out with a stringer friend who travels with Henman, Federer and Hewitt. There are two American speaking pubs we go to, one is called OZ and the other is called the Moose. We will go to the Moose on Tuesday and watch Monday night football. Plus, I mean Paris in the fall, give me a break. I love the cool weather and watching the leaves turn and the feel of romance in the air.”
AR.com Last question…Do you have any suggestions on how Andy can start doing better against Roger Federer?
GM: “You are asking a 4.0 club hacker to tell the number 2 player in the world how to beat the number 1 player in the world?!”
Good point. Thanks for visiting with andyroddick.com. Good luck to Andy, Grant and the rest of Team Roddick!
