It is official, Andy Roddick has hired Dean Goldfine as his coach effective immediately. Rumors have been circulating for some time, in fact, Davis Cup Captain, Patrick McEnroe, was very supportive of this possibility and was quoted last Thursday: “I’ve heard Dean has been mentioned and I don’t think that’s solidified yet though I know he’s at the top of the list,” McEnroe told Tennis Week. “I think he realizes that Brad was great for him and that Brad helped him get to the next level, but Andy is a very intelligent guy and he’s not the kind of guy who just changes coaches for the sake of change. Whoever he hires, I think, will be with him for a while. I think Andy knows what he wants, he knows what he’s got to do to continue to develop as a player and I think he’s looking for someone who has a full-range plan for his game and his fitness and who can push him in the way he needs to be pushed. I do know Dino well and if he does get the job I think he would be great and I think he’d do a tremendous job with Andy. Dino is a coach’s coach. He’s a very dedicated coach, who puts his player first.”

Preliminary plans include training sessions in Florida to begin preparations for the Australian Open in January.

Andy’s agent, Ken Meyerson of SFX Sports Group, is excited about the hiring of Goldfine and is anticipating the up-coming season.

Go Andy – Go Dean – Good Luck in 2005!