The Scoop: ROLAND GARROS, DAY 9

Roddick fires Benhabiles, hires Gilbert

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane/ Camerawork USA, Inc.

FROM ROLAND GARROS – After another disastrous Roland Garros that saw him losing 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round by Sargis Sargsian, Andy Roddick has parted ways with his longtime coach, Tarik Benhabiles and hired Andre Agassi's former coach, Brad Gilbert, both the Sun Sentinel and The New York Times reported.

Gilbert, who hasn't worked with a men's pro since he and Agassi parted ways in January 2002, will immediately begin working with Roddick to prepare him for Wimbledon.

"The decision has been made to terminate the relationship professionally and amicably with Tarik, and I'm glad Brad has agreed to work with Andy the next three weeks," Roddick's agent, Ken Meyerson told the Times.

Despite reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open earlier this year with a spectacular five-set victory over Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui, the 2-year-old Roddick has had a mediocre year, failing to win a significant title. It looked like Roddick had righted his ship when he won the crown in St. Poelten the week before Roland Garros, but seeded No. 9 in Paris, he played a sloppy match in falling to Sargsian, failing to find consistency on his serve and unable to control the court with his big forehand.

US Davis Cup captain and ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe said after the match, "Roddick has to do some soul searching and make some real improvement in his game to reach the next level. Since his great run to the semifinals at the Australian Open, 2003 has been relatively disappointing for Roddick. For example, Roddick has not been able to play his brand of offensive tennis on the red clay. Other players have adjusted to his powerful serve. If he's forced to win points from the baseline, he runs into difficulty. He needs to learn how to rely on more than just his big first serve."

Roddick, who made a smashing debut at Roland Garros in '01 when he outlasted Michael Chang in a five-set cramp-fest, has lost his last five matches here – to Lleyton Hewitt in 2001, to Wayne Arthurs in the first round last year, two Davis Cup singles contests to Sebastien Grosjean and Arnaud Clement last September and his defeat to Sargsian.

CAN'T WIN IN PARIS
"It's just weird," Roddick said. "I can't figure it out. This year I've either been in the final or lost in the first or second rounds. It's a different experience for me. It's between the ears. I know I can play and have the ability to play really good tennis. It's been peaks and valleys and I don't know how much of an explanation there is for it. It's part of sport. Even the Lakers lose sometimes which means I can definitely lose sometimes."

Last year, the deficiencies in Roddick's game became apparent at Wimbledon and the US Open, when he was crushed by Greg Rusedski and Pete Sampras, both who picked on his weak backhand and who weren't threatened by his unambitious return of serve. Roddick promised to fix those areas in his game in the offseason, but the problems have continued.

Fred Mullane/ Camerawork USA, Inc.

Remarkably, after his loss to Sargsian, Roddick was asked if he might consider a coaching change, he said,"You guys just won't quit. No, I mean my coach didn't lose the match. He's smart. I'm the one losing the matches. He's not losing them."

Sources told tennisreporters.net that Roddick's parents, Jerry and Blanche, weren't as convinced that Benhabiles was still doing a standout job and asked their son to make the change.

Benhabiles began coaching Roddick in August 1999. Gilbert only reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon once, in 1990, when Boris Becker beat him in straight sets. But Roddick wants a different set of eyes on his game.

"It's not for him to get to the next step. I mean he's No. 6 in the world," Meyerson said. "It's a question of getting a different perspective. He really wanted to work with Brad on the grass."