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MELBOURNE - American Andy Roddick's Australian Open campaign may have hit a snag with the news the mother of his coach, Jimmy Connors, has died.
Gloria Connors, who was instrumental in moulding her son into a belligerent and talented world No 1, died in Illinois yesterday at the
age of 82.
Roddick said he was now unsure whether Connors would fly to Melbourne. The two teamed up midway through last year and Roddick credited Connors with transforming his game with a more traditional approach.
Roddick yesterday won his opening match in the AAMI Classic at Kooyong, beating German Tommy Haas 6-2, 6-3, then said he was unsure of Connors' immediate plans.
Roddick said: "I'm not sure. I talked to him really soon after the news and I just told him to do whatever he had to do.
"In this case it's a lot more important in his life right now than worrying about getting down here, it's halfway around the world.
"And so at this point I'm not sure. I just, you know, wish him and his family the best. We're still talking every day. He needs to do what he needs to do."
He said he would respect Connors' decision, whatever it was.
Roddick said the groundwork he and Connors had laid together over the past six months should mean he could operate independently throughout the Open.
World tennis No 1 Roger Federer yesterday survived a shaky start to squeeze past his first match at Kooyong.
Federer outlasted Czech Radek Stepanek in three tight sets, winning 7-6, 6-7, 7-6.
The Swiss star usually warms up for the Australian Open, which starts next Monday, at the Doha event, which he has won for the past two years.
This year he decided to instead arrive in Melbourne a week early and train with coach Tony Roche.
Despite the closeness of the match, Federer was unconcerned, putting it down to his changed preparation.
He also said he was in control.
"Last year was totally different, I came from winning Doha," Federer said.
"This year's different, I'm coming from winning no matches so obviously I'm trying to find my way into the new year and everything.
"Look, I think, win or lose, it wouldn't have changed very much.
"I was so close to losing but it still feels better to come off as a winner and kind of turn it around when I had to.
"I believed I could do it, I should have done it in the second set already, but it was a tough and close match."
- AAP