Rocket Roddick

Victoria Sun

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

John McEnroe has said he's the greatest American hope in a long time.

On occasion, Las Vegan Andre Agassi has asked to practice with him.

Publications from Sports Illustrated to daily newspapers across the country have already crowned him the heir to Agassi and Pete Sampras' throne.

Yet the subject of all the hype, Andy Roddick, an 18-year-old from Boca Raton, Fla., and his coach, Tarik Benhabiles, are about the only two who aren't sold.

Not yet, anyway.

"I take it as a compliment," Roddick said Wednesday after beating Petr Kralert, 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the $50,000 USTA/Las Vegas Challenger at the Fertitta Tennis Complex at UNLV. "It doesn't mean I'm going to be that.

"It doesn't mean I won't. I still have a long way to go, you know. I really don't pay attention to it. People are going to say what they will regardless of whether I like it or not. I just try to roll with it. I don't pay attention to it too much."

In other second-round matches Neville Godwin upset top-seeded Andre Sa, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Alejandro Hernandez defeated Jeff Coetzee, 6-4, 6-4 and Noam Okun was a 7-6 (2), 6-2 winner against Bob Bryan.

Okun will play Roddick in a quarterfinal match on Friday.

Those watching Roddick's match against Kralert saw the skills that have garnered Roddick the national attention.

He has a forehand so powerful, it has been likened to Agassi's own big weapon. Roddick's serve has been consistently clocked around 120 mph, and he has an advanced return game as well.

But perhaps his best asset is the one that you can't see.

By Roddick's own assessment, he did not play a technically superior match against Kralert. Roddick played a smarter match by forcing Kralert to hit his normally solid backhand on the run.

Roddick controlled 90 percent of the points and made it look like Kralert never had a backhand in the first place.

"Mentally he is superior," Benhabiles said. "That's the thing, he is a fighter.

"He likes tough matches and he reacts very well under pressure. That's why he's the best junior and probably the best newcomer in the world; because he has a strong character.

"The talent, technique, fitness, you can improve it. When naturally you have this character, some people have to learn to become like that. He has it inside him. He's born with it. He plays with his heart."

Roddick was the world's top junior player before turning pro in February. He became the first American in more than 50 years to win the Australian Open junior title and he captured the prestigious Orange Bowl, the Eddie Herr International Junior Championships and the Banana Bowl.

During the U.S. Davis Cup tie against the Czech Republic played at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles in April, Roddick was a practice partner. It was then that he got his first opportunity to hit against Agassi and Sampras and Roddick more than held his own.

The proof lies in the fact that Agassi called Roddick and asked if they could hit together before Agassi headed off to play in Europe.

"He came down to Boca for four or five days," Roddick said. "We played a bunch.

"Anytime you get to play with someone like that you're going to improve. He's awesome about giving me tips, helping me out. I'm grateful for that.

"I still get excited when stuff like that happens. Andre is one of the biggest names ever in tennis. To kind of hang out with him and practice with him is awesome."

Even more incredible is the fact that Roddick remains unaffected by his increasing number of fans and admirers and undaunted by the weighty expectations. Roddick is extremely courteous to fans and says, "If someone wants your autograph it takes two seconds to scribble your name and you're making someone happy. Whoever says that's a burden, I don't agree with that."

Many have predicted that Roddick will win a slew of Grand Slam titles long after both Sampras and Agassi have retired.

Roddick deflects the attention as best as he can.

"I don't really think of it as pressure," Roddick said. "I think it's advantageous.

"People know who you are and they're shooting for you. I don't really think about the hype. I just play matches."

Benhabiles makes sure of it.

The two are constant traveling companions and Roddick says that his coach of one year is his best friend and knows everything about him.

Part of Benhabiles' job is to keep Roddick grounded, though, it doesn't take much effort.

"He knows it," Benhabiles said. "He hasn't won anything yet.

"He hasn't proven anything yet. All I can say is Andy has no limits. For now, Andy has no limits. I think in two years he is going to be ready to do big things on the tour.

"I tell you, if he wins one Grand Slam title, just one in his career, I will be the happiest man ever. He's got to win one, then we can talk about two or more. He's got to get there first."