New York - Andy Roddick plans to bury nearly a year of frustration as he returns chastened to the US Open.
'I'm ready for the tournament,' said the 2003 champion, who crashed out humiliatingly in the first round in front of his home public a year ago to Gilles Muller.
'In the last month or so I've been playing really good stuff. I'm excited. I'm really excited to be back here in New York.'
The ninth seed finally earned a 2006 title last weekend in Cincinnati, 10 months after claiming his previous title in Lyon.
Roddick gives major credit for his turnaround to tennis legend Jimmy Connors, now on his personal team as a high-paid consultant. While Connors will be in New York for the Grand Slam fortnight, he has also been giving his compatriot advice by telephone.
'Jimmy's been reinvigorating. His passion for the game is contagious,' said Roddick, who once stood number 1. 'That's exciting.'
He called his work with Connors 'a fresh start.'
'It's a new position. I'm definitely hungry to turn it around. I'm looking at this as the post-Wimbledon period,' said Roddick.
'There's a big difference between going to the courts hoping you're going to hit the ball well and knowing you're going to hit the ball well. In the last month or so I've gone to the courts knowing that I'm going to play well.
'It's just a matter of if my opponent's going to be playing better. That's a lot better feeling, a lot easier feeling to wake up with than kind of uncertainty.'
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
USA
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