Practice Does Not Make Perfect

Andy Roddick looked like he had the momentum against Novak Djokovic at Montreal's Rogers Cup in the first set tiebreaker. Djokovic had lost his serve in the previous game in a series of goof ups--a missed easy passing shot that made Djokovic eat his racket in a risky looking pantomime of "Choke" and a double fault at the end of Djokovic's service game that made the crowd groan and me wonder whether Djokovic really should spend so much time doing his infamous parodies of other players' neurotic service routines. Maybe instead he should develop one of his own.

So, Roddick was up 2-1 and Djokovic looked suddenly pretty darn beatable. Into the net Roddick started coming in the tiebreak and lost one point there. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Into the net again Roddick came and again was passed. Practice makes perfect, right?! So, as though he were in a practice session and simply working on his approach shots and volley, Roddick kept charging the net. And kept losing points.

Djokovic looks like the next real deal, just as Roddick once did. Yes, Roddick's won a Grand Slam, but he is perhaps the biggest underachiever on the men's tour, given his talents. He just makes bad tactical decisions on the court. Why isn't Roddick the next Sampras? It seems incredible to say at loud, but I really do think he has the game, just not the mind. The difference between their careers is huge if you look at the trophy case. But a few more points here and there and Roddick would be sitting with more Grand Slam titles, I firmly believe. Yes, tennis was mindlessly boring during Sampras' reign and serve, serve, serve victories. Yes, Federer is incredible and a joy to watch. But Roddick has missed many chances. Was he just using the Rogers Cup as practice for the U.S. Open? Will he use the U.S. Open as practice for the next Rogers Cup?

The really important question though is when, oh when, will we get to see Djokovic's much talked about impersonation of Sharapova's antics before she serves--facing the back of the stadium, looking at her racquet, approaching with an ugly scowl on her face. That I want to see!

Oh wait, it's on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR9pj6Op_KU&mode=related&search=. Heaven sent. He needs more work on the scowl though.