Roddick ready for home win

Andy Roddick is very confident that he can do well at the US Open in front of his home crowd.

Roddick coming off worst in an epic 30-game final set in this year's Wimbledon final, there were many willing to bet they had witnessed a re-birth of a precocious tennis talent.

Roddick's blistering junior career had marked him out as a star of the future long before grand slam finals were on the agenda and the young American did nothing to disappoint as he cut a swathe right to the top.

The big-serving Nebraskan duly obliged with a US Open title in 2003 most were convinced would prove the first of many. But six years on, Roddick still finds himself searching for that second breakthrough win.

The arrival in his era of multi-tasking players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and latterly Andy Murray seemed to underline that for all his raw power and commitment, at the very top level Roddick was just too one-dimensional.

But Wimbledon seemed to change all that. Roddick was accurate with his volleys and his backhand and his serve was firing as well as ever as he disposed of Murray in the last four and proceeded to push Federer to the brink.

With his favourite Flushing Meadows event approaching, it seemed for a fleeting moment on Centre Court as if Roddick had belatedly blossomed into the kind of player who could stand up to his sport's big three.

"I feel like I've been playing a lot better this year overall," said Roddick. "I've been putting things together more consistently. I don't think I've had a loss to a player outside the world's top 15."

Roddick picked up where he had left off after Wimbledon. He beat fellow big servers Ivo Karlovic and John Isner en route to the final in Washington, which he lost in three tight sets to Juan Martin Del Potro.

Another defeat the following week to Del Potro, this time in the semi-finals in Montreal, perhaps once again raised questions over Roddick's infuriating record of near-misses against those ranked above him.

And in Cincinnati, his pride at his consistent record against lesser players this season came to an end when he was beaten in two tie-break sets by fellow American Sam Querrey.

As a result, Roddick, who must have been many people's favourite for the Flushing Meadows title after Wimbledon, now finds himself back down the betting slip behind the likes of Federer, Murray, Del Potro and, if injury-free, Nadal.

Roddick insists none of his patchy form has anything to do with that epic Wimbledon final, which left him physically and mentally drained after coming so close to scoring a famous victory.

"A lot was made of that but I was like, I'll be back, I'll be fine. I've always been extremely resilient and able to go about my business. If my worst day there is playing one of the greatest finals, it's a pretty good worst day.

"If that's my worst day I don't think I'm going to lose perspective on that. It was definitely the hardest loss I've ever had. But even the next day I didn't feel like I was throwing a pity party for myself.

"I like where my preparation is for the Open at this point. I hope I can start serving the way I'm used to again. I'm confident I can do that. Beyond that it's just a question of competing and trying to play good tennis again."