ANNIVER-SORRY: Regarding his first wedding anniversary (April 18), Andy Roddick quipped, “She [SI swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker] said we don’t need to exchange gifts. But I don’t know if that’s code for, ‘You’d better get me a gift!'”
ITALIAN OPEN HAS A NEW HOME: The Italian Olympic Committee recently unveiled a new $38.4 million, 10,500-seat tennis stadium for the Italian Open. Tournament director Sergio Palmieri described the facility as “the premier tennis stadium in the world.”
FOR A CAUSE: Fernando Gonzalez, Roddick, Jim Courier and Gustavo Kuerten will take part in a charity doubles match on the eve of the Sony Ericsson Open men’s final to benefit earthquake-stricken Chile.
THE NUMBERS
3: The top three men’s seeds — Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray — were all eliminated before the Sony Ericsson Open quarterfinals.
37 of 38: Service games won by Roddick in Miami heading into his quarterfinal clash with Rafael Nadal.
QUOTEBOOK
“I’m always hearing about how unlucky Roddick is and how tennis fans should feel sorry for him and what a burden he carries. Like: How cursed he is to have been born onto the same career timeline as the greatest ever, Roger Federer. Like: Poor Andy, carrying the banner of American men’s tennis all by himself. Like: All in all, hasn’t his career been rather a disappointment? Let me answer a question with a question: Who would you rather be?” — Greg Cote, Miami Herald
“We never change our personality, but we can grow up a little bit and understand a few things that can help and live things differently.” — Justine Henin
“The game is still the same, just a little leaner — and smarter. Maturity is one of the few advantages of growing older.” — ESPN’s Greg Garber on Roddick
“Mardy Fish has always had a certain ‘Fifth Beatle’ status in American tennis.” – Jon Wertheim
“Rafa is Rafa.” — Roddick on Nadal
