MELBOURNE, Australia - Armed with a new coach,
second-seeded American Andy Roddick plays his opening
match at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Roddick, who faces Irakli Labadze of the Czech Republic,
made a surprising split from Brad Gilbert - his mentor
for 18 months - now is coached by Davis Cup assistant Dean
Goldfine.
During their time together, Roddick captured his first Grand
Slam title and ended 2003 as the youngest American to be ranked
No. 1, but the 22-year-old American relinquished the top ranking
to Roger Federer last year.
Roddick's best showing in the Australian Open came in 2003, when
he reached the semifinals. Last year, he fell in the quarterfinals t
o Russian Marat Safin.
American Lindsay Davenport, the top seed in the women's draw,
also plays her first-round match Tuesday, facing Spanish veteran
Conchita Martinez.
Defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, runner-up and fellow
Belgian Kim Clijsters and two-time champion Jennifer Capriati
all pulled out of the draw because of injuries.
While Davenport reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open
last year, she has not captured a Grand Slam since the 2000
Australian Open. One of her goals this year is to add a fourth
career Grand Slam title.
"It was one of the most empty years in 2004," Davenport said. "I
felt pretty much no joy ending the year as No. 1. Obviously, it
was a great accomplishment, but I really wanted to win a slam.
I really had great opportunities at both Wimbledon and the U.S.
Open and I was a little bit down about that when it was all said
and done."
No. 8 seed Venus Williams kicks off her 2005 season against
Greece's Eleni Daniilidou, Williams is looking to regain her
dominant form, reaching only one Grand Slam quarterfinal
(the French Open) last year.
Serena Williams, who did not play in last year's Australian
Open while recovering from knee surgery, defeated France's
Camille Pin, 6-1, 6-1, in her first-round match Monday.
Among the other big names in action Monday is No. 3 seed Lleyton
Hewitt, who is hoping to become the first native son to win the
Australian Open since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
However, the 23-year-old Hewiitt has not fared well here,
failing to get past the fourth round in his previous seven
appearances.
Still, he has a favorable draw and will not have to face top
seed Roger Federer, his nemesis, until the final. Federer
eliminated Hewitt in each of his three Grand Slam wins last
year. Hewitt opens against France's Arnaud Clement.
In other matches involving top men's seeds, No. 6 Guillermo
Coria of Argentina faces Tomas Berdych of the Czech, No. 7 Tim
Henman of Britain takes on Frenchman Cyril Saulnier and No. 9
David Nalbandian, also of Argentina, battles Spain's David
Ferrer.
On the women's side, No. 3 Anastasia Myskina of Russia, the
reigning French Open champion, takes on Kveta Peschke of the
Czech Republic.
Another Russian, No. 6 Elena Dementieva, squares off against
Alyona Bondarenko of the Ukraine, while No. 10 Alicia Molik of
Australia meets Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain.