HOUSTON - As recently as 2000, Andy Roddick was playing in junior tournaments. Just 12 months ago, he was ranked 10th, too low to qualify for the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup. Now he's No. 1, assured of becoming the 13th player — and second-youngest — to finish a year atop the ATP Tour computer rankings.
And he owes at least a tip of the hat to Andre Agassi.
By recovering from a terrible start Wednesday night to beat No. 2 Juan Carlos Ferrero 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the Tennis Masters Cup, Agassi guaranteed that Roddick's points total for 2003 can't be topped.
"Glad I could help. I aim to please," Agassi said with a smile.
"It's an incredible accomplishment, especially the way he's done it, coming on late in the year. He has a lot to feel proud about," added Agassi, who ended 1999 at No. 1.
Roddick's breakthrough season began to take shape in January at the Australian Open, where he outlasted Younes El Aynaoui 21-19 in the longest fifth set in Grand Slam history. That allowed the American to reach his first major semifinal.
He also made the semifinals at Wimbledon, then claimed his first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open by beating Ferrero. Roddick replaced the Spaniard at No. 1 last week.
"I'm incredibly honored to finish the year as No. 1, but I'm probably more proud to be the sixth American ever," the 21-year-old Roddick said.
Only Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 in 2000, has been a younger No. 1.
"It's hard to reflect on what a year this has been, but I'm incredibly fortunate to be playing at home in the United States. To be able to share all of this with my friends and family is better than I could have ever imagined," Roddick said.
He also probably should thank Agassi for splitting with coach Brad Gilbert early last year. Roddick is 46-6 (a winning percentage of .885) since hiring Gilbert right after a first-round loss at the French Open.
Roddick can add what would be a season-leading seventh title of 2003 by winning the Tennis Masters Cup. After winning his opening round-robin match Tuesday, he was slated to face No. 6 Rainer Schuettler (1-0) on Thursday.
Also on Thursday's schedule: No. 4 Guillermo Coria (0-1) vs. No. 7 Carlos Moya (0-1), and No. 5 Agassi (1-1) vs. No. 8 David Nalbandian (1-1) for a semifinal berth.
Wimbledon champion Roger Federer (2-0) already qualified for the semifinals when he beat Nalbandian 6-3, 6-0 on Wednesday.
Ferrero's loss to Agassi left him 0-2 in the round-robin portion of the $3.65 million tournament, meaning he can't possibly qualify for the semifinals. The French Open champ needed to get at least that far to have a chance at overtaking Roddick.
"To be No. 2 isn't bad," Ferrero said in Spanish. "I had a very good year. I'm very pleased with the whole year."
He can't be too happy, though, with the way he played in Houston. Ferrero didn't put up much of a fight in losing his opening match to Nalbandian 6-3, 6-1, and then he let Agassi climb out of a hole Wednesday.
Through 15 games, Agassi had 24 unforced errors to Ferrero's nine.
The turning point came with Ferrero serving in the fourth game of the second set, after Agassi slapped a forehand into the net to make it 30-love. Disgusted, he cracked his racket frame violently against his foot, drawing a warning from the chair umpire.
"I got frustrated," Agassi said. "I figured, worst-case scenario, I might pull out another racket, and it would feel better."
While Agassi lost the next four points, he soon showed the skills that helped him win eight Grand Slam singles titles. Both players held serve through the second set's seventh game, and then Agassi pounced. He hit a forehand winner down the line to get a break point, and a sizzling return led to Ferrero's errant backhand.
With a 5-3 edge in hand, Agassi pumped his fist, while most of the crowd — which included former President Bush — gave him a standing ovation.
When Agassi laced a backhand winner down the line to win the second set, he clearly was in control.
"It was like two different matches out there," Agassi said.
-- November 13, 2003