TENNIS in DEPTH.

Andy Roddick celebrated his 28th birthday today, but admits time is running out for him to add to his sole Grand Slam title.

Roddick won the US Open in 2003 but has been unable to break the dominance enjoyed by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal since, losing three Wimbledon finals to Federer – most famously 16-14 in the fifth set of an epic contest last year.

And asked about his sense of urgency to claim another of the sport’s four biggest titles, Roddick admitted: “It’s always there. Birthday or no birthday, you come in to try to win one.

“To be honest, I don’t think too much about age, number, whatever. I’ll play till I can, until I feel like I shouldn’t any more. But the urgency is always there.”

Ninth seed Roddick begins his campaign with the third match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, taking on France’s Stephane Robert after fellow American Melanie Oudin faces Ukraine’s Olga Savchuk and defending champion Kim Clijsters plays Hungary’s Greta Arn.

Bookmark It