After a season in which he won his first Grand Slam and ended the year number one in the world, Andy Roddick could be forgiven for taking a little time out to reflect on what was a stellar 2003.
But Roddick is not one for looking back, he is too busy plotting for the future. When the Australian Open begins on Monday, the American nicknamed the "A-Rod" will be ready to go.
"If anything, the year that I had has just almost inspired me more," the 21-year-old said this week at the Kooyong International, where he was warming up for the Open.
"It's when you get a taste, a good bite of a sandwich when you're hungry and you want to see what the rest of it is like as well, it's kind of what I went through.
"It's much easier this year to get up from training again and going back to it than it has been the other years."
With the 2003 U.S. Open in the bag, Roddick's eyes are now on other prizes.
"I accomplished my main goal in tennis, which was to win the U.S. Open, but people have been asking me what's left?
NOT SATISFIED
"Well, the way I figure it there are a lot of tournaments I haven't won and there's a lot of things I haven't done in this game so I have plenty to think about to keep me busy.
"(I am) not easily satisfied, so I definitely want to write some more chapters instead of settling down and accepting what last year was.
"Obviously a great year for me would be winning a Slam... I definitely want to keep going and keep trying to improve."
Coached by Andre Agassi's former mentor Brad Gilbert, Roddick has taken a leaf from Agassi's preparations for the opening Slam of the season and has spent the off season working on his fitness and conditioning.
"Masters (in November) was my last tournament and I played a couple of exhibitions here and there to try and stay sharp," he said.
"I didn't start hitting the ball right away until late December and I was working more on fitness than I was playing tennis but it was time well spent.
"There are a couple of things (I worked on) but it will probably suit me best if I keep it behind closed doors."
Australian Open champion Agassi likes to prepare for Melbourne Park with a stint at the Kooyong International -- the American has won the invitational event three times in the last four years and gone on to lift the Slam -- and Roddick is following his lead.
"I feel better when I'm playing a lot of matches in a row so this is great for me," he said.
"(Brad) had nothing but great things to say about this event... so he felt it was a great idea to come here."
Despite his success last year, Roddick says there is plenty of room for improvement.
"I don't know if there is a shot that I cannot improve," he said. "I think as much success as I had last year I still feel I can become a better player so that keeps me pretty optimistic.
