Andy Roddick admits that he may regret skipping the Beijing Olympics, but getting match practise at home after his recent neck injury is his best option for the US Open, which starts August 25, dpa reported.
The top seed at the Los Angeles Classic said Tuesday that he would surely ponder his decision when he watches the Games on television starting Friday. But he's been-there, done-that at Athens in 2004.
"It's not a short trip, and there is the question of logistics over there," said the US player, who has dropped to ninth on the ATP after a poor summer hard-court start marred by the neck problem that prevented him from playing last week in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"Plus, we have to play two huge events back-to-back. That's a factor. It was a rough decision not to go. My injury may be a blessing in disguise. I have two weeks (including next week in Washington) to get my game ready. If I'd played Beijing there would have only been one (week before the US Open)."
Roddick begins Thursday night in Los Angeles after a bye, taking on Serb Dusan Vemic, who defeated Sam Warburg of the US 3-6, 7-6 (7- 5).
Elsewhere, Wayne Odesnik beat Bobby Reynolds 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and Florida rapper Vince Spadea stopped Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Roddick is pleased that with constant treatment, his neck will allow him to play after only returning to training on Sunday. The problem came in the wake of a shoulder injury that kept him form Paris and limited the two-time finalist to one win at Wimbledon.
"I couldn't move my neck for four of five days," he said.
Roddick said he needs match play to fine-tune for the Open, refusing to look past his opening match.
"Not playing doesn't help my game. Now, I have two weeks to try and get ready," he said. "I'm farther ahead in my recovery now than I would have thought possible on Sunday. If I can win two or three matches my game can hopefully start clicking."