You already know "The Twelve Days of Christmas"—so we're doing something a little different this year. Throughout December, we'll highlight 12 things about the 2014 PowerShares Series, a competitive tennis circuit featuring legendary icons and world-renowned champions beginning on February 5.
To kick things off, we spoke to former U.S. Open champion and world No. 1 Andy Roddick, who will be competing in the PowerShares Series for the first time.
TENNIS.com: How do you train to prepare for the PowerShares Series?
ANDY RODDICK: I actually stay in relatively good shape. I try to run three miles every day and lift three times a week. I don't hit too much but I always start hitting more before events. I'll have to get my shoulder back in shape for serving at PowerShares Series events.
TENNIS.com: Among PowerShares Series players, who was your toughest opponent during your career and why?
ANDY RODDICK: I had a pretty bad record against Andre [Agassi]. I played him three times when I was 17 and he was top of the world. That was never gonna end well. He returned so well so it neutralized my strength a little bit.
TENNIS.com: Who are you most looking forward to facing this season?
ANDY RODDICK: Jim [Courier] and I never actually played in a tour event. We have become very close friends so it'd be fun to acquire bragging rights.
TENNIS.com: Most bizarre moment you ever experienced on court?
ANDY RODDICK: It was always weird when fans would run on court and security would have to take them out. I was playing the Davis Cup final in Spain in 2004. I was already on edge because it was a hostile environment of 27,000 people, and this guy charged at me out of the stands. That definitely freaked me out a bit. He was probably harmless but it got to me for sure.
TENNIS.com: Your best serving tip for recreational players?
ANDY RODDICK: Be the ball. Bend your knees. It's all in the hips—Chubbs Peterson from Happy Gilmore.
TENNIS.com: If you could have played any other sport professionally, what would you choose?
ANDY RODDICK: Probably baseball. I was good at it when I was young and would have liked to have seen how far I could have gone...
