Nadal and Roddick take aim at Federer in Indian Wells
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-11 10:58

World number three Roddick has struggled this year, calling the first two months of the season his "worst in four years."

In the three tournaments he's played, the 2003 US Open champion fell to eventual finalist Marcos Baghdatis at the Australian Open, Andy Murray in San Jose and Julien Benneteau in Memphis.

He withdrew from the tournament in Las Vegas last week so he could train with his brother John, his new coach.

Roddick, who owns a 1-10 record against Federer and lost to him in the last two Wimbledon finals, thinks he's been trying too hard to make changes in order to catch up to the Swiss.

"Maybe I became obsessed with that thought too much," Roddick said.

"I made adjustments with him in mind and you have to do that and then apply it against him, and not lose what you are doing against other people. It's to his credit that he puts the pressure on a lot of the guys."

Roddick believes his recent lapses in form are down to mental fragility.