Roddick rolling early, test Gasquet next

Andy Roddick has showed no signs of trouble with his left knee.

The 27-year-old American injured that knee back on October 13th in Shanghai, and after taken a few months to rest and rehab the former No. 1 seems fit and ready to go.

Roddick is playing in his first event of the year in Brisbane, and he's already posted a couple wins including a 76 63 victory over Australian Carsten Ball.

But Roddick now will have his hands full with talented Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals. It was Gasquet who beat Andy at Wimbledon a few years back.

Also in the quarterfinals, Tomas Berdych meets Thomasz Belluci, Gael Monfils meets James Blake and Radek Stepanek faces Wayne Odesnik.

By my count, that's three Americans in the quarterfinals! No Bad!

Federer opens in Abu Dhabi

World No. 1 Roger Federer will open his 2010 campaign at the Abu Dhabi exhibition later the month.

The exo begins on December 30 and features three rounds of knockout style competition. Also scheduled to appear are Rafael Nadal, Nikolay Davydenko and Stanislas Wawrinka.

Federer will travel to Doha for the Qatar Open thereafter, and then onto Melbourne in search of his 16th career Grand Slam title.

Federer finished 2009 as the No. 1 player in the world, the fifth time in his career he's done that.

Federer the athelete of the decade?

Should Roger Federer be considered among the athletes of the decade? Abosultely.

Federer has to be on any shortlist of such an award, right along with Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, David Beckham, Kobe Bryant and Derek Jeter.

The difference for Federer, though, is that the Swiss has been that more consistent than his peers. Federer's finish the year on top FIVE times this decade, a feat no one else is close to. And he's done it in a sportsmanly manner. No Tiger Woods-type stories with Roger.

So yes, if there is such an award he is for my money most deserving.