Bad Actor Roddick Lies Back and Thinks of Mattress Mack

Many people's idea of getting away from it all might be to spend a quiet few days in the country. Andy Roddick chose to prepare for this week's Tennis Masters Cup in the bedlam that is New York, culminating in a nerve-jangling television appearance on Saturday Night Live. He will not be giving up the day job.

Asked how he fared as A-Rod the actor, he replied: "Very bad, very bad. Extremely bad." And the nerve factor, when compared with appearing in the final of the US Open in September? "Well, you know, I can play tennis a little bit."

And so he can, so much so that the 21-year-old kid from Omaha, Nebraska, who tonight will play his opening round-robin match against Spain's Carlos Moya, is widely expected to end the year as the world No1, a position he attained during the recent Paris Indoor Open but one he regards as merely rented until he has seen off another Spaniard, Juan Carlos Ferrero, reigning French Open champion and the man Roddick defeated in the US Open final.

Roddick moved a step closer yesterday without raising his racket when Ferrero, the world No2, was badly beaten 6-3, 6-1 by Argentina's David Nalbandian in just over an hour in the opening Blue group match of the round robins. Nalbandian, who has been troubled by wrist problems recently, broke for 4-2 in the opening set and thereafter was in complete control. So poor was Ferrero that he seemed surprised whenever he won a point.

Houston is not a pretty city - all sprawl and drawl - but the Westside tennis club, boasting hard, clay and grass courts, has become a jewel to the eye of Roddick, who won his second pro title here in 2001 and retained it by beating Pete Sampras in last year's final. "We won a Davis Cup tie here too, so I feel at home."

Westside was established by Jim McIngvale, a citizen of Houston who discovered the art of getting rich while making his own beds. "Mattress Mack" they call him and, together with his wife, Linda, he is a tennis nut. "The first time I played here was in 2000 and no one knew who I was, so they saw the start of everything. Jim and Linda kinda grew with me," said Roddick.

Tim Henman, just over a week after winning his first Masters Series title, was back on court yesterday. Though the teenagers he hit with at the Lawn Tennis Association's new £2m academy in Bath are hardly to his standard yet, he is hoping they will be one day.

"When I was 17 we were playing on two courts and using a tiny gym. I'd have loved to have used hydrotherapy pools, saunas and all the other stuff they have here," said the British No1. "I'm a big believer in places like this, where players have the best chance to fulfil their potential, but it's no good them just sitting back and expecting it all to happen."

Belgium's Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne will both miss their country's Fed Cup semi-final against the United States on November 19-20 and a possible final two days later. Clijsters has protested at the scheduling, only nine days after the WTA Tour Championships.

Henin-Hardenne said: "I just need some rest. My back is bothering me. Physically and mentally I am a little bit tired."