By Sandra Harwitt

Just coming off the court, a somewhat sweaty Andy Roddick settled into an oversized floral print lounge chair to chat with Tennis Life. To be honest, Roddick looked out of place engulfed in the bold flowers, but he didn’t seem to notice that the scene seemed slightly askew. While you can bet that this is not how the 20-year-old has furnished his bachelor pad, a three-bedroom house in upscale Boca Raton that he shares with long time buddy, Scott, and a pet rabbit named “Stiffler,” Roddick was in his comfort zone and ready to talk.

In truth, these days Roddick is comfortable any place he goes and no matter what the situation.

Just beginning his third year on tour, Roddick’s learned not to pay attention to cynics who disregard the fact that at No. 6 in the world he’s bordering on Top 5 status, preferring to point out that he’s yet to win a grand slam trophy.

“I’ve kind of just started doing my own thing on tour which works for me - you can’t really please everybody so I’m just trying to do what I think is right and just kind of go for it,” said Roddick, whose goal for 2003 is to make the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup to be held in Houston in November. “If everything was roses all the time people would get bored. I believe it will happen and I’m not going to say it will happen this year or the next, but I believe I’ll win a grand slam [title] before I am done.”

Roddick admits there was a time he was willing to buy into the negative views that were out there, but now he just casts them aside as unsolicited ann-oyances. The bottom line is that Roddick has matured - he’s too busy focusing on moving his career along on his own timetable to care what others think.

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