The Capitals of World TeamTennis are trying to acquire Andy Roddick from the St. Louis Aces to play one or two matches next season, Sacramento co-owner Lonnie Nielson said Tuesday.
Nielson said he hopes to land the 2003 U.S. Open champion and former No. 1 player in the world for cash and possibly a draft pick "by the end of January, maybe sooner."
Roddick withdrew from his only scheduled appearance for the Aces last season with an undisclosed injury.
"They have (marquee player and former Capital) Anna Kournikova, and Andy not showing up last season helped them decide it might be time for a change," Nielson said.
Roddick, ranked eighth in the world and owner of the fastest serve in history (155 mph in 2004), would play one match for the Capitals at Allstate Stadium at the Galleria in Roseville and possibly one at Newport Beach. The regular season is scheduled for July 2-22. The Capitals have won a record six WTT titles, most recently in 2007.
Roddick's agent said his client, a 26-year-old resident of Austin, Texas, has not decided whether to return to WTT for his sixth year and first since 2005.
"Sacramento is one of the premier franchises in the league and certainly one Andy would consider," John Tobias said. "He's very friendly with Wayne Bryan and probably would enjoy being coached by him."
Roddick and Bryan's twin sons, Bob and Mike, are longtime Davis Cup teammates. They helped the United States end its longest title drought, 12 years, in 2007. Also, Roddick feels at home in Northern California as the defending champion and three-time winner of the SAP Open in San Jose.
Nielson said the Capitals need a top draw after ticket sales fell 30 percent last season amid a weak economy, several scheduling factors and appearances by lesser marquee players Dmitry Tursunov of the Capitals and semi-retired Lindsay Davenport of Newport Beach.
Meanwhile, Nielson said three-time WTT MVP Mark Knowles is expected to sign a three-year contract next month to return for his eighth season with the Capitals.
Knowles, 37, skipped WTT last July because his second child was born June 20.
Knowles has won 50 career men's doubles titles, including the 2004 U.S. Open, 2007 French Open and 2002 Australian Open (all with ex-partner Daniel Nestor). Formerly No. 1 in the world in men's doubles, he's currently No. 7.
Call The Bee's Paul Bauman, (916) 326-5515.
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