Andy Roddick sees off Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - but can he do it BIG time?

Andy Roddick has a big problem on his hands. A problem? How can someone that gave the performance of his life and won a big and prestigious tournament in Dubai have a problem?

Along the way he just beat Nos. 2 and 3 in the world, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, took home some big money, and even felt confident enough to get rid of his coach, former compatriot star Jimmy Connors.

Well, Roddick's problem is that "he can". By doing all those things this passing week he just proved to the world of tennis and himself that he is able to beat anyone, everywhere and every time.

Is that true? Well, not entirely. Everyone? Maybe, except Roger Federer about whom he doesn't seem to be able to find an answer. Everywhere? All over the world, except in Paris in May, London in June and Melbourne in January. When August and September came around, with his home crowd behind him, Roddick showed that in the Big Apple it can happen.

Roddick took the title in Dubai last week and made two big decisions; to skip the Olympic Games in Shanghai this summer to defend his title in Legg Mason in August, and to let his coach of nearly two years go.

Roddick's decision to skip the Olympics in favour of Legg Mason may well come back to haunt him when he next plays at home at the same time of the Olympic Games, knowing how his American fellows don't like anything that smells of anti–patriotism and selfishness (some might see his decision that way, although it's debatable), and letting Connors go.

That wasn't really in his hands after Connors, it was reported, decided the travelling had become too much for him.

What is for sure is that Roddick is no Roger Federer and he will have to appoint a new coach sooner rather than later to keep his Dubai momentum going.