Aside from world No. 2 Rafael Nadal, who is trying to regain the dominating form that had him on the top of the tennis world a year ago before injury disrupted his historic run at the French Open and ruined his 2009, the most compelling story for this year in men's tennis may be that of Andy Roddick.

The top-ranked American (No. 7 overall) participated in one of the great matches in recent decades in last year's Wimbledon final, losing in utterly gut wrenching fashion to Roger Federer in a match that went into the dark London night that the Mighty Fed won 16-14 in the fifth set. With that loss however, Roddick gained a measure of respect and adoration from fans that had eluded the hard serving American for most of his career. In defeat comes appreciation and love - or so it often is in sports, especially in America.

For so long, Roddick had been known as a one-dimensional - that dimension coming in the form of a nuclear serve - player who seemed reluctant to adjust his game to try to keep with Federer, Nadal et al. For several years he was barely able to defeat a top player. Indeed, if he made it to the semi or final of a Slam, he would be summarily dismissed in rude fashion that a fan may well have groaned if Roddick made it deep into a tournament. As an example, Federer obliterated Roddick.

But after hiring the focused yet laid back Larry Stefanki as coach a little over a year ago (Stefanki guided two players to the No. 1 ranking during the 90's, Marcelo Rios and Yevgeny Kafelnikov), Roddick is a far more disciplined, varied and lean player - the last point is meant literally as Roddick is clearly 10-15 pounds lighter over last year and appears even more svelte now.

A patient, faster and smarter Roddick has emerged over the last 12 months. Not just the proud owner of a blistering serve, the 27 year old Austin resident finally found a return game he could be proud of and has even channeled Andre Agassi at times by extending points and wearing out his opponents. Instead of it being a tiresome sight for any tennis follower when watching Roddick - all or nothing on serves and meager return games with predictable point construction - it is now pleasurable watching him play.

So now with the 2010 season underway at the Australian Open, Roddick's year of revenge - well if not revenge than at least a year of gaining a measure of vengeance for those four set points he let slip away in that Wimbledon match perhaps - has begun. Roddick is desperate to add another Grand Slam trophy to his sparse collection, with his lone title coming at the 2003 US Open as a 21 year old. It would certainly nearly ensure enshrinement into the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island (some would say he already has made a case for his entrance into immortality as he has been to four other Slam finals and is the owner of a stellar Davis Cup record).

Roddick has played decently during the inaugural Slam of the year during his career, so there is some precedence for him to advance far into the tournament. Four times he's advanced to the semifinals, including last year when Federer won in straight sets. And his draw this year looks relatively favorable, that is until the quarterfinals. After that it's a fairly brutal proposition for Roddick making it to the finals.

In the quarters he's slated to meet reigning US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro. Though Del Potro has never lost to the American in three matches, they've been extremely close contests. Additionally, Del Potro's physical condition is an issue as he's suffering from a sore wrist. And an interesting note - in the Open Era (1968 onwards) no man has ever followed up his first Slam win with a victory in the next Slam (Del Potro's first was last September in Flushing). So if Del Potro were to win in Melbourne, it'd be unprecedented.

If Roddick were to advance to the semis, he'd likely take on Nadal or "everyone's favorite successor to Federer but he hasn't won a big one yet" Andy Murray. Oddly enough Roddick and Nadal have never crossed paths in a Slam event which is truly bizarre considering they've both been ranked in the top 10 for five years concurrently. Nadal owns a commanding record against Roddick, having won five of seven matches, and is also a nightmare match-up against Roddick as the American doesn't have the potency off the ground to put Nadal on the defensive.

If Roddick and Murray meet, it could be an electric match. The two last faced off at last year's Wimbledon semis where Roddick stunned the heavily - and wrongly - favored Murray. Though Murray does own a six-to-three record in their head-to-head, I'd put such an encounter at even odds.

Maybe Melbourne is where Andy Roddick finishes the job he almost completed at Wimbledon against The Roger. Perhaps the friendly confines of Melbourne provide just the right amount of detachment, away from the glare of New York, Paris or London, that will prevent any memory demons from snatching any momentum away from Roddick. And if it isn't, it'll still be enjoyable to watch this veteran try to reach his true and destined potential by winning his second major title in 2010. For sure, he'll have more fans than ever rooting for him.