Not sure which piece of news was the bigger surprise: that Andy Roddick knocked off #2 Rafa Nadal in straight sets in the Dubai quarterfinals today or when, after the upset, Roddick announced that his working relationship with coach Jimmy Connors had ended a week ago.
The on-court result has to be seen as good news for the American. He had beaten the Spaniard in the 2004 U.S. Open and then lost their only other two meetings: in a memorable Davis Cup final later that year and then in the Indian Wells semis last spring. Next up for Roddick: the hottest player on tour, Novak Djokovic.