Melbourne: Andy Roddick was focused on launching his title assault at next week's Australian Open even though he will probably have to make do without his coach Jimmy Connor

The death of Connors's mother, Gloria, on Tuesday in Illinois means that the eight-times grand slam champion is unlikely to travel half way around the world to support Roddick in the season's opening grand slam tournament

But Roddick, who is hoping to capture a second major following his success at the 2003 U. S. Open, said his game plan was already in place after a productive off season with Connors.

We have put the work in together and I think we're on the same wavelength. Regardless of what happens, he will be watching the matches and we' will be talking,; Roddick told reporters after enjoying a swift 6-2 6-3 win over Germany's Tommy Haas at the Kooyong Classic on Wednesday.

Obviously, I would love to have him here, but right now I am not sure if that is on option, and so you make the best of it. But his influence isnot gone, he is still very much involved.

Roddick hooked up with Connors last July and the move immediately paid dividends as he won his first title in 2006 just weeks later at the Cincinnati Masters

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With that success achieved through a long-distance coaching relationship, Roddick remained upbeat about his challenge Down Under.

Arguably my best tournament last year was in Cincinnati, and we were talking on the phone,; said the 24-year-old

We are still talking every day, the last thing I'am going to do is force him into decisions right now. I think that would be pretty insensitive.

"However, Roddick admitted he would miss having Connors around on a day-to-day basis.It's just a matter of having Jimmy's energy around and his knowledge there at our disposal 16 hours a day," he said

Now it is just going to have to be a little bit less and it is going to have to be over the phone

The biggest thing is just keeping the momentum that I had going towards the end of last year. The first six months was very ordinary, and I felt the last six months especially, through to the U. S. Open, was very good. So I am just trying to build on that.