Andy Roddick officially retired from professional tennis following his four set defeat to Juan Martin Del Potro.
Roddick is the last American male to win the U.S. Open which he did in 2003, also finishing that season as the year-end World #1 player.
He won the Davis Cup in Portland, Oregon in 2007, opening the tie with a win over Tursunov.
Roddick also competed in three Wimbledon finals, finished in the top 10 for eight years, and surpassed over 600 career ATP singles wins this year, a rare milestone.
Respected for his diligent work ethic and extroardinary fighting spirit by tennis fans all over the world, Roddick will be missed by tennis and American sport in general.
His conqueror today, the classy Argentine Del Potro showed remarkable sportsmanship and a sense of honor by deferring his post match victory bow to the teary-eyed Roddick, who then made a speech thanking his parents, telling the Ashe Stadium and worldwide audience, “I love you,” while also making a special tribute to his deceased long-time agent Ken Myerson.
Farewell, to Andy Roddick, a great champion and a future Hall of Famer.
(Photo by Brett Connors.)
Emotional Andy retires from tennis
Mitch · September 6, 2012 at 1:26 am
I was never a huge fan of his game, but I’ve grown to respect his work ethic and determination. He will be missed.
Dan Markowitz · September 6, 2012 at 3:32 am
Didn’t see Roddick today, but what a performance by Berdych tonight. Even as he took a two-set lead, Federer came back and won the third set and seemed to be ready to repeat his two-set comeback against Berdych back in the Australian Open. But Berdych just over-powered Roger tonight. It was Berdych’s first night match at the U.S. Open. But this guy was firing shots and his forehand is a massive, Arnold Schwarzzeneger-like, heavy artillery shot.
Now Berdych faces Murray and this makes for a very interesting semifinal. Berdych seemed like the last man who would make this run. He was knocked out of both Wimbledon and the Olympics in the first round. I heard Murray had a tough time with Cilic, but the Croat is like a puppy compared to Berdych and maybe it’ll be Berdych making his slam-winning breakthrough at the Open and not Murray. Pat McEnroe and John McEnroe both say that Murray is only a slight favorite against Berdych.
mat4 · September 6, 2012 at 3:48 am
Dan,
I don’t think Murray is the favorite at all. Berdych has enough power and he will be very motivated. He also has a good H2H against Murray. The nerves will decide that match.
Michael · September 6, 2012 at 5:51 am
Oh Rain, How I love Thee.
TV watchers like Dan may decry the lack of a roof and otherwise rip the USO while sipping $35 glasses of bubbly but I don’t miss a roof.
I don’t have the roof discussion much anymore. There isn’t going to be a roof on Ashe. The USTA says the technology isn’t there so it will be a few years. The translation being the materials do not yet exist and the technology to construct such non-existent materials into a roof that can be supported by the ground below doesn’t exist. They will be knocking down two of the best courts in tennis. They are expanding the too crowded walkway. They will be leasing an additional 3/4 acre of land from the city and they will build a new stadium in a different location. Armstrong is structurally “past its due date.” Enjoy it and GS in 2013 because they won’t be around in 2014. But there will not be a roof on Ashe.
Back to the present. The rain delivers — again. In a good way. It delivers Joker R16 and Murray quarterfinal, courtside on one of the best courts in tennis : Armstrong stadium. As opposed to the worst court in tennis – Ashe Football Stadium.
I start watching two women on LA. I’m pretty sure I saw them playing doubles together earlier in the tournament meaning they must be somewhat friendly if not very friendly making it even less interesting. This must be the quarters. Eranni or Vinci in the semis. Someone like Serena or Maria must be very happy.
The crowd is very small and most are here for Joker, 2nd up. After a bit I walk over to GS to see the Harrison’s but just as I arrive it ends. Back to Armstrong. Finally the women end. The smaller one won. It’s still a very small crowd when Joker comes out.
I’m loving Bartoli because she’s making it a long match. And I start doing the math on when Roddick can reasonably finish. The math is good. They can’t move the night matches. No way they can touch Serena or Fed. But thanks to Bartoli, Roddick will end too late to send Murray out as a day session om Ashe. They have no choice but to move Murray. Where to. Well to Armstrong and they’ll kick Tipsy one court over to the Grandstand. I pass my results to people around me and the happy crowd gets happier.
Stan, as you must know, retired very suddenly. If this was really physical there was no indication whatsoever that I saw. And I was very close to his box. I think it took everyone by surprise including Joker.
Murray comes out next. The crowd started to pack in and the atmosphere was great. Cilic comes out on fire. Murray to his credit doesn’t really get too down on himself. One racket throw and some quiet muttering to himself. No yelling at his box at all. All in a great win for Murray and a terrible loss for Cilic that will set him back on any fantasy of reaching the upper echelon of the game. Cilic’s meltdown to me was worse than Levine’s There is no way to spin that loss.
After I head over to Ashe. It’s the first time I’ve been in Ashe this year. It’s been about 14 years since they built the monster and each year the first time I go in I’m still struck as to how bad a tennis stadium it is. I’m in the loge. Yes, it’s all relative within Ashe. Loge is way better than uppers. But it is hard to watch tennis from the loge. Unless you’ve seen it you can not appreciate the difference between watching a match courtside LA and the loge in Ashe. The contrast is initially almost disorienting. But I settle in to watch the upset and I get into it. Hey, the loge rocks !
Turns out Tommy has a pretty good record against Murray. I’m sticking with Murray to go all the way though but Tommy is no Ferrer. Joker hasn’t had a decent fight yet and that is not the best path to the trophy as Fed demonstrated.
I thank the rain gods. Best day of the tournament.
Steve · September 6, 2012 at 7:23 am
At least he went out to a fellow US Open champ.
Scoop Malinowski · September 6, 2012 at 11:57 am
Berdych seems to play his best tennis vs. Federer, he really gets up to knock off Fed. Fed has broken his heart many times in majors but Berdych, to his credit, has persevered and found a way to turn the tables on his arch nemisis several times now. Very impressive display by Big Berd but it’s hard to see him playing two more matches at this high level.
Dan Markowitz · September 6, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I don’t know, Scoop. Fed had beaten Berdych 11 out of 15 times coming into this match. Berdych hits a flat hard ball and surprisingly, last night, that derailed Fed. I don’t think Murray, besides the Raonic match, has looked too presidential in this supposedly breakout US Open. I would not be surprised at all if Berdych takes him out. But now Murray’s road to his first slam is paved more smoothly. No Fed to contend with and Djoko is behind schedule and that means more workload for him.
Michael, I truly am astounded by your devotion to this tournament. Why do you go to so many days? Do you enjoy each one or is it more of a marathon effort? Also, if you will tell, how much dinero do you spend on the fortnight? You must be a man of extreme means.
When I was a kid, what I wanted most in life, was to have season tickets to the Yankees. To go to every Yankee game would’ve been sublime. But now, even if you gave me a ticket to every day of the Open, I’d probably only go out for half the days. So I’m impressed and interested in what lies behind your devotion.
Steve · September 6, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Taylor Dent did some of the commentating on the online feed. He’s improved since last year and he’s refreshingly direct with his views.
TC · September 6, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Taylor Dent was pretty good, if a little green with his timing.
I think Murray will take down T-Berd. After a big win, it’s hard to re-focus for the outlier guys.
Berdych’s ball toss on his serve is so high it can falter and Murray will be all over that like cat on heat.