IT’S OPEN THEN SHUT FOR ANDY
Unfortunate timing defined his career
O N his 30th birthday, there was no celebration for Andy Roddick as he sat before a packed room of reporters delivering his words with clarity and without tears.
“I’ll make this short and sweet: I’ve decided this is going to be my last tournament,’’ Roddick said matteroffactly yesterday, about 24 hours before his secondround U.S. Open match that might be his last. “I just felt like it was time.’’
Defining Roddick’s legacy will forever provide pubtalk argument fodder. Was he one of the best of his era or an overhyped underachiever who married swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker?
That’s a tough call, because the guy was an admirable grinder who worked as hard as anyone. But it’s hard to argue that his fame and fortune exceeded his achievements on the court.
Roddick arrived at the end of the Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras eras and became the face of American tennis, but he managed to win only one Grand Slam. His 2003 U.S. Open victory is the last Grand Slam men’s singles title won by an American.
Roddick, however, will always be defined more for the Grand Slams he lost. A big part of that was having the misfortune of his career dovetailing that of Roger Federer, who has 17 Grand Slam titles.
Federer, who at 31 is a year older than Roddick yet possibly playing the best tennis of his life, defeated Roddick in the 2004, 2005 and 2009 Wimbledon finals. But Federer’s stronghold on the game — and Roddick’s career — stretched much further than those Wimbledon finals.
Federer was to Roddick what Tiger Woods has been to the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and David Duval in golf. All of those great players have gotten their small shares of the major championship pie that was mostly gobbled up by Woods over a 15year period.
“Look, you’re always going to have someone around, I had many guys deny me of many things,’’ Federer said after he won his secondround match last night. “Andy has had an amazing career. Some expected better, some expected worse, but I’m sure he’s happy with what he achieved. He almost
Mark Cannizzaro achieved everything he ever wanted.
“I told him after that 2009 Wimbledon that he deserved it at as well, so in my mind he was a Wimbledon champion as well.’’
That ’09 Wimbledon loss — Federer won 1614 in the fifth set — represented both Roddick’s most painful defeat and proudest moment.
“As much as I was disappointed and frustrated at times, I’m not sure that I ever felt sorry for myself or begrudged anybody for any of their success,’’ Roddick said. “For the moments where it’s been hard, I’ve had 25 positive things that have come from it. I wouldn’t trade away a day of it.’’
Despite his shortcomings in Grand Slams, Roddick was no slouch, winning 32 singles titles and more than $20 million. He became the No. 1 player in the world at age 21.
Roddick said he always wanted to end his career in New York at the U.S. Open, because of what the tournament has meant to him.
“I’ve always enjoyed the energy,’’ he said. “I feel like each Grand Slam is a microcosm of the place it’s played in. This is a show. It’s New York City in every way. I’m glad that I’ve been a very, very small part of it.’’
He’ll be a big part of it tonight, when he plays Australian Bernard Tomic under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the electricity will be palpable.
“I don’t know how [tonight’s] going to go,’’ Roddick said. “I could come out and play great or it could be the worst thing you’ve ever seen. I’ve never done this before. I’m sure it will be very emotional. I’m sure I’ll be nervous. It’s the most electric atmosphere in our sport. It’s something I’ll look back on with fond memories. Hopefully, it won’t be my last one.’’