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Andrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick, (born August 30, 1982, Omaha,
Nebraska, USA), nicknamed "A-Rod" [1], is an American former World
No. 1 tennis player. As of September 2005, Roddick ranked as the best male
US tennis player and the third-best in the world by the Association of Tennis
Professionals, behind Federer and Nadal. Roddick is known for his explosive
serves, powerful forehands, and off-court charm.
Tennis career
Roddick turned professional in 2000 at 18. In 2001, he became
the youngest player to end the year in the ATP Top 20.
Roddick's outstanding hardcourt record in summer 2003 included
his first Grand Slam title at the 2003 US Open, in which he rallied from
two sets down in the semifinals to beat David Nalbandian and dispatching
finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets.
In 2003, at age 21, he was ranked No. 1, the first American
to finish a year at No. 1 since Andre Agassi in 1999. He also became the
youngest American and second-youngest player (behind Australian Lleyton Hewitt,
aged 20 years, 8 months) to hold this rank since computer rankings were started
in 1973.
In 2004, Roddick set the world record for the fastest serve:
246.2 km/h (153.5 mph) during a straight-set victory over Thailand's Paradorn
Srichaphan in the quarter-finals of the Queens Club grass-court tournament.
On August 31 of that year, he had the fastest serve in US Open history: 244
km/h (152 mph). But Roddick was unexpectedly knocked out of the tournament
in a spectacular 5-set quarterfinal match against another big server, Joachim
Johansson. He finished 2004 ranked as the world's No. 2, the USA's No. 1,
and the player with the most aces (he hit 1017 of them in 2004).
In 2004, Roddick joined Mardy Fish and doubles players Bob
and Mike Bryan on the U.S. Davis Cup team that lost to Spain in the finals
in Seville. In 2005, Andre Agassi joined the team, and played behind Roddick
at No. 2.
In 2004, Roddick fired his coach of 18 months, Brad Gilbert,
and hired assistant Davis Cup coach Dean Goldfine.
Roddick's first 2005 victory was the SAP Open in San José,
California, where he was the first to win the event in consecutive years
since Mark Philippoussis in 1999 and 2000. The top-seeded Roddick breezed
to a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Cyril Saulnier in 50 minutes, the event's first
championship shutout set since Arthur Ashe beat Guillermo Vilas in 1975.
On April 24, 2005, Roddick won the U.S. Men's Claycourt Championships,
reclaiming the title he won in 2001 and 2002. He lost in 2003 to Andre Agassi
and in 2004 to Tommy Haas.
In May 2005, top-seeded Roddick chose sportsmanship over
a slot in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters when he challenged a ruling
that favored him at a triple match point. After Roddick's objections, his
opponent Fernando Verdasco was awarded an ace instead of a double fault.
Verdasco then saved two more match points, held serve, broke Roddick's serve,
and eventually won the match.
At Roland Garros 2005, Roddick lost to the unseeded Argentine
player Jose Acasuso in the second round.
At Wimbledon 2005, Roddick lost to Roger Federer in the final
for the second year in a row.
At U.S. Open 2005, Roddick lost to Gilles Muller in the first
round. Roddick's last U.S. Open first round loss was in 2000.
At the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon in 2005, Roddick defeated
Gael Monfils to wrap up a tournament without losing a set or getting his
serve broken.
Personal
Roddick was born in Omaha, Nebraska, moved to Boca Raton,
Florida, and now lives in Austin, Texas.
Roddick's father Jerry is an investor; his mother Blanche
directs the Andy Roddick Foundation. Roddick's brother John was an All-American
tennis player at the University of Georgia from 1996 to 1998, and operates
a tennis academy in San Antonio, Texas. Their oldest brother, Lawrence, a
chiropractor in San Antonio, was an accomplished springboard diver and a
member of U.S. Senior National Team.
Roddick is considered a U.S. sports celebrity. Following
his 2003 US Open win, Roddick embarked on a 12-hour media blitz, appearing
on the Today Show, MTV, CNN, and The Late Show with David Letterman, among
others. He has thrown out the first pitch at several Major League Baseball
games, most recently Game 2 of the 2003 Oakland-Boston playoff series. After
winning the NASDAQ tournament, Roddick opened that stock market on August
20, 2003.
He hosted Saturday Night Live on November 8, 2003, becoming
the second tennis player (the first being Chris Evert) and only the tenth
athlete to do so. He won the 2004 ESPY award for best male tennis player.
He was deemed "Sexiest Athlete" by People Magazine's December 2003
issue of "Sexiest Man Alive". Roddick has appeared in Vogue magazine.
In 2004, Roddick won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award of
the Year because of his charity efforts, which include: raising money for
the survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami through Serving for Tsunami
Relief and other efforts; auctioning off several rackets and autographs to
raise money for UNICEF; and creating the Andy Roddick Foundation to help
at-risk youth. The foundation is partly funded through the sale of blue wristbands
inscribed "No Compromise," mimicking Lance Armstrong's yellow Livestrong
bands.
In 2004, Andy broke up with Mandy Moore, US singer and actress.
In 2005, Roddick appeared on VH1's 100 Most Wanted Bodies, The Tonight Show
with Jay Leno, and Punk'd after being tricked by Ashton Kutcher on his way
to the Tonight Show. Roddick also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
In April 2005, Reebok announced that it would end its contract
with Roddick, who had been endorsed by the company ever since he was 17.
Roddick has now joined forces with Lacoste.
Many feel that his achillies heel is his two handed backhand,
which doesn't live up to the standards set by the rest of his game in particular
the serve and forehand.
Quotations
SUE BARKER, BBC REPORTER: Andy, you’re probably not
in the mood for a chat, but you must wonder what you have to do against this
guy.
ANDY RODDICK, WIMBLEDON RUNNER-UP: Yeah, I’m more in
the mood for a beer right now (laughs). Yeah, you know, I, couldn’t
have asked more of myself, I mean, I put in all the work and I wanted to
win this tournament so badly but this guy [Federer] is the best for a reason
and he really deserves a lot of credit.
SUE BARKER: Andy, does it also mean you have to take a lot
of chances out there against him, to try something different?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean you run out of options because
he’s become such a complete player. I mean, even two years ago when
I lost to him in the semis, he’s improved so much since then, which
is impressive, so maybe I’ll just punch him or something, I don’t
know.
SUE BARKER: That’s another opportune. Andy, finally,
we love rivalries here at Wimbledon, and this is a great one, I bet you’re
looking forward—I mean, even forget today—looking forward to coming
back and being here again.
ANDY RODDICK: It’s a great one. I might win one one
time. No, I love playing here, it definitely has a special place in my heart
and you guys make it so, so thank you very much for your support.
SUE BARKER: We’ll let you go and have that beer. Thank
you. Ladies and gentlemen, Andy Roddick.
— On losing to Roger Federer in the 2005 Wimbledon Championships.
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