If only Andy Roddick could go on retiring for a few more years.
The best American men’s tennis player of the last decade has played without the weight of that heavy burden since his surprise announcement that the 2012 U.S. Open would be his final professional tournament.
Recommended Stories
For most of his career, he has appeared in a hurry to blast one booming serve after another. The faster he could get back to the service line — almost always with a flip of the ball and a quick loosening of his sleeve — the less time there would be for rushed questions about why he hadn’t added to his lone major championship, the 2003 U.S. Open title he won at age 21. When Roddick did inevitably face them, he would respond with an equally fierce mixture of wit and thoughtfulness.
He also has never shirked the responsibility that comes with being the last American male to win a major. He has followed Andre Agassi in his efforts off the court, and he has been a mentor to younger players like John Isner, Sam Querrey and Ryan Harrison.
In his 7-5, 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4 third-round victory over Fabio Fognini on Sunday, Roddick raised his arms, wagged his finger, relished every great shot and celebrated every great point. There’s comfort in ending the conversation about his career and doing so on his own terms.
The serve and massive, top spin-heavy forehand that propelled Roddick to the top of the tennis world have been diminished by years and injury. He was tireless, even if not entirely successful, in his efforts to improve his volleys and backhand. He could do little about the timing of his career, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and even Andy Murray overtaking him and adding far more toll to his body than 30 years would suggest.
A match against long, tall and resurgent Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion and Olympic bronze medalist, in the fourth round Tuesday will be equally unforgiving. But Roddick is swinging freely this time around in New York, where there can be only pleasure in watching the crowd and the setting draw out his last, best shot.
– Craig Stouffer
