Andy Roddick Biography
Andy Roddick may only be turning 24-years-old in late August of this year, but even at such a young, Roddick has already produced one of professional tennis’ most perplexing – and disappointing – careers of all-time.
Roddick is the former number one player in the world and is currently the second highest ranked male U.S. tennis player in the official rankings of the Association of Tennis Professionals (behind James Blake).
Roddick held the distinction of being the number one American for three years, but his relatively poor Grand Slam performances this year have resulted in his world ranking falling to number 10, which is where he is currently ranked.
Roddick is known in the tennis world for his powerful forehands and explosive serves, which has been clocked at a record, 155 mph. Unfortunately, Roddick is also known for his glaring acts of underachievement.
Roddick turned professional in 2000 at the age of 18. In 2001, he became the youngest player to end the year in the ATP Top 20. By 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 ever (behind Australian Lleyton Hewitt) to hold this rank since computer rankings were started in 1973.
In the summer of 2003, Roddick won his first Masters Series titles – and his first Grand Slam title at the 2003 U.S. Open, in which he rallied from two sets down and down a match point in the semifinals to beat David Nalbandian before dispatching finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets in the final for his first Grand Salam title.
Roddick’s early success seemed to be a precursor for the greatness that was to come, but that Grand Slam win would be the first – and only – Grand Slam victory of Roddick’s career to date.
In 2004, Roddick finished the year ranked as the world’s No. 2 player and the USA’s No. 1, but has not been able to duplicate that kind of success ever since.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Roddick lost to Chilean Fernando Gonz�¡lez, the eventual bronze medal winner, in the third round. By the end of 2004, Roddick fired his coach of 18 months, Brad Gilbert, and hired assistant Davis Cup coach Dean Goldfine.
At the 2005 French Open, Roddick lost to an unseeded Argentine player, Jose Acasuso, in the second round and at Wimbledon 2005, Roddick lost to Roger Federer in the final for the second year in a row.
At the 2005 U.S. Open, Roddick suffered a shock defeat to Gilles Muler,the 70th ranked player in the world, in the first round. Roddick’s last U.S. Despite reaching the Wimbledon final and Australian Open semi-finals, many critics have criticized Roddick’s poor performances in 2005.
At the 2006 Australian Open, Roddick lost to Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6 and played rather tentatively throughout most of the match, excluding the second set, contrary to his promise to be more aggressive.
In February 2006, Roddick and Goldfine reached a mutual agreement to part ways. Roddick then hired his brother, John Roddick to coach him. Later in the month, he lost to Andrei Pavel in five closely contested sets at Davis Cup play in California, but won his next match that enabled the U.S. Davis Cup team to advance to the quarterfinals.
In March 2006, Roddick lost to 22-year-old Russian, Igor Andreev in the fourth round of the first Masters Series event of the year, the Pacific Life Open, held in Indian Wells, California.
In April, Roddick lost to Spanish veteran David Ferrer in the quarterfinals of the NASDAQ-100 Open, a Masters Series event, in Key Biscayne, Florida.
After his fourth round exit from the 2006 Australian Open and first round exits from the 2005 U.S. Open and 2006 French Open, Roddick was criticized by tennis commentators and analysts who questioned his commitment to the game and his ability to play at the highest level of the professional tour.
Their major argument was that Roddick lacks diversity and relies too much on his forehand. Roddick will continue to be under immense media and public scrutiny until he can shed the “one slam wonder” label and back-up his 2003 U.S. Open title with another major championship.
At the 2006 Queen’s Club in London, Roddick failed in his “4-peat” attempt, as he fell to compatriot and friend James Blake 5-7, 4-6 in the semifinals. Nevertheless, Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt (who went on the claim the Queen’s Club title) entered Wimbledon in 2006 as the two players with the best hopes of dethroning reigning three-time champion Roger Federer. However, in the third round he was defeated 6-7, 4-6, 4-6 by Andy Murray of Great Britain.
Roddick reached his first ATP final of the year at the RCA Championships in Indianapolis recently, losing to James Blake 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5) in the final.
At the 2006 Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles, Roddick confirmed that former world No. 1 Jimmy Connors would act as an advisor/coach until at least the end of the 2006 season.
If Roddick fails to show, at least an increased desire at the upcoming U.S. Open, the questions that have constantly swirled around Roddick the last couple of years will continue to swirl.
