Andy Roddick

Roddick at the 2004 Rogers Cup.

Andrew Stephen Roddick (born August 30, 1982) is a professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. He is the second highest ranked male U.S. tennis player in the official rankings of the Association of Tennis Professionals (behind James Blake).[1] He held the distinction of being the number one American for three years, but his relatively poor Grand Slam performances in 2006 have resulted in his world ranking falling (currently No. 11).

Roddick is known for his explosive serves, powerful forehands, and off-court charm and personality. He also holds the fastest serve record in professional tennis, clocked at 155 mph, or 249 km/h.[2][3][4]

Early life and family

Roddick, nicknamed "A-Rod," was born in Omaha, Nebraska and raised in Boca Raton, Florida. He resides in Austin, Texas. Roddick's father, Jerry, is an investor and 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 currently owns and operates the Roddick-Moros International Tennis Academy in San Antonio, Texas, as well as being Roddick's coach following Roddick's split with Dean Goldfine. His oldest brother, Lawrence, a chiropractor in San Antonio, was an accomplished springboard diver and a member of the U.S. Senior National Team. Roddick's new coach is now former champion Jimmy Connors.

Career

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. 2003 was his breakthrough year, and many consider his 2003 Australian Open quarterfinal versus Younes El Aynaoui his breakthrough match. Roddick and the Moroccan battled for five hours and the fifth set of the match was one for the record books. With a final scoreline of 21-19, it is the longest 5th set in a Grand Slam in open history. Both players maintained exceptional unforced errors-to-winners ratios and the highest quality of play even at the closing stages of the match. Roddick won the epic battle and announced his arrival on the sport's biggest stage. Despite a lackluster French Open, Roddick enjoyed success in English soil by winning Queen's and reaching the Wimbledon semifinals. And this siccess carried over the Atlantic to the United States. Roddick's outstanding hardcourt record in summer 2003 included his first Masters Series titles – coming at Canada and Cincinnati – 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 and dispatching finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets (6-3 7-6 6-3). By the end of the year, 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 produced one of the fastest serves in professional tennis: 246.2 km/h (153.5 mph) during a straight-set victory over Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan in the quarter-finals of the Queen's Club grass-court tournament. On August 31st of that year, he had the fastest serve in U.S. Open history: 244 km/h (152 mph) against American Scoville Jenkins. However, 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 (1017). At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Roddick lost to Chilean Fernando González, the eventual bronze medal winner, in the third round. Roddick was part of a U.S. tennis delegation that included Taylor Dent, Mardy Fish, Vince Spadea, Bob and Mike Bryan, Martina Navratilova, Venus Williams, Chanda Rubin, and Lisa Raymond. Later that year, Roddick teamed up again with Fish and the Bryans on the U.S. Davis Cup team that lost to Spain in the 2004 finals in Seville. Roddick lost his singles match against Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal, who would in the following year win the French Open. By the end of 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 Jose, 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, Roddick had match point against Spanish big-hitter Fernando Verdasco, a man who Roddick says "has the biggest forehand in tennis." Verdasco was serving, attempting to save the match point on his second serve when the linesman erroneously called the serve out. If this call had held, Roddick would have won the match. Roddick motioned to the umpire, pointing to the clear ball mark on the clay indicating the ball was in and the call was consequently changed. Verdasco went on to win the match. Many in the American media echoed sentiments such as Roddick had chosen "sportsmanship over a win." However, by Roddick's own admission, the umpire would certainly have come down from his chair since Verdasco was about to challenge the call anyway, and would have been able to see the clear ball mark indicating that the serve was in. Roddick said that he was just saving the umpire a trip.

At the 2005 French Open, Roddick lost to the 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 World No. 70 Gilles Muller in the first round. Roddick's last U.S. Open first round loss had been in 2000. At the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon in 2005, Roddick defeated Gaël Monfils to wrap up a tournament without losing a set or getting his serve broken. Despite reaching the Wimbledon final and Australian Open semi-finals, many critics, including TENNIS Magazine, criticized Roddick's poor game in 2005.

At the 2006 Australian Open, Roddick lost to Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6. Roddick played rather tentatively throughout most of the match, excluding the second set, contrary to his promise to be more aggressive^[5] Baghdatis went on to beat two other seeded players, Ivan Ljubičić and David Nalbandian, but lost to Roger Federer in the final. In February 2006, Roddick and Goldfine reached a mutual agreement to part ways. Roddick then hired his brother, John Roddick to coach him.^[6] Later in the month, he lost to Andrei Pavel in 5 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 2006, Roddick lost to Spanish veteran David Ferrer in the quarterfinals of the NASDAQ-100 Open, a Masters Series event, in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Roddick has been under the media spotlight to perform well in the tradition of his predecessors in American tennis: Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi. 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 aggression on his backhand side 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 Roddick 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, losing to James Blake 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5). 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. Roddick is currently sidelined with a left groin injury which he sustained whilst reaching for a shot during his third round match at the Countrywide Classic. He was forced to withdraw from the Legg Mason Tennis classic which has had a major impact on his ranking, having won the tournament last year. He recently withdrew from the Rogers Masters in Toronto. Questions are now being raised about his participation in the 2006 US Open.

Equipment

In April 2005, Reebok announced that it would end its contract with Roddick, who had been endorsed by the company since he was 17. Roddick has now joined forces with Lacoste. Roddick also released a cologne with Parlux Fragrances in early 2006.

He is currently using the Pure Drive Roddick Plus Racquet, a signature racquet designed for him by racquet sponsor Babolat. Roddick also uses The Team All Court Roddick Babolat tennis shoes which are Roddick's signature gear.

Appearances and charities

Roddick with Melissa Joan Hart on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

Roddick is considered a U.S. sports celebrity. On April 5, 2002, he guest-starred on the television show Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, as himself, and in the episode, Sabrina summons him so he could give her some tennis lessons. Following Roddick's 2003 U.S. Open win, Roddick embarked on a 12-hour media blitz, appearing on the 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-100 Open 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 and he was deemed "Sexiest Athlete" by People's December 2003 issue of the "Sexiest Man Alive." Roddick has also appeared in Vogue. In 2005, Roddick appeared on VH1's 100 Most Wanted Bodies, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show, and Punk'd after being tricked by Ashton Kutcher on his way to the The Tonight Show.

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 tsunami following 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake 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," inspired by Lance Armstrong's yellow Livestrong wristbands. Also, in May 2004, during the Rome Italia Masters tournament, Roddick helped hotel guests to safety on his sixth-floor balcony when a fire blazed through the hotel where he was staying. They were later rescued by firefighters.^[7]

Grand Slam singles finals

Wins (1)

Year	Championship	Opponent in Final	Score in Final
2003	U.S. Open	Juan Carlos Ferrero	6-3, 7-6, 6-3

Runner-ups (2)

Year	Championship	Opponent in Final	Score in Final
2004	Wimbledon	Roger Federer	6-4, 5-7, 6-7, 4-6
2005	Wimbledon	Roger Federer	2-6, 6-7, 4-6

Titles (23)

Singles (20)

Legend
Grand Slam (1)
Tennis Masters Cup (0)
ATP Masters Series (3)
ATP Tour (16)

Titles by Surface
Hard (11)
Clay (5)
Grass (3)
Carpet (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent in the final	'''Score
1.	April 23, 2001	Atlanta, USA	Clay	Xavier Malisse (Belgium)	6-2 6-4
2.	April 30, 2001	Houston, USA	Clay	Hyung-Taik Lee (South Korea)	7-5 6-3
3.	August 13, 2001	Washington, USA	Hard	Sjeng Schalken (Netherlands)	6-2 6-3
4.	February 18, 2002	Memphis, USA	Hard	James Blake (USA)	6-4 3-6 7-5
5.	April 22, 2002	Houston, USA	Clay	Pete Sampras (USA)	7-6⁹ 6-3
6.	May 19, 2003	St. Pölten, Austria	Clay	Nikolay Davydenko (Russia)	6-3 6-2
7.	June 9, 2003	London / Queen's Club, Great Britain	Grass	Sébastien Grosjean (France)	6-3 6-3
8.	July 21, 2003	Indianapolis, USA	Hard	Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand)	7-6² 6-4
9.	August 4, 2003	Montreal, Canada	Hard	David Nalbandian (Argentina)	6-1 6-3
10.	August 11, 2003	Cincinnati, USA	Hard	Mardy Fish (USA)	4-6 7-6³ 7-6⁴
11.	August 25, 2003	U.S. Open, New York, USA	Hard	Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain)	6-3 7-6² 6-3
12.	February 9, 2004	San José, USA	Hard	Mardy Fish (USA)	7-6¹³ 6-4
13.	March 22, 2004	Miami, USA	Hard	Guillermo Coria (Argentina)	6-7² 6-3 6-1 ret.
14.	June 7, 2004	London / Queen's Club, Great Britain	Grass	Sébastien Grosjean (France)	7-6⁴ 6-4
15.	Jul 19, 2004	Indianapolis, USA	Hard	Nicolas Kiefer (Germany)	6-2 6-3
16.	7 February, 2005	San José, USA	Hard	Cyril Saulnier (France)	6-0 6-4
17.	24 April, 2005	Houston, USA	Clay	Sébastien Grosjean (France)	6-2 6-2
18.	6 June, 2005	London / Queen's Club, Great Britain	Grass	Ivo Karlović (Croatia)	7-6⁷ 7-6⁴
19.	7 August, 2005	Washington, USA	Hard	James Blake (USA)	7-5 6-3
20.	30 October 2005	Lyon, France	Carpet	Gaël Monfils (France)	6-3 6-2

Singles finalist (11)

*2002: Delray Beach (lost to Davide Sanguinetti)
*2002: Canada Masters (lost to Guillermo Canas)
*2003: Memphis (lost to Taylor Dent)
*2003: Houston (lost to Andre Agassi)
*2004: Houston (lost to Tommy Haas)
*2004: Wimbledon (lost to Roger Federer)
*2004: Canada Masters (lost to Roger Federer)
*2004: Bangkok (lost to Roger Federer)
*2005: Wimbledon (lost to Roger Federer)
*2005: Cincinnati Masters (lost to Roger Federer)
*2006: Indianapolis (lost to James Blake)