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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).* 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 a fall in his current world ranking, which is now outside the top ten.

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.***

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 after Roddick split partnerships 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 family also encouraged him to play basketball and baseball; and, were it not for tennis, he would like to be playing professionally.

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. 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 (behind Australian Lleyton Hewitt, aged 20 years, 8 months) to hold this rank since computer rankings were started in 1973. 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). 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 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.[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/tennis/sfl-roddick09feb09,0,470458.story?coll=sfla-sports-tennis 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 he was defeated 6-7, 4-6, 4-6 by Andy Murray of Great Britain.

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 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.*

Personal life

Roddick began dating singer and actress Mandy Moore in 2002, but he ended the relationship in March of 2004. Shortly thereafter, he dated model Lauren Bedford, but they also split up.

Grand Slam singles finals

Wins (1)

Juan Carlos Ferrero|| 6-3, 7-6, 6-3
'''Year '''Championship '''Opponent in Final '''Score in Final

Runner-ups (2)

Roger Federer|| 6-4, 5-7, 6-7, 4-6 Roger Federer|| 2-6, 6-7, 4-6
'''Year '''Championship '''Opponent in Final '''Score in Final

ATP Masters Series singles finals

Wins (3)

David Nalbandian ||6-1, 6-3 Mardy Fish || 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 Guillermo Coria || 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, ret.
'''Year '''Championship '''Opponent in Final '''Score in Final

Runner-ups (3)

Guillermo Cañas|| Roger Federer|| Roger Federer||
'''Year '''Championship '''Opponent in Final '''Score in Final

Titles (22)

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. Apr 23, 2001 Atlanta, USA Clay Xavier Malisse (Belgium) 6-2 6-4
2. Apr 30, 2001 Houston, USA Clay Hyung-Taik Lee (South Korea) 7-5 6-3
3. Aug 13, 2001 Washington, USA Hard Sjeng Schalken (Netherlands) 6-2 6-3
4. Feb 18, 2002 Memphis, USA Hard James Blake (USA) 6-4 3-6 7-5
5. Apr 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. Jun 9, 2003 London / Queen's Club, Great Britain Grass Sébastien Grosjean (France) 6-3 6-3
8. Jul 21, 2003 Indianapolis, USA Hard Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) 7-62 6-4
9. Aug 4, 2003 Montreal, Canada Hard David Nalbandian (Argentina) 6-1 6-3
10. Aug 11, 2003 Cincinnati, USA Hard Mardy Fish (USA) 4-6 7-63 7-64
11. Aug 25, 2003 U.S. Open, New York, USA Hard Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) 6-3 7-62 6-3
12. Feb 9, 2004 San José, USA Hard Mardy Fish (USA) 7-613 6-4
13. Mar 22, 2004 Miami, USA Hard Guillermo Coria (Argentina) 6-72 6-3 6-1 ret.
14. Jun 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 Karlovic (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 (10)

  • 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)

Performance timeline

Davis Cup matches are included in the statistics.

Tournament 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Career
Australian Open 4r SF QF SF 2r - - 0
French Open 1r 2r 2r 1r 1r 3r - 0
Wimbledon 3r F F SF 3r 3r - 0
US Open 1r QF W QF QF 1r 1
Grand Slam Win-Loss 5-3 12-4 15-4 17-3 7-4 8-3 0-1 64-21
Tennis Masters Cup - SF SF - - - 0
Indian Wells Masters 4r SF QF QF - - - 0
Miami Masters QF 2r W 3r 2r QF 2r 1
Monte Carlo Masters - - - 1r 3r - - 0
Rome Masters QF 3r 1r 2r SF - - 0
Hamburg Masters - 1r - 2r 3r - - 0
Canada Masters 1r F W F QF - 1
Cincinnati Masters F SF W QF 1r 1r 1
Madrid Masters 2r - 3r 2r 3r - 0
Paris Masters SF 3r SF QF 2r - 0
Tournaments played 9 16 20 23 19 19 5 91
Finals reached 0 7 8 8 4 3 0 27
Tournaments Won 5 4 6 2 3 0 20
Hardcourt Win-Loss 14-6 30-9 57-11 44-10 34-11 23-10 4-5 206-62
Clay Win-Loss 5-4 10-3 5-5 12-6 14-7 12-1 0-0 58-26
Grass Win-Loss 7-2 11-1 11-1 10-1 4-2 5-3 0-0 48-10
Carpet Win-Loss 8-1 1-1 6-2 4-2 2-2 0-0 21-8
Overall Win-Loss 26-12 59-14 74-18 72-19 56-22 42-16 4-5 333-106
Year End Ranking 3 2 1 10 16 160 N/A
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-8 (quarter finals up to finalist).

Doubles (2)

References

External links

1982 births | American tennis players | Living people | Olympic tennis players of the United States | Omahans | People from Nebraska | Roman Catholic sportspeople | Tennis players at the 2004 Summer Olympics | US Open champions

Andy Roddick | Andy Roddick | Andy Roddick | Andy Roddick | Andy Roddick | Andy Roddick | אנדי רודיק | Andy Roddick | アンディ・ロディック | Andy Roddick | Andy Roddick | Andy Roddick | Andy Roddick | 安迪·罗迪克

 

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