Roddick Announces His Retirement At The US Open

Written by: Staff on 31st August 2012

Roddick Announces His Retirement At The US Open |

Andy Roddick, former world no.1, the last American man to win the US Open title and the fulcrum of his nation’s Davis Cup team for much of the last decade, has announced he is to retire from tennis with immediate effect once he loses at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in New York.

Roddick, champion of the U.S. Open nine years ago in 2003 and three times a beaten Wimbledon finalist, made his announcement at a specially arranged news conference on his 30th birthday.

So tonight’s second-round clash at prime time on Arthur Ashe Stadium against teenage Australian Bernard Tomic could be the last match of a notable 12 years professional career that initially saw him become the world’s no.1 ranked junior and follow suit with top spot on the main ATP World Tour rankings in November 2003.

“I’ve decided that this is going to be my last tournament, said Roddick who insists he has been pondering on how long to carry on for several months. I just feel like it’s time.

“I don’t know if I’m healthy enough or committed enough to go another year. I’ve always wanted to finish at this event.”

Roddick admitted his mind was finally made up by his first round performance against teenage American Rhyne Williams a couple of days earlier. He still won 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 but the feelings during the match and afterwards acted as confirmation for the man who will now concentrate on the youth tennis and learning center he is planning to have built as past of his foundation in Austin, Texas.

“I’ve thought all year that I would know when I got to this tournament and, when I played my first round.” continued Roddick who has amassed more than $20 million in prize money during his career. “I knew.”

Roddick recently won the 32nd singles title of his career at the BB&T Atlanta Open. But a couple of months earlier he lost in the third round of his beloved Wimbledon against David Ferrer of Spain and made a notable point of taking one last sentimental look around Centre Court. His London Olympics campaign ended in the second round with a 6-2, 6-1 loss to world no.2 Novak Djokovic.

“These other guys have gotten really, really good and I’m not interested in just existing on tour,” said Roddick who first revealed the news to his wife Brooklyn Decker, coach Larry Stefanki and fitness trainer Doug Spreen. “I don’t want to disrespect the game by coasting home.

“Walking off at Wimbledon, I felt like I knew. Playing here, I don’t know what it was. I couldn’t imagine myself being there in another year. I’ve always, whatever my faults have been, felt like I’ve never done anything halfway.”

Roddick revealed he thought he would be more emotional during his farewell address but warming to the task he continued: “It’s probably the first time in my career that I can sit here and say I’m not sure that I can put everything into it physically and emotionally.

“I have a lot of interests and a lot of other things that excite me. I’m looking forward to those.”

But Roddick is hopeful he will not have to say farewell on Arthur Ashe Stadium tonight with a defeat against Tomic. “I wanted an opportunity to say goodbye,” he said of his decision to reveal his intentions mid-tournament. “I hope I’m sticking around.

“If I do run into some emotions tomorrow or in four days, I don’t want people to think I’m a little unstable,” he quipped. “Or more unstable.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: American tennis news, Andy Roddick, Davis Cup, Sports, Tennis, US Open 2012