interesting article on Roddick reflecting on his career

Nice interview.

Andy Roddick mostly had the right mentality, but perhaps lacked the extra variety in his tennis game to go even further in his career, and as a result got stuck in a conflict between either focusing on accentuating his strengths of big serve and big forehand (as Brad Gilbert favoured) or to try to make himself a more well rounded player. The article mentions that Roddick was feeling that his serve wasn't enough and poly strings changing the dynamics of tennis playing style (that would have been around 2004, Federer's first dominant year where Roddick didn't win a major). Firing Brad Gilbert as coach in December 2004 meant that Roddick chose to aim to become a more well rounded player instead of accentuating his strengths. It didn't work out in terms of winning the biggest tournaments. He was consistent most of the time, but consistency isn't ultimately what it's about for someone who obviously aimed for the very top and to win lots of majors when he was an ambitious young player.

Despite all that, the 2009 Wimbledon final result is probably the only really big regret that he has about his career at this point. Even the bad losses to Federer would have been fine if he could have won 2009 Wimbledon, to become a Wimbledon champion and 2-time major winner.
 
great interview....he's great on TC

marriage and family solid....good for him

.................

“It’s not about me in that moment. Pete doesn’t go anywhere. He doesn’t leave his living room. And he made the trip. You gotta' have a little respect for history.”

lol
 
Great read, thanks. Never liked Roddick, but he's alright now that he's older and wiser.

I loved this part about the aftermath of the 2009 Wimbledon final:

"I don’t think that people got the true sense of how much his heart was ripped out that day,” says trainer Doug Spreen, who’d joined Roddick’s team full-time after the 2003 US Open. “He was back in the shower for twenty minutes, just sitting there with water running down him.” Spreen was sitting in the locker room when Federer took a seat next to him. “He said, ‘I feel really bad for you guys, and I feel really bad for Andy. I hope he gets this one time.’ I think Roger realized on that day that it wasn’t right to have a big celebration, and his words when he sat down next to me were…” Spreen pauses, crying. “He didn’t need to do that, and it was heartfelt.”
 
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Great interview and article.

He's always been one of my favourite players and personalities but always felt he was a bit dismissive about his achievements (hence throwing out his trophies), a bit self-deprecatory about them. At a dinner-party given at the Waldorf Astoria in New York in 2013 for the 40th anniversary of the ATP rankings, all the present and former world #1s were invited and each made a speech. Andy introduced himself as probably the worst player there that evening. He said it jokingly of course but I always thought that was another example of his dismissive attitude towards himself and his achievements because it wasn't true of course, by a long shot. He should be more proud and more confident about what he achieved which is far more than 99% of professional tennis players have ever managed.
 
Mainad said:
Great interview and article.

He's always been one of my favourite players and personalities but always felt he was a bit dismissive about his achievements (hence throwing out his trophies), a bit self-deprecatory about them. At a dinner-party given at the Waldorf Astoria in New York in 2013 for the 40th anniversary of the ATP rankings, all the present and former world #1s were invited and each made a speech. Andy introduced himself as probably the worst player there that evening. He said it jokingly of course but I always thought that was another example of his dismissive attitude towards himself and his achievements because it wasn't true of course, by a long shot. He should be more proud and more confident about what he achieved which is far more than 99% of professional tennis players have ever managed.
Click to expand...

All that modesty is fake, fake, fake.

I want to like him, but that gets in the way
 
Mainad said:
Why do you think it's fake? I've always had the opposite impression.
Click to expand...

Modesty isn't in the pro athlete's DNA, pretending otherwise is just a big joke. Andy is so "funny" because he's afraid to be sincere about anything. And that attitude is a symptom of precisely why the Anglosphere has done so poorly in tennis over the last few decades
 
Personally I think he overdoes it - it comes up like ten times in that interview - but to say that NO ONE able to make it in the pro ranks could possibly be sincere is just fallacious. Not to mention that none of us can actually get inside the head of another.
 
bigbadboaz said:
Personally I think he overdoes it - it comes up like ten times in that interview - but to say that NO ONE able to make it in the pro ranks could possibly be sincere is just fallacious. Not to mention that none of us can actually get inside the head of another.
Click to expand...

Pls re read my post
 
Mainad said:
Why do you think it's fake? I've always had the opposite impression.
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Roddick in my experience was rude, dismissive and arrogant to fans. Never friendly at all. I saw him many, many times at Indian Wells (and twice at exho's) and he never was receptive to anyone in my experience. He and Zverev are similar towards fans. Maybe others had a different experience with him.

It said a lot at IW in the 2009 semis when the American crowd was clearly rooting for Rafa at that match and it clearly ticked off Roddick. Same at the USO when Fed got most of the crowd's support when playing Roddick. I think Andy has mellowed a lot after marriage and kids and he seems funny and fine now. I enjoy his commentary and he has a good sense of humor. But he often had a chip on his shoulder with fans during his playing days.
 
Roddick also gave some of the best Press Conferences, with his testy attitude there being a net positive.
I think he has a bit of the Humbalito act going now, but it's ok.
 
BeatlesFan said:
Roddick in my experience was rude, dismissive and arrogant to fans. Never friendly at all. I saw him many, many times at Indian Wells (and twice at exho's) and he never was receptive to anyone in my experience. He and Zverev are similar towards fans. Maybe others had a different experience with him.

It said a lot at IW in the 2009 semis when the American crowd was clearly rooting for Rafa at that match and it clearly ticked off Roddick. Same at the USO when Fed got most of the crowd's support when playing Roddick. I think Andy has mellowed a lot after marriage and kids and he seems funny and fine now. I enjoy his commentary and he has a good sense of humor. But he often had a chip on his shoulder with fans during his playing days.
Click to expand...
I have known people that have had personal encounters with. Not a nice guy. I don’t care if this article talked about his love of puppies. I know it’s fake.
 
onehandbh said:
Interesting that the article also mentioned that the surfaces were being slowed down so Andy had to adapt his game and could no longer rely on his big serve as much to get free points or set things up.
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It's interesting to watch his US Open run. The courts look so fast and his serve is untouchable.
 
BeatlesFan said:
Roddick in my experience was rude, dismissive and arrogant to fans. Never friendly at all. I saw him many, many times at Indian Wells (and twice at exho's) and he never was receptive to anyone in my experience. He and Zverev are similar towards fans. Maybe others had a different experience with him.

It said a lot at IW in the 2009 semis when the American crowd was clearly rooting for Rafa at that match and it clearly ticked off Roddick. Same at the USO when Fed got most of the crowd's support when playing Roddick. I think Andy has mellowed a lot after marriage and kids and he seems funny and fine now. I enjoy his commentary and he has a good sense of humor. But he often had a chip on his shoulder with fans during his playing days.
Click to expand...
I don't have a personal encounter. But, I have witnessed him playing live against Nishikori when Kei was just a rookie who just won his first ATP title at Del Ray Beach the week before. Roddick hit a short ball (can't remember if it was a drop shot or drop volley, but Roddick was at the net). Kei ran for the ball and hit it to him, not much choice really, because Roddick was covering most of the angles.

He went on ranting and harassing (making sound like barking dog?) Kei for a few minutes/points after that, during the changeover. He was losing at the time and turned the match around. Kei played dumb during the interview and claimed to not understand what Roddick was saying to him. During the interview Roddick seemed to allude (can't remember the details) playing some mental game against the hot teenager who just won his first ATP.

I felt like an idiot myself, because right a few minutes before the incident, I was just commenting to a friend next to me, how I liked Roddick, because he seemed to be a fun guy during interview, and often making some funny, self-deprecating comments, etc., then the incident happened in front of my eyes.

This was actually the short period when Jimmy Connor briefly coached him. Coincidence?

Yeah, he's just like his first name's last syllable.
 
I had a chance to meet Andy when he was practicing with Marcos Giron at UCLA in the summer of 2014 (after he had retired). He was generous with his time and friendly with me, so that's my impression of him.
 
Mainad said:
Great interview and article.

He's always been one of my favourite players and personalities but always felt he was a bit dismissive about his achievements (hence throwing out his trophies), a bit self-deprecatory about them. At a dinner-party given at the Waldorf Astoria in New York in 2013 for the 40th anniversary of the ATP rankings, all the present and former world #1s were invited and each made a speech. Andy introduced himself as probably the worst player there that evening. He said it jokingly of course but I always thought that was another example of his dismissive attitude towards himself and his achievements because it wasn't true of course, by a long shot. He should be more proud and more confident about what he achieved which is far more than 99% of professional tennis players have ever managed.
Click to expand...

Yes, I hate it. He needs to be proud of himself. I never liked that self-depreciatory attitude. I think it really comes from a place of sadness and inferiority. Very sad.
 
beltsman said:
Yes, I hate it. He needs to be proud of himself. I never liked that self-depreciatory attitude. I think it really comes from a place of sadness and inferiority. Very sad.
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Churlish and self-deprecatory peoply were often treated badly when they were very young, and the cycle then continues..
 
Mainad said:
Reading between the lines it seems his dad gave him a very hard time probably taking away any true confidence he ever felt for what he achieved!
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What about his mom’s attitude? Doesn’t it affect children also or does only the dad’s attitude matter? Or do you think only dads push their kids into sports? You should come to the US and see the ’tennis moms’ or ‘soccer moms’ on the sidelines of their kids matches.

Saw one yesterday sitting on the bench of her UTR12 college player son while he played a practice match and she kept questioning him on all his errors while it was evident she knew zero about tennis - he tried his best to ignore her.
 
BeatlesFan said:
Roddick in my experience was rude, dismissive and arrogant to fans. Never friendly at all. I saw him many, many times at Indian Wells (and twice at exho's) and he never was receptive to anyone in my experience. He and Zverev are similar towards fans. Maybe others had a different experience with him.

It said a lot at IW in the 2009 semis when the American crowd was clearly rooting for Rafa at that match and it clearly ticked off Roddick. Same at the USO when Fed got most of the crowd's support when playing Roddick. I think Andy has mellowed a lot after marriage and kids and he seems funny and fine now. I enjoy his commentary and he has a good sense of humor. But he often had a chip on his shoulder with fans during his playing days.
Click to expand...
Yup, and he went at the umpires and lines people too often, using them as punching bags. I thought that showed a real lack of respect. He says in the interview that Brooklyn decker liked him going after umpires, which is also strange.
 
sportsfan1 said:
Yup, and he went at the umpires and lines people too often, using them as punching bags. I thought that showed a real lack of respect. He says in the interview that Brooklyn decker liked him going after umpires, which is also strange.
Click to expand...
Verily, especially considering the power differential and dynamic. Boo.
 
Roddick was a jerk for much of his professional career, but Federer's' whippings to him made the American more accepting of fans late in his career.
Now, with his work as a commentator, he adds a touch of humor to journalistic work.
Anyway, despite not being remotely Pete Sampras, ARod was the last quality player that has produced men's tennis in that country.
What has come after is a long desert.
:D
 
socallefty said:
What about his mom’s attitude? Doesn’t it affect children also or does only the dad’s attitude matter? Or do you think only dads push their kids into sports? You should come to the US and see the ’tennis moms’ or ‘soccer moms’ on the sidelines of their kids matches.

Saw one yesterday sitting on the bench of her UTR12 college player son while he played a practice match and she kept questioning him on all his errors while it was evident she knew zero about tennis - he tried his best to ignore her.
Click to expand...

I was simply going on what Roddick himself said. He talked only about his dad and his dad's severe attitude towards him.
 
I think Roddick's career is a cautionary tale on how technique can limit your ceiling at the top level. (See also Sock, Jack)

He was good player and athlete with truly an all time great serve, but he had weird grips and mechanics on both wings developed as a junior that ultimately limited his ability to adapt to where the game was going. That he was so good for so long is a testament to how good his serve was (and just how important that stroke is on the ATP your)
 
Something I never knew was that Gilbert was the one who made Roddick ditch the spiked hair visor look. And that Andy was actually fond of that look and didn’t want to give it up. (though more in retrospect than at the time, due to his eventual hair loss.)
 
It’s crazy for how good Roddick was, he looked lost against Federer and nadal sometimes. That one match in US where nadal made him look like he never played tennis before. Same with fed.

It’s crazy bc Roddick probably wins 5-7 slams if he’s in another era.
 
Coming forward in the court was not often the percentage play with the FH grip he FH volleyed with- or tried to.
To his credit he did get down on that side better than most players these days.
 
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