Roddick's Class at the French

[Kaptain Karl]

I noticed something when Andy Roddick was leaving the court after being defeated in the FO. Something pretty classy ... and no one commented on it.

As he was hurrying off the court -- obviously not pleased with just being dispatched by this Argentine kid -- Andy passed a young boy (10-12 years old?). The boy "looked like he was hoping for an autograph. He didn't get it....

Instead, Andy extended his racket to the lad, grip first. The boy was surprised or stunned and was about to lose his prize. (Andy was striding for the exit; not slowing down.)

A quick-thinking official realized Andy was giving this kid his racket. The official reached for it and passed it to the boy for Andy. Andy just waved to the stunned kid and kept hurrying to the exit.

The wide-eyed boy just stared at his prize with mouth agape. If he hadn't already, the boy probably developed a new tennis hero right then and there.

This whole "scene" may have lasted six seconds ... and it was over. No comment from the booth. No fanfare.

But I saw it. Did you?
___________

What other classy moves have you noticed from the ATP or WTA players? Too often we only learn of the dirt. Let's share some of the good....

- KK

 

[Grinder]

Judging by the Roddick hatred here, people will still find some way to criticize him.

 

[Dilettante]

Why should anybody hate Roddick?

He seems to be a nice guy.

 

[nn]

he has done better compare to others when helping kids in whatever possible manner.. not bad..

 

[Noelle]

I saw that moment. Stuff like that just can't be choreographed or rehearsed. Roddick seems to be genuinely nice, which is why I'm such a big fan of his.

 

[Datacipher]

I didn't see it but read about it. The writer portrayed giving away his racquet as more of an expression of Roddick's frustration/disappointment versus actually wanting to give the kid a prize.

Nevertheless, regardless of what Roddick was thinking, it's a great memory for the kid and a lot better than smashing your racquet!

 

[gugafanatic]

Great post, lets hope A.Rod gets hes season in full flow during the grass court swing. Hes b/h has certainly improved and hes is making more ventures to net. I believe this is the one surface that he could beat Fed on, if he plays like he did during the first set at Wimbledon last yr.

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

Well, that's one thing I like about Roddick. He's a nice guy.

 

[fjgarciap]

I read that Acasuso, the Argentinean who defeated him, commented that Andy congratulated him twice -on and off court- and wished him luck for the rest of the competition.

 

[bluedevilinnj]

back at the us open a few years ago, there were tons of fans scrambling trying to get roddick's autograph after he won a match. it got really crowded and a little kid in the front was getting pushed into the barricade and squished by all the fans trying to reach out to roddick. andy stopped signing, and went back to his chair. then we went, and pulled the kid out and brought him onto the court where he gave him his racquet and took pics with him. i was disappointed i didnt get his autograph, but that has made me a roddick fan ever since.

 

[idj49]

I saw him do the same thing at the US Open last year when he lost Johanssen (sp?)

 

[bertrevert]

Roddick saved helped Schalken escape from a hotel fire that killed three people in Rome 2004.

 

[monologuist]

there's no doubt about the fact that Andy's a class guy....I saw him hand the racquet to the kid...I think he does this regularly; have seen him do it a number of times before....He is gracious in victory or defeat, consistently. I like the way he carries himself on the court during matches, and in interviews, he strikes me as surprisingly intelligent and charming guy with a wry/dry, even self-deprecating sense of humor. I say surprisingly, only because the way he plays tennis, I think, does not always reflect this.

 

[AJK1]

Roddick is a true tennis idol, he leads by example, should be more of it. He is a true champion. Not like racquet smashers like Safin etc. They make me sick, anybody can smash a racquet, but not everyone can be generous and giving like Roddick. Class!

 

[splink779]

Roddick is a true tennis idol, he leads by example, should be more of it. He is a true champion. Not like racquet smashers like Safin etc. They make me sick, anybody can smash a racquet, but not everyone can be generous and giving like Roddick. Class!

Uh oh. I thought this thread would stay nice and clean, lol. Get ready for a barrage.

 

[Noelle]

Roddick's also a racquet smasher like Safin, but they both seem to be good guys. OK?

 

[FedererUberAlles]

I've always thought he was a good guy. I remember hearing about how nice Federer was to the kids that assisted the professionals at Hamburg.

 

[DashaandSafin]

He is a good guy...i dont know why everyone hates his so much...
At MTF they REALLY hate him.

 

[Datacipher]

I like the way he carries himself on the court during matches, .

Geez, let's not get carried away. Andy's really done some ugly things on court, very low class at times. However, he does seem to be cleaning it up a lot lately so I have to give him credit. Hope he keeps it up!

 

[monologuist]

well...I'll agree that in the past he's been a jerk on occasion, but I honestly think he's matured into a overall pretty classy guy on court in recent times. Of course, that may be due to the forced humility of a string of bitter defeats....
But bottom line is, I like that he is able to play while showing his emotions and not come off as a total nut-job...when he gets excited, I get excited watching the match...and when he shows disappointment or anger at himself, I feel for him, despite not being necessarily a fan of his style of play...there is something very human about him, despite his superstar status, and that's what I look for in a pro athlete in any sport, in order to empathize.

 

[West Coast Ace]

Not a barrage but I do have two thoughts: the Roddick fans have no problem overlooking his childish rants on the court, whining about line calls. Hewitt is known to do charitable acts off court too - I don't see many people defending him.

And before anyone brings up the 'Roddick gave one of his opponents an ace' story, the chair ump was on the way done - that one was getting overruled whether Andy liked it or not.

 

[Noelle]

Hewitt is known to do charitable acts off court too - I don't see many people defending him.

If you're going to compare Roddick with Hewitt, consider that for many people, Hewitt comes off too intense on-court in general. That's his oncourt personality, with the c'mons and the lawnmowers.

Roddick does tend to showboat a little and show viewers a good time, puts himself out there as a good sport. He doesn't go to Hewitt's extremes, though. *shrug* That's in my biased opinion, I guess.

But probably part of the reason why Hewitt's charitable acts offcourt don't get much attention is that there seems to be some DISCONNECT between his oncourt personality and how his friends (and now fiancee Bec) describe him as a likable guy.

 

[raftermania]

It would have been funny if the FO staff member kept the racquet for himself.

Also, just before that cute sequence, Roddick flipped himself over the net, walked up to the Acasuso (aka Ben Affleck) who was laying on the clay in jubilation. Roddick then congratulated Acasuso and as Kaptain Karl said, later on.

Then when Roddick got into the changeroom, he took out all his racquets and lay them accross the change bench. He then began one at a time to smash each of them at everything in sight. He then took off all of his clothes and hid in Ivan Ljubicic's locker.

 

[Noelle]

No, he hid in Federer's locker, since Ljubicic went out early. :lol:

Or at least, you know, he tried to hide there, but Davydenko was already in there...

 

[Datacipher]

well...I'll agree that in the past he's been a jerk on occasion, but I honestly think he's matured into a overall pretty classy guy on court in recent times. Of course, that may be due to the forced humility of a string of bitter defeats....
But bottom line is, I like that he is able to play while showing his emotions and not come off as a total nut-job...when he gets excited, I get excited watching the match...and when he shows disappointment or anger at himself, I feel for him, despite not being necessarily a fan of his style of play...there is something very human about him, despite his superstar status, and that's what I look for in a pro athlete in any sport, in order to empathize.

Yes, I agree with most of that and certainly it is nice to see genuine emotion from some players. I think he is now getting much better at showing his emotions without going too far like a Hewitt and to a lesser extent Nadal. When he keeps his whining and sometimes in the past very ugly tirades against the ump under control, which he now seems to, then I have no problem with him. Off the court in interviews he has always seemed to give proper respect to opponents, I don't know how contrived it is but one way or another, he gives them credit so I think he deserves appreciation for that.

 

[Docalex007]

I must agree with the overall tone of this thread, Roddick is a good guy and I like his style.

 

[Zeta]

I saw him in Rome, playing against Costa. After the end of the match, he signed autographs for about 10 minutes. After 1 hour he was in the village's Babolat Stand again, to sign other autographs.

Agassi instead just signed a couple of autographs, although the crowd was warmer with him. Then he just disappeared.

I was an huge Agassi's fan, now I prefer to watch Roddick's match...

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

Naw I have a story. I wen to the San Jose final. This kid next to me was like ok mommy and daddy I'm goin to get his autograph and they looked at eachother and said ok hunny be safe. I looked at my friend and said he is never going to get it look how many people there are. He has to be tired of signing all those autographs. Also this kid was tiny...He was about 4 foot tall...I'm sure his parents were also thinking the same way but not as cruel. LoL he comes back 15 minutes later with the biggest smile on his face look mommy daddy I got it...My friend laughed at me....My feeling about Andy has changed he is a very nice guy.

 

[norcal]

Watch his episode on punked. He dealt with the situation way better than other celebrities would have I think. He has a good sense of humor.

 

[voltman]

Roddick's growing on me. I think it started after he switched to Lacoste. Even if this is all an act, I still give him props.

 

[Free_Martha]

I noticed something when Andy Roddick was leaving the court after being defeated in the FO. Something pretty classy ... and no one commented on it.

As he was hurrying off the court -- obviously not pleased with just being dispatched by this Argentine kid -- Andy passed a young boy (10-12 years old?). The boy "looked like he was hoping for an autograph. He didn't get it....

Instead, Andy extended his racket to the lad, grip first. The boy was surprised or stunned and was about to lose his prize. (Andy was striding for the exit; not slowing down.)

A quick-thinking official realized Andy was giving this kid his racket. The official reached for it and passed it to the boy for Andy. Andy just waved to the stunned kid and kept hurrying to the exit.

The wide-eyed boy just stared at his prize with mouth agape. If he hadn't already, the boy probably developed a new tennis hero right then and there.

This whole "scene" may have lasted six seconds ... and it was over. No comment from the booth. No fanfare.

But I saw it. Did you?

Yes I saw it and thought it was typical behavior of Roddick who is very fan-friendly.

I'm not surprised people here didn't bother to mention it: anything remotely positive about Roddick sends them into a headspin.

Now if this had been Roger Federer we would be on page 55 of the third ass kissing thread saying what a world class act he is.

 

[bismark]

Now if this had been Roger Federer we would be on page 55 of the third ass kissing thread saying what a world class act he is.

Yep. That's true.

 

[FedererUberAlles]

Watch his episode on punked. He dealt with the situation way better than other celebrities would have I think. He has a good sense of humor.

What did they do to him?

 

[Noelle]

On Punk'd, Roddick was on his way to the Jay Leno show taping he did just after the Davis Cup 2005 tie with Croatia. He was in a limo with his sister-in-law Ginger. Basically the limo driver got Roddick stuck on some godforsaken road under construction because it was supposed to be a shortcut. He couldn't go forward up the road because they found out he wasn't a resident, but he couldn't go back down the road because it was supposed to be closed until 4pm. The "construction workers" and policewoman manning the barricade were in on the joke, as was the limo driver.

Roddick didn't really freak out. He actually tried to make light of the situation by asking, "Should I just pitch a tent right here?" when he found he couldn't go anywhere.

Video on the Roddick website: http://www.andyroddick.com/av_summary.php?audvid_id=161

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

He's a cool guy I still dont' know why people rag on him. Remember Wimbledon final...

 

[whistleway]

Roddick is growing on me too. I saw that, and was amazed.

 

[drakulie]

Actually, that was the kids racquet. He had loaned it to Roddick for good luck, but it didn't work. So, Roddick returned it to him. He also told the kid , "It sucked", which didn't come out on TV, and refused to give the kid a autograph..

 

[raftermania]

finally, truth be told.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Actually, that was the kids racquet. He had loaned it to Roddick for good luck, but it didn't work. So, Roddick returned it to him. He also told the kid , "It sucked", which didn't come out on TV, and refused to give the kid a autograph..

thank you for watching those extra channels for us.

 

[nytennisplayer]

i remember reading several articles about cancer kids that wanted to see roddick as one of their last wishes and roddick granted this. seeing roddick, who was in tears, run towards the little boy with cancer was very emotional. he's a great guy.

 

[Zeta]

Actually, that was the kids racquet. He had loaned it to Roddick for good luck, but it didn't work. So, Roddick returned it to him. He also told the kid , "It sucked", which didn't come out on TV, and refused to give the kid a autograph..

You make my day. LOL
Thank you!!

 

[Pushmaster]

Watch his episode on punked. He dealt with the situation way better than other celebrities would have I think. He has a good sense of humor.

I don't watch much TV other than tennis, but I wish I had seen that one.

 

[Zeta]

http://mio.discoremoto.virgilio.it/mrzzz/handshake.avi

Clic on "scarica".

Roddick VS Costa, Rome 2005.

 

[FalconX]

Andy is a nice kid. Separating from that Gilbert jerk let's him be himself on the court.

 

[tricky nicky]

Fair play to the perceptive & receptive decent human being that AROD IS!!

He made my kids day at Queens last year.

the beaming smile on her face I will never forget.

big up Andy Roddick.

Boris Becker on the other hand is an adulterous,ignorant, bigheaded tax dodger with ginger hair and he makes me sick.

yep thats right he completely ignored my kid, not even in a crush either, was 1 2 1

regards,

tricky.

 

[erik-the-red]

Yes, I saw this. I thought that was a nice move.

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Doing this sort of thing after winning a title is one thing but doing it after losing indicates to me that it isn't an act. Tennis needs more pros like this.

 

[bertrevert]

Class continued:
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/tennis/story/0,10069,1500073,00.html