"Underachieving" Roddick has 24 titles and Davis Cup championship

[Connors]

While he's won the one major, he's won 24 titles now. He's a Davis Cup champion. He's been to about 4 major finals. He's gotten to a few semis or quarterfinals as well.

Andy Roddick will not go down in the same breath as McEnroe or Connors or Sampras or Agassi. He's not one of the five greatest U.S. players of all time. But I'd put him in the top 10 U.S. players of all time. I really would.

While Roddick will never volley or slice or hit backhands like the greatest players ever, he's demonstrating very good play for a decent stretch now and will retire having a damn good career. If not for dealing with the greatest player of all time in Fed, he'd end up having an excellent career--of course I mean this relative to his ability and the expectations for him. Compared to us, he's had a phenomenol out of this world career

 

[aceroberts13]

I agree. He won't be Fed's equal ever, but at the same time he'll have a pretty solid career. Def nothing to be ashamed of; besides his obscene behavior on court.

 

[JRstriker12]

I agree. He won't be Fed's equal ever, but at the same time he'll have a pretty solid career. Def nothing to be ashamed of; besides his obscene behavior on court.

Obscene court behavior? He's a saint compaired to guys like Connors and Mac.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Obscene court behavior? He's a saint compaired to guys like Connors and Mac.

Answer the question!


THE QUESTION, JERK!

 

[Vision84]

Obscene court behavior? He's a saint compaired to guys like Connors and Mac.

Mcenroe and Connors were 2 of the main reasons the tennis federation began enacting and enforcing rules. Umpires in those days also just used to be local club officials so their was no real standard. Connors or Mcenroe would never be able to get away with many of their antics today.

 

[Rhino]

Everything is relative. There are many people who have had better careers than Roddick, and many who have had worse.

Some would say anyone who made the top 10 or even top 20 have 'had a great career'. I mean you could say Vincent Spadea has had a great career (nearly $5mill in prize money, wins over Fed, Agassi, and Sampras), but it's nothing compared to Roddick.

 

[edmondsm]

I agree. He won't be Fed's equal ever, but at the same time he'll have a pretty solid career. Def nothing to be ashamed of; besides his obscene behavior on court.

He's had a "pretty solid" career when you compare him to Laver or Sampras. Roddick is only 25 and he has enjoyed an amazingly consistant 5 year stretch. Except for a blip in 06', he's been top 10 since 2002. For a guy that seems like he hasn't won anything he sure has a lot of titles. And will probably retire with like 700 wins.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

Yeah, but consider over the past 3 years (2006-present) he's only won 3 titles. A legitimate top 10 player, especially one supposedly as accomplished as roddick, wins more than a title a year. People have figured his game out, only a matter of time before he's back out the top 10 for good.

 

[miniRafa386]

Yeah, but consider over the past 3 years (2006-present) he's only won 3 titles. A legitimate top 10 player, especially one supposedly as accomplished as roddick, wins more than a title a year. People have figured his game out, only a matter of time before he's back out the top 10 for good.

THANK YOU!

over the past three years, its really only been federer and nadal. now we have djoko, tsonga, and a few others, but since 2006, roddick's name hasnt been mentioned much, except maybe at a few US tournies

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

THANK YOU!

over the past three years, its really only been federer and nadal. now we have djoko, tsonga, and a few others, but since 2006, roddick's name hasnt been mentioned much, except maybe at a few US tournies

I just wanted to say it nicely, but he is washed up. He's done. At least with winning grand Slams. Hes kind of like the Phil Mickleson of tennis. Everyone wants him to be the big rival, but he disappoints every time.

 

[Turning Pro]

While he's won the one major, he's won 24 titles now. He's a Davis Cup champion. He's been to about 4 major finals. He's gotten to a few semis or quarterfinals as well.

Andy Roddick will not go down in the same breath as McEnroe or Connors or Sampras or Agassi. He's not one of the five greatest U.S. players of all time. But I'd put him in the top 10 U.S. players of all time. I really would.

While Roddick will never volley or slice or hit backhands like the greatest players ever, he's demonstrating very good play for a decent stretch now and will retire having a damn good career. If not for dealing with the greatest player of all time in Fed, he'd end up having an excellent career--of course I mean this relative to his ability and the expectations for him. Compared to us, he's had a phenomenol out of this world career

It's all about slams i'm afraid.

 

[jgn1013]

THANK YOU!

over the past three years, its really only been federer and nadal. now we have djoko, tsonga, and a few others, but since 2006, roddick's name hasnt been mentioned much, except maybe at a few US tournies

what! tsonga has ZERO titles, gasquet ( 5 ), Ferrer (8 ), Davy( 11 ), & Nalb (8 ). who else is there in the top 10 that has more titles then roddick besides Fed & Nadal.

 

[tacou]

THANK YOU!

over the past three years, its really only been federer and nadal. now we have djoko, tsonga, and a few others, but since 2006, roddick's name hasnt been mentioned much, except maybe at a few US tournies

yeah tsonga is a lot more consistent than Roddick and also wins more than one title a year...? no.

How is Roddick not a "legitimate" top 10 player? Other than Nadal and Federer he's been the only constant fixture in the past 4-5 years. He's washed up? He just won a title.

Seriously, people look for reasons to hate Roddick. He blows up on court a few times, or intimidates his opponent, and he has "obscene" court behavior. The only thing missing from Roddick's GREAT career are a few more slam titles, and if your name isn't Rafael or Roger those have been pretty hard to come by in the past few years.

It is only a matter of time before he falls out of the top 10 for good, just like it's a matter of time for Fed, Nadal, Nalbandian, and everyone else.

 

[Moose Malloy]

And will probably retire with like 700 wins.

I doubt that, that's a pretty select group, you need to play a really long time to get to 700.

Still, his longevity is pretty surprising, many thought his arm would fall off after just a couple years when he first joined the tour. He's had no major injury problems, which is pretty rare for someone who's been in the top 10 for so long. He just passed Courier on the 'most career titles' list.

This is the 8th straight year Roddick has won(at least) one title. Here is the leaderboard in that stat(most consecutive years with a title)

14---Ivan Lendl (1980-1993)
13---Jimmy Connors (1972-1984)
12---Boris Becker (1985-1995)
12---Stefan Edberg (1984-1995)
11---Pete Sampras (1990-2000)
11---Guillermo Vilas (1973-1983)
11---Brian Gottfried (1973-1983)
11---Michael Chang (1988-1998)
10---Andre Agassi (1987-1996)
10---Lleyton Hewitt (1998-2007)
10---Ilie Nastase (1970-1979)
9---Goran Ivanisevic (1990-1998)
9---John McEnroe (1978-1986)
9---Yevgeny Kafelnikov (1994-2002)
9---Manuel Orantes (1971-1979)
9---Richard Krajicek (1991-1999)
8---Bjorn Borg (1974-1981)
8---Tom Okker (1968-1975)
8---Vitas Gerulatis (1977-1984)
8---Andre Agassi (1998-2005)
8---Thomas Muster (1990-1997)
8---Guga Kuerten (1997-2004)
8---Roscoe Tanner (1974-1981)
8---Andy Roddick (2001-2008)

Federer will join this list shortly, I'm sure.

 

[goober]

Yeah, but consider over the past 3 years (2006-present) he's only won 3 titles. A legitimate top 10 player, especially one supposedly as accomplished as roddick, wins more than a title a year. People have figured his game out, only a matter of time before he's back out the top 10 for good.

Since it is only feburary you can' say it has been 3 years going back to 2006. That's basically 2 years and 2 months. But even in that time frame he has won 4 not 3 titles. There has been only one year since 2001 when he won his first title that he has only won one title for the entire year and that was a Masters level event so it wasn't too bad considering Fed/Nadal owned the slams.

From 2/05 to 2/08. He won 8 titles.

Feb. 2008 SAP
2007 Washington
2007 Queen's Club
2006 ATP Cincy
Oct. 2005 Lyon
Jun 2005 Queens
Apr 2005 Houston
Feb 2005 SAP

 

[r2473]

I just wanted to say it nicely, but he is washed up. He's done. At least with winning grand Slams. Hes kind of like the Phil Mickleson of tennis. Everyone wants him to be the big rival, but he disappoints every time.

Please explain the Mickelson analogy......not sure I follow.

 

[Commando Tennis Shorts]

Roddick will always catch flak (whether rightfully or not) by three main groups of people
1) ...the people who are angry that he was so hyped up at the beginning of his career, and he is now not living up to the hype (keep in mind, the hype was horribly unfair and unrealistic). These are usually the same people who can't stand an age in tennis without the U.S.'s golden boys, i.e. Agassi and Sampras
2)...the people who dislike his on-court behavior. These people often say things like, "He's talented, but he's a jerk." They point to his fired-up behavior as evidence, i.e. yelling, getting under his opponent's skin, etc. What is interesting about this is that many previous firey players acted like jerks on the court, yet were praised----When you do it and you're winning, they say you're a loveable maverick. When you do it and you're losing (or it appears like you're largely losing), they say you're a jerk with no class. You also see this with other sports.
3)...the third group is made up mostly of people who are so enamored with worshipping other players (i.e. Federer and Nadal) that they look upon Roddick and Roddick fans and say things like, "Yeah, well he will never be in the same league with Federer or Nadal." This is also usually the group that grabs onto newer flash-in-the-pan "up-and-coming" players and says things like, "(Random Player A) will overtake Roddick easily by the end of this year," and things like that. This 'random player a' is usually along the likes of Gasquet, Tsonga, etc.

I think someone made a good point earlier, how Roddick is actually a pretty consistent top 10 player compared to most of the others in the top 10. A lot of people don't believe this, though, because appearance wins out against reality. Because of the Roddick bashing, one would think he was the worst player ever or something (hyperbole, obviously)

 

[drakulie]

But I'd put him in the top 10 U.S. players of all time. I really would.

Fairly bold statement. Off the top of my head, here 14 American Players with better careers.

Agassi, Sampras, Chang, Courier, Mcenroe, Ashe, Kramer, Connors, Budge, Stan Smith, Tilden, Vines, Riggs, Gonzalez,

 

[Commando Tennis Shorts]

Fairly bold statement. Off the top of my head, here 14 American Players with better careers.

Agassi, Sampras, Chang, Courier, Mcenroe, Ashe, Kramer, Connors, Budge, Stan Smith, Tilden, Vines, Riggs, Gonzalez,

I like your list, Drak. Well laid out. Do you really think Chang will have had a better career than Roddick when it's all said and done, though? Just curious on your opinion.

 

[drakulie]

Chang is actually an interesting person on that list, and I had my doubts about placing him. However, I would say right now he has had a better career.

 

[r2473]

Roddick will always catch flak (whether rightfully or not) by three main groups of people
1) ...the people who are angry that he was so hyped up at the beginning of his career, and he is now not living up to the hype (keep in mind, the hype was horribly unfair and unrealistic). These are usually the same people who can't stand an age in tennis without the U.S.'s golden boys, i.e. Agassi and Sampras
2)...the people who dislike his on-court behavior. These people often say things like, "He's talented, but he's a jerk." They point to his fired-up behavior as evidence, i.e. yelling, getting under his opponent's skin, etc. What is interesting about this is that many previous firey players acted like jerks on the court, yet were praised----When you do it and you're winning, they say you're a loveable maverick. When you do it and you're losing (or it appears like you're largely losing), they say you're a jerk with no class. You also see this with other sports.
3)...the third group is made up mostly of people who are so enamored with worshipping other players (i.e. Federer and Nadal) that they look upon Roddick and Roddick fans and say things like, "Yeah, well he will never be in the same league with Federer or Nadal." This is also usually the group that grabs onto newer flash-in-the-pan "up-and-coming" players and says things like, "(Random Player A) will overtake Roddick easily by the end of this year," and things like that. This 'random player a' is usually along the likes of Gasquet, Tsonga, etc.

I think someone made a good point earlier, how Roddick is actually a pretty consistent top 10 player compared to most of the others in the top 10. A lot of people don't believe this, though, because appearance wins out against reality. Because of the Roddick bashing, one would think he was the worst player ever or something (hyperbole, obviously)

GREAT POST!! Fully agree!

However, someone once told me that Roddick eats little babies whole. That's right, even their little hands and feet. What a monster!

 

[grafrules]

He isnt an underachiever. He is a bigtime overachiever who should be praised for his making the most of his limited talents rather then berated. The reason anyone thinks he is an underachiever is because his potential and talents have been grossly overrated, overhyped and force fed to American tennis fans for years and create a skewed perspective on what his realistic potential ever was.

 

[grafrules]

I like your list, Drak. Well laid out. Do you really think Chang will have had a better career than Roddick when it's all said and done, though? Just curious on your opinion.

Well since Roddicks best is already behind him, if he is behind Chang now he would likely be behind him for good. It seems pretty unlikely Roddick can regain the things he was able to do in 2003-2006 ever again. Any future slam finals or Masters titles are close to nil possability.

 

[Rhino]

...Because of the Roddick bashing, one would think he was the worst player ever or something (hyperbole, obviously)

It's just that he hasn't done anything significant in ages! He was hot for one summer ('03), OK?. So he wins the odd tourny like the SAP (an event where only one other top 20 player shows up) - and what, are we supposed to be really impressed? The guy routinely loses to top tenners - well he can lose to pretty much anyone these days (Dancevic, Santoro, Kohlschreiber, you name it). He has only won one Slam, and that was five long years ago (even Gasto-forgotten-Gaudio has won a slam more recently). He won the Davis Cup last year without even facing a top 10 player (in fact only one was even top 30), and he's been reduced to using his psycho trash-talk intimidation just to beat teenagers ranked outside the top-100...


...ahhh, it's just fun bashing Roddick.

 

[firstservethenvolley]

It's just that he hasn't done anything significant in ages! He was hot for one summer ('03), OK?. So he wins the odd tourny like the SAP (an event where only one other top 20 player shows up) - and what, are we supposed to be really impressed? The guy routinely loses to top tenners - well he can lose to pretty much anyone these days (Dancevic, Santoro, Kohlschreiber, you name it). He has only won one Slam, and that was five long years ago (even Gasto-forgotten-Gaudio has won a slam more recently). He won the Davis Cup last year without even facing a top 10 player (in fact only one was even top 30), and he's been reduced to using his psycho trash-talk intimidation just to beat teenagers ranked outside the top-100...


...ahhh, it's just fun bashing Roddick.

I was at the finals of the Davis Cup. Wasn't Deema Tursunov inside top 30 ?

 

[Rhino]

I was at the finals of the Davis Cup. Wasn't Deema Tursunov inside top 30 ?

He was ranked 34 at the time, although he can be a tough cookie.

 

[Moose Malloy]

He won the Davis Cup last year without even facing a top 10 player (in fact only one was even top 30)

Berdych was ranked 12 when Roddick beat him in the 1st round of the Davis Cup last year.

 

[Nickognito]

In matchups with top10 players, Roddick is not a top10 player. In grand slam tournament, he only beated Ferrero in 2003 and #10 Ancic in 2007.

So, at this level he's not only non equal to Federer and Nadal, but to Djokovic, Gasquet, Ferrer, Nalbandian, Gonzalez, Philippoussis, Hewitt and many, many players of the present and the past.

I mean, this is not questionable.

But he's better of many of the above players in matchups with not top10 players.

If we make (win%vs. not-top10)/(win% vs top10) Roddick will be one of the 10 best players in open era.

I think this is the reason there are so many threads about Andy and so many misunderstanding discussions.

Andy is a special player, who cannot play at a very high level but who is an extraordinary player in a medium/low level of play.

c.

 

[Rhino]

Berdych was ranked 12 when Roddick beat him in the 1st round of the Davis Cup last year.

Exactly. So again I say:

He won the Davis Cup last year without even facing a top 10 player (in fact only one was even top 30).

 

[Challenger]

Roddick will always catch flak (whether rightfully or not) by three main groups of people
1) ...the people who are angry that he was so hyped up at the beginning of his career, and he is now not living up to the hype (keep in mind, the hype was horribly unfair and unrealistic). These are usually the same people who can't stand an age in tennis without the U.S.'s golden boys, i.e. Agassi and Sampras
2)...the people who dislike his on-court behavior. These people often say things like, "He's talented, but he's a jerk." They point to his fired-up behavior as evidence, i.e. yelling, getting under his opponent's skin, etc. What is interesting about this is that many previous firey players acted like jerks on the court, yet were praised----When you do it and you're winning, they say you're a loveable maverick. When you do it and you're losing (or it appears like you're largely losing), they say you're a jerk with no class. You also see this with other sports.
3)...the third group is made up mostly of people who are so enamored with worshipping other players (i.e. Federer and Nadal) that they look upon Roddick and Roddick fans and say things like, "Yeah, well he will never be in the same league with Federer or Nadal." This is also usually the group that grabs onto newer flash-in-the-pan "up-and-coming" players and says things like, "(Random Player A) will overtake Roddick easily by the end of this year," and things like that. This 'random player a' is usually along the likes of Gasquet, Tsonga, etc.

I think someone made a good point earlier, how Roddick is actually a pretty consistent top 10 player compared to most of the others in the top 10. A lot of people don't believe this, though, because appearance wins out against reality. Because of the Roddick bashing, one would think he was the worst player ever or something (hyperbole, obviously)

Excellent post. That pretty much sums it up perfectly. The Disappointed, The Bitter, and The Frontrunners.

 

[Rhino]

Excellent post. That pretty much sums it up perfectly. The Disappointed, The Bitter, and The Frontrunners.

I am not in any of those groups because
a) I am not disappointed (couldn't care less)
b) I am not bitter (couldn't care less)
c) I am a fan of Vince Spadea

You forgot the biggest group of all: the ones who find it funny to diss him.

 

[tacou]

He's still #6 is not as if he can't start playing well. There's no way he'll ever be #3 or anything but you can't say he's playing his best tennis lately. He does occasionally but has been pretty flakey, but whose to say he can't reach another USO or maybe even Wimbledon final. It would be tough but I don't think it's so unreasonable.

 

[Challenger]

I am not in any of those groups because
a) I am not disappointed (couldn't care less)
b) I am not bitter (couldn't care less)
c) I am a fan of Vince Spadea

You forgot the biggest group of all: the ones who find it funny to diss him.

Eh, I'll just lump you in with Group B. I find that there's always a level of bitterness involved when one actively seeks pleasure in some one else's loss.

 

[no djok]

This thread is really stupid. If anything roddick has overachieved with the talent he has. People can complain, and talk all they want about his on court behavior, his cockiness, even his lacoste clothing, i don't care. But when you call a guy who has been in the top ten for six years straight years an underachiever, well that is just your own ignorance!!!
To those of you who like to "diss him" my advice to you is to grow up.

 

[Forehand Forever]

Yeah, but consider over the past 3 years (2006-present) he's only won 3 titles. A legitimate top 10 player, especially one supposedly as accomplished as roddick, wins more than a title a year. People have figured his game out, only a matter of time before he's back out the top 10 for good.

It's actually been 4 titles over the past 3 years. I'm 99% sure he won 2 last year (Queens and a US Open Series title) and the one he's won recently.

 

[Challenger]

It's actually been 4 titles over the past 3 years. I'm 99% sure he won 2 last year (Queens and a US Open Series title) and the one he's won recently.

Off the top of my head, there's Queens, Washington, Cincinnati, and the one this year. So yeah, that's at least 4 titles.

 

[Rhino]

Eh, I'll just lump you in with Group B. I find that there's always a level of bitterness involved when one actively seeks pleasure in some one else's loss.

It's called entertainment. I believe Roddick is capable of entertainment where a lot of the other players aren't. He has comic value. Most comedy involves a victim. The thing that makes it even more funny is that most of his fans seem to be the type (don't make me be too specific, Moose will get upset) that aren't able to poke fun at themselves or their boy, taking it all very seriously. In other words it's them who become bitter.
If i want to get serious about tennis I watch Federer, but if I want a bit of 'light' entertainment I watch Roddick and laugh at his silly attitude.
To be bitter you have to be in a serious mindset.

 

[Zaragoza]

Number of titles don´t tell the whole story. He has won 1 major and 4 Masters Series (plus Davis Cup but that´s not an individual achievement). Those are the tournaments that should matter for someone who has been around the top 5 in the last years. Small tournaments should mean a lot for lower ranked players, not for Roddick.
It´s all about the big tournaments for players like him and Cincinnati is the only big tournament he has won in the last 3 years. His last results in majors are 3rd round, QF, QF and 1st round. He has been a disappointment in big tournaments since he made the AO semifinal in 2007.
Of course it´s already a great career compared to most of players but not what people expected after he won the US Open at 21 (and Federer has not been the only reason for not fulfilling the expectations).

 

[herosol]

Plus i wouldn't bash someone


with 10x more Skill then All of us Combined
And 10x more fight then we can ever imagine.

He's not the best, but who cares.
He fights, and that's all that matters.

blah blah blah blah blah out of top ten.
HOW COME YOU GUYS ALWAYS NEVER BASH SAFIN? THE GUY IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE TOP 10, AND YOU NEVER EVER SAY HE"s UNDERACHIEVING>

 

[RoddickistheMan]

Hes capable of more thats the thing. He can win a grandslam if he played to his strengths. Theres a reason why he hasnt won a grandslam and thats because his cant wont work against anyone in the top 5.

 

[JackSkellington]

I just wanted to say it nicely, but he is washed up. He's done. At least with winning grand Slams. Hes kind of like the Phil Mickleson of tennis. Everyone wants him to be the big rival, but he disappoints every time.

Well, Roddick doesn't play as many weak tournaments. Generally, he has a strong field. But then again, his forehand, his second best shot has gone down ever since he starting looping it more.

 

[vince916]

Wait when was the last time Roddick beat a Top 10 player?

 

[firstservethenvolley]

Wait when was the last time Roddick beat a Top 10 player?

Davydenko , Masters Cup Shangai 2007. Last tournament of the year.

 

[Kelcher]

Wait when was the last time Roddick beat a Top 10 player?

November. .

 

[firstservethenvolley]

Off the top of my head, there's Queens, Washington, Cincinnati, and the one this year. So yeah, that's at least 4 titles.

doesn't count for rankings, but he won the Kooyong classic as well.

 

[Kelcher]

Davydenko , Masters Cup Shangai 2007. Last tournament of the year.

He beat Gonzalez (7) in Shanghai as well.

 

[firstservethenvolley]

He beat Gonzalez (7) in Shanghai as well.

yeah. The last top 10 player was Gonzalez.

 

[Roberto]

Being the best american player for almost a decade and still criticized and bashed by americans...I don't get that...jealosy ?

 

[firstservethenvolley]

Being the best american player for almost a decade and still criticized and bashed by americans...I don't get that...jealosy ?

People want another Agassi or Sampras feat to come from Roddick which isn't possible from every American tennis player.

 

[Rhino]

Being the best american player for almost a decade and still criticized and bashed by americans...I don't get that...jealosy ?

Hang on, for a start, this is the world-wide-web. Did you think everybody here was American? Being American is hardly a prerequisite for bashing Roddick, just being human will do.
Secondly, are you suggesting that an American should never criticize another American, notwithstanding their behavior, and that if they do then the only possible reason is jealousy? Thats fcuked up.
British criticizing Henman is another matter.