Players retiring in 2012: Andy Roddick – Tennis Special (Part – I)
World of tennis witnessed some of the big names saying goodbye to the professional circuit in 2012. The entire retired squad of the latest season will be recapped in this piece; achievements, highlights, ups and downs will be discussed
with the retirement speeches that will literally reduce a tennis fanatic into tears.
I will began with the most fascinating player from America who was the best entertainer and the world will never thank him enough for his accomplishments in the field of tennis. He is none other than the former world number one,
Andy Roddick.
Roddick, 30, was blessed with immense talent and pace. The lightning quick serves were considered to be the most dangerous weapon in his artillery. The American announced his retirement prior to the start of the US Open in New
York and left on 4th September 2012. He played his final contest against Juan Martin Del Potro in the fourth round of the last Grand Slam event of the season; cried on his departure from the arena.
The 30-year-old American had such charisma and aptitude that kept him in the elite Top-10 category of the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings for successive nine years (2002-2010). The fiery serves coupled with a brilliant
technique for drop shots were the essence of his play.
Roddick entered the limelight in 2003 when he squashed another fellow former world number one, Juan Carlos Ferrero, in the final of the US Open to bag his maiden Grand Slam title. It was the start to the hunt for the number one
spot; crafted his path to the top of the world and accomplished the dream on 3rd November, 2003. The ‘rocket serve’ was once recorded to be smashed at a pace of 155 mph during a Davis Cup tie in 2004.
He enjoyed a 13-week spell at the top spot in the world; clinched five Grand Slam titles in total; Wimbledon (2004, 2005 and 2009) and the US Open (2003, 2006). Roddick has the second best record (33 wins) at the Davis Cup for
America after John McEnroe (41 wins). He helped his country to clasp a Davis Cup title in 2007.
While conducting a press conference at the time of his retirement, Roddick said, “I just feel like it’s time. I don’t know that I’m healthy enough or committed enough to go another year. I’ve always wanted to, in a perfect world,
finish at this event. I have a lot of family and friends here. I’ve thought all year that I would know when I got to this tournament. When I was playing my first round, I knew. You know, certain parts throughout the year, I’ve thought about it. You know,
just with the way my body feels, with the way that I’m able to feel like I’m able to compete now, I don’t know that it’s good enough.”
Roddick is affiliated with a foundation that helps the needy children in seeking education as well as sporting facilities. Since the inception of the Andy Roddick Foundation, he has raised around 10 million dollars for the helpless
kids and expected to actively participate in exhibitions to increase the amount of charity.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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