Sam Querrey shares Andy Roddick treated him like a younger brother – Tennis News
USA’s Sam Querrey has praised his country’s former number one tennis player, Andy Roddick, in a recent interview. Querrey shared that Roddick is an ideal ambassador of tennis in USA and he has always supported junior and upcoming
players of his country.
Querrey, who is 24 now, was just 15-year-old when Roddick defeated Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero to win the US Open in 2003. Two years later, the American star invited him to his place to practice with him.
Querrey was young and about to turn professional, so he left all of his plans and flew straight to Texas on the invitation of his idol.
During a recent interview, Querrey said, “This was about the time he had been No. 1 and won the Open, playing Federer in the Wimbledon final back to back. So when Andy Roddick calls, you drop whatever plans you have and get on
a plane. He had me stay in his house, treated me like a little brother."
Roddick, who was considered the fastest serve at one time, came into limelight almost a decade back. The American improved very quickly and looked like a perfect replacement for his former world number one compatriots, Pete Sampras
and Andre Agassi.
The rising star proved it right, as he won the 2003 US Open, captured Davis Cup title for his country and rose to the number one position in the world rankings.
A former tennis professional from USA, Justin Gimelstob, said about Roddick, “To his peers, Andy has been someone to admire — winning the U.S. Open, a Davis Cup title and being No. 1 in the world. For an American kid, that’s pretty
much the tennis trifecta."
The 17-time Grand Slam champion and current world number one, Roger Federer, praised Roddick when the American stunned him in the third round of this year’s Sony Ericsson Open.
The Swiss Maestro said, “He’s still very good. I hope you guys give him more credit than he’s getting at the moment.”
Federer went on to say that Roddick is a great champion and American tennis fans and media should enjoy his presence on the ATP World Tour before he retires as a professional.
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