Andy Roddick to retire from tennis after US Open
New York: former top-ranked US player Andy roddick has said that he will retire after the U.S. Open.
Roddick, who turned 30 on Thursday, delivered the shocking announcement at a news conference ahead of his Friday match against Australian Bernard Tomic inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I just feel like it’s time,” he said. “I don’t know that I’m healthy enough or committed enough to go another year.
Roddick, who beat fellow American Rhyne Williams 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round, is seeded 20th at the U.S. Open, the last of the year’s four grand slam tournaments.
He said his decision to call it quits after 13 years as a professional, “has been a process, certainly not days”.
Roddick, who won 32 career titles, had not gone past a Grand Slam quarter-final in the three years since his loss to Roger Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final.
“If you look at my contemporaries that started with me, Roger is the only one that is still going and still going strong,” Roddick said.
“For whatever my faults, I’ve never done anything halfway. I’m not sure I can put everything into it physically and emotionally. I don’t know that I want to disrespect the game by coasting home.”
Federer also beat Roddick in the 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finals and the 2006 US Open final, runner-up efforts that helped inspire Roddick in his prime.
“As much as I was disappointed at times, I’m not sure I ever felt sorry for myself or begrudged anybody any of their success,” Roddick said.
