By Chris Kane
Have you ever wondered how Andy Roddick’s legacy might be different in some sort of warped “It’s a Wonderful Life” scenario only, in this version, it’s Roger Federer that had never been born? You can bet Andy has.
It has been very well publicized that Federer owns a 20-2 overall career record versus Roddick. In fact, as Andy’s luck would have it, their 22 matches are tied for the most Federer has played against anyone on the tour with Nadal (8-14 after Federer’s win at the ATP World Tour Finals in London). However, it’s WHEN Fed has beaten him that has to keep Roddick up at night wondering what might have been.
In what has to be considered an almost certain Hall of Fame career, Roddick has made 10 Grand Slam semifinals and five Grand Slam finals coming away with one title thus far (2003 US Open). An outstanding record to be sure. What is impossible to ignore, however, is that of the nine times he has been that close and come up empty he has lost to Federer in seven of them! All four of his Grand Slam final losses (Wimbledon 2004, 2005, 2009 and the US Open 2006) and three of his five Grand Slam semi losses (Wimbledon 2003, Australian Open 2007, 2009 – Federer went on to win two of those three tournaments only losing in the 2009 Aussie Final to Nadal) have been to Federer. Throw in three more losses in ATP Tour finals for a career 0-7 finals mark against Federer and it is enough to get Andy thinking…if it weren’t for this guy…
It is not as though Roddick hasn’t tried. He has tried hard, he has tried often and he has tried everything. Coaching changes, fitness programs, tactical shifts…you name it. After one of their most heated battles at the 2004Wimbledon final Roddick concluded dejectedly, “I threw the kitchen sink at him but he went to the bathroom and got his tub.” What do you do when your game happens to be very well suited to that of your opponent but he just does it better? Federer even has the edge when it comes to the part of Roddick’s game considered his greatest strength: the serve. Federer has out aced him in 20 of their 22 meetings including a career high 50 in last year’s Wimbledon Final (narrowly missing the former Wimbledon record of 51 held by Ivo Karlovic subsequently broken by John Isner in his marathon against Nicholas Mahut this year).
There are some additional twists to this rivalry that even Andy would deem funny – if it were happening to someone else. Roddick holds not only the Wimbledon record but the Grand Slam record for games won in a final with 39. Of course, that record is a bit hollow as it was set in last year’s finals loss to…well, you know. Federer holds the record of 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1. Who did he supplant to get there? Don’t ask. Roddick was even forced to stand there and witness Federer’s coronation as possibly the greatest of all time when he broke Pete Sampras’ Grand Slam titles record with 15. Fed tried to console him saying he knew what it felt like losing a tough final based on his epic match with Rafa the prior year. Roddick scoffed and said, “Yeah, but you’ve already won five”, understandably thinking that Fed had a few to spare.
Albert Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Therein lies what people love about Roddick though. He will keep trying until there is just no fight left in him. With over $19m in career earnings (that has likely been tripled off the court) and a super model wife, it is entirely possible none of this has even crossed his mind. He’s doing just fine. In most people’s minds he will never be considered a “One Slam Wonder” if he never wins another either. That is a tag reserved for people like Gaston Gaudio who only made it past the 3rd round in a Grand Slam three times in 34 attempts but caught lightning in a bottle at the 2004 French for his lone title. Roddick is a proven champion. He deserves to be right there in the pantheon of US players next to Sampras, Connors, Agassi, McEnroe and likely would be if….ah, if only.