Comprehensive information and links about Andy Roddick

Andy Roddick , (born August 30, 1982 in Omaha, Nebraska), nicknamed A-Rod (see [1]), is a professional tennis player from the United States and is a former .

As of January 2006, Roddick ranked as the best male US tennis player and the third-best in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals, behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.[2] Roddick is known for his explosive serves, powerful forehands, and off-court charm and personality. He also holds the fastest serve record (clocked at 155 mph, or 250 kmh).

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Tennis career

Roddick turned professional in 2000 at 18. In 2001, he became the youngest player to end the year in the ATP Top 20.

Roddick's outstanding hardcourt record in summer 2003 included his first Masters Series titles -- coming at Canada and Cincinnati -- and his first Grand Slam title at the 2003 US Open, in which he rallied from two sets down in the semifinals to beat David Nalbandian and dispatching finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets (6-3 7-6 6-3).

In 2003, at age 21, he was ranked No. 1, the first American to finish a year at No. 1 since Andre Agassi in 1999. He also became the youngest American and second-youngest player (behind Australian Lleyton Hewitt, aged 20 years, 8 months) to hold this rank since computer rankings were started in 1973.

In 2004, Roddick set the world record for the fastest serve: 246.2 kmh (153.5 mph) during a straight-set victory over Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan in the quarter-finals of the Queens Club grass-court tournament. On August 31 of that year, he had the fastest serve in US Open history: 244 kmh (152 mph). But Roddick was unexpectedly knocked out of the tournament in a spectacular 5-set quarterfinal match against another big server, Joachim Johansson. He finished 2004 ranked as the world's No. 2, the USA's No. 1, and the player with the most aces (he hit 1017 of them in 2004).

In 2004, Roddick joined Mardy Fish and doubles players Bob and Mike Bryan on the U.S. Davis Cup team that lost to Spain in the finals in Seville. In 2005, Andre Agassi joined the team, and played behind Roddick at No. 2.

In 2004, Roddick fired his coach of 18 months, Brad Gilbert, and hired assistant Davis Cup coach Dean Goldfine.

Roddick's first 2005 victory was the SAP Open in San José, California, where he was the first to win the event in consecutive years since Mark Philippoussis in 1999 and 2000. The top-seeded Roddick breezed to a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Cyril Saulnier in 50 minutes, the event's first championship shutout set since Arthur Ashe beat Guillermo Vilas in 1975.

On April 24, 2005, Roddick won the U.S. Men's Claycourt Championships, reclaiming the title he won in 2001 and 2002. He lost in 2003 to Andre Agassi and in 2004 to Tommy Haas.

In May 2005, top-seeded Roddick chose sportsmanship over a slot in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters when he challenged a ruling that favored him at a triple match point. After Roddick's objections, his opponent Fernando Verdasco was awarded an ace instead of a double fault. Verdasco then saved two more match points, held serve, broke Roddick's serve, and eventually won the match.

At Roland Garros 2005, Roddick lost to the unseeded Argentine player Jose Acasuso in the second round.

At Wimbledon 2005, Roddick lost to Roger Federer in the final for the second year in a row.

At U.S. Open 2005, Roddick lost to world no. 70 Gilles Muller in the first round. Roddick's last U.S. Open first round loss was in 2000.

At the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon in 2005, Roddick defeated Gael Monfils to wrap up a tournament without losing a set or getting his serve broken. Despite reaching the Wimbledon final and Australian Open semi-finals, many critics, including TENNIS Magazine, attacked Roddick's poor game in 2005.

At the 2006 Australian Open, Roddick was defeated by Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6. Roddick played rather tentatively throughout most of the match, excluding the second set, contrary to his promise to be more aggressive[3]. Baghdatis went on to beat two other seeded players, Ivan Ljubicic and David Nalbandian, but lost to Roger Federer in the final.

In February 2006, Roddick and Goldfine reached a mutual agreement to part ways. Roddick then hired brother John Roddick (who is the owner and director of the Roddick-Moros International Tennis Academy in San Antonio, Texas) to coach him.[4]

Roddick has been under the media spotlight to perform well in the tradition of his predecessors in American tennis: Courier, Sampras, and Agassi. After his fourth round exit from the 2006 Australian Open and first round exit from the 2005 US Open, Roddick has been criticized by tennis commentators and analysts who question his commitment to the game and his ability to play at the highest level of the professional tour.

His racket of choice is Babolat Pure Drive Plus strung with Babolat custom hybrid strings.

Personal

Roddick was born in Omaha, Nebraska, moved to Boca Raton, Florida, and now lives in Austin, Texas.

Roddick's father Jerry is an investor; his mother Blanche directs the Andy Roddick Foundation. Roddick's brother John was an All-American tennis player at the University of Georgia from 1996 to 1998 and currently operates a tennis academy in San Antonio, Texas. Their oldest brother, Lawrence, a chiropractor in San Antonio, was an accomplished springboard diver and a member of the U.S. Senior National Team.

Roddick is considered a U.S. sports celebrity. Following his 2003 US Open win, Roddick embarked on a 12-hour media blitz, appearing on the Today Show, MTV, CNN, and The Late Show with David Letterman, among others. He has thrown out the first pitch at several Major League Baseball games, most recently Game 2 of the 2003 Oakland-Boston playoff series. After winning the NASDAQ tournament, Roddick opened that stock market on August 20, 2003.

On April 5, 2002 he guest-starred on the TV Show Sabrina, The Teenage Witch as himself. In the episode Sabrina summons him so he would give her some tennis lessons.

Andy Roddick dated actress Mandy Moore and waded into the stands to hug her after his US Open victory in 2003. The two separated in 2004.

He hosted on November 8, 2003, becoming the second tennis player (the first being Chris Evert) and only the tenth athlete to do so. He won the 2004 ESPY award for best male tennis player. He was deemed "Sexiest Athlete" by People Magazine's December 2003 issue of "Sexiest Man Alive". Roddick has appeared in Vogue magazine.

In 2004, Roddick won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award of the Year because of his charity efforts, which include: raising money for the survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami through Serving for Tsunami Relief and other efforts; auctioning off several rackets and autographs to raise money for UNICEF; and creating the Andy Roddick Foundation to help at-risk youth. The foundation is partly funded through the sale of blue wristbands inscribed "No Compromise," inspired by Lance Armstrong's yellow Livestrong bands.

In 2005, Roddick appeared on VH1's 100 Most Wanted Bodies, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Punk'd after being tricked by Ashton Kutcher on his way to the Tonight Show. Roddick also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

In April 2005, Reebok announced that it would end its contract with Roddick, who had been endorsed by the company since he was 17. Roddick has now joined forces with Lacoste. Andy has a cologne coming out in early 2006 and a Signature Babolat racket.

Recently it has been widely speculated that Andy Roddick is romantically linked to Maria Sharapova. The two were seen spending a lot of time together during the 2006 Australian Open [5]. Roddick, however, has denied the truth of this speculation [6].

SUE BARKER, BBC REPORTER: Andy, you’re probably not in the mood for a chat, but you must wonder what you have to do against this guy.

ANDY RODDICK, WIMBLEDON RUNNER-UP: Yeah, I’m more in the mood for a beer right now (laughs). Yeah, you know, I, couldn’t have asked more of myself, I mean, I put in all the work and I wanted to win this tournament so badly but this guy [Federer] is the best for a reason and he really deserves a lot of credit.

SUE BARKER: Andy, does it also mean you have to take a lot of chances out there against him, to try something different?

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean you run out of options because he’s become such a complete player. I mean, even two years ago when I lost to him in the semis, he’s improved so much since then, which is impressive, so maybe I’ll just punch him or something, I don’t know.

SUE BARKER: That’s another opportune. Andy, finally, we love rivalries here at Wimbledon, and this is a great one, I bet you’re looking forward—I mean, even forget today—looking forward to coming back and being here again.

ANDY RODDICK: It’s a great one. I might win one one time. No, I love playing here, it definitely has a special place in my heart and you guys make it so, so thank you very much for your support.