Old Times

Category: Tennis

Publish Date: 01-29-2009 08:27 AM -0500

What might Andy Roddick's career look like if Roger Federer did not exist? Roddick, competitive soul that he is, has said before that if given the choice, he would much prefer playing in the Federer Era than any other. Without Federer, Roddick might well have two Wimbledon titles and one Australian Open to go along with his one U.S. Open victory in 2003. He might have spent a year or two, rather than a few months, at No. 1 in the world. He might not have had to explain--thousands upon thousands of times--why Federer wins almost every time they meet, no matter how many times Roddick approaches the net or how much weight he loses, no matter who sits in his box or in the umpire's chair.

"The thing about Roger is you can know where to go, and you can still come out on the bad end of it sometimes," Roddick said. "That part is a little bit frustrating at times."

This was the calm Roddick speaking, the one who had cooled off after another two hours and seven minutes of banging his head against the human wall who has single-handedly reduced his place in tennis history. Without Federer, Roddick might be an all-time great. Because of Federer, he isn't.

Earlier, Roddick had lashed out at Enric Molina, who had a tough night in the umpire's chair--"Have some sack, dude," Roddick screamed after a contentious ruling. He dropped the f-bomb, apologized, and then rescinded his apology when Molina issued a warning. He also mocked a linesman whose vision was less than 20-20 on one of Federer's 16 aces (Roddick stared and waved, as if to test the man's eyes). Now, though, he spoke softly and carefully as reporters gathered for his press conference. In truth, Roddick took this defeat--No. 16 out of 18 against the living legend--better than anyone could have expected.

"Overall, it was an okay match," Roddick said. "He just beat me. It's plain and simple."

It is simple, and Federer explained why, in one sentence. Against Roddick, he said, the plan is, "Get the return back, and then let's see what you can create." Federer doesn't hit many winners off his return of serve, but he puts more returns in play than any player I've ever seen. Even against Roddick's heaters, Federer stands up close to the baseline and, on second serves, sometimes inside it. Roddick served well tonight and only produced eight aces (Federer usually hits more aces than Roddick when they meet; last night, he hit twice as many). Federer, no doubt, has the quickest hands in tennis. He also sees the ball quite well at night, a talent that Roddick said could play a role in the final on Sunday.

Roddick is simultaneously one of the luckiest--not many of us earn millions smacking a ball around in the sun--and unluckiest athletes on earth. It's the rare tennis player who can say he began his career when the sport's all-time great champion, Pete Sampras, was on his way out (Sampras beat Roddick at the 2002 U.S. Open, his last major title) and then play alongside a perhaps greater great, a man who may tie Sampras' record of 14 major titles at this tournament and surpass it later in the year. Remember, at the beginning of 2004, Federer and Roddick had the same number of major titles to their names. Unfortunately, it might just be Roddick's lot in life to never win a second one.

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