On the very day that he turned 30, after dedicating himself so ferociously across a distinguished career, after demonstrating continuously that he was a credit to his trade, Andy Roddick called a press conference at the US Open to announce his retirement from professional tennis.
It was a logical time in many ways for Roddick to say goodbye. As a proud American, he had secured his lone Grand Slam title in Arthur Ashe Stadium nine years earlier, rallying valiantly from match point down to oust David Nalbandian in the semifinals, taking apart Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final. Roddick was back in the final three years later, losing a four-set contest against Roger Federer.
This was his country's major, the last one played every year, and a place Roddick loved to showcase his talent and to thrive in front of fans who understood his psyche and celebrated his individuality. The deep connection between the New York audiences and Roddick was unmistakable. They had what amounted to a symbiotic relationship.
Roddick had taken over from Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi as the best American player of his generation. He had handled that burden in a dignified manner. His followers admired Roddick's spunk, his reservoir of pride and his immense willpower. They were awestruck by his dynamic and potent serve. They relished watching Roddick launch into his signature forehand and rifle it into wide open spaces for winners. They got great value for money when Roddick performed for them, and did not take him for granted.
And so it made sense that Roddick would make the 2012 US Open his final appearance. He wore his citizenship on his sleeve. He was enormously gratified to lead the U.S. to a Davis Cup triumph in 2007, and to establish himself as the last American to finish a year at No. 1 in the world four years earlier. Now, in his press conference telling the world that he would play no more, Roddick was philosophical. He would lose six days later in the round of 16 to 2009 US. Open victor Juan Martin del Potro in four sets, but now Roddick was clarifying why it was time to go and how he had arrived at the decision.
"I've always wanted to, in a perfect world, finish at this event,” he said. “I have a lot of family and friends here. I've thought all year that I would know [whether or not it was time to retire] when I got to this tournament. When I was playing my first-round match, I knew."
Elaborating a few minutes later, Roddick added, "I've always, for whatever my faults have been, felt like I've never done anything halfway. For probably the first time in my career I can sit here and say I'm not sure I can put everything into it physically and emotionally. I don't know if I want to disrespect the game by coasting home. I've had plans to play a smaller schedule next year. But the more I thought about it, I think you either got to be all in or not."
To the end, Roddick was true to his values and thoroughly honest about who he was and what he wanted. On July 22, 2017, he was inducted at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In his heartfelt and thoughtful speech, he said, "I'm not the best of all time. I'm not going to win Wimbledon. I'm not the most well-behaved. I'm not the most polished. I'm also not going to take this honor for granted. ... I may not be a lot of things. But from this day forward I'm never going to be anything less than a Hall of Famer. I thank you from the deepest part of my heart."
Longtime American fans who witnessed Roddick so frequently over the course of his career could clearly relate to what he was saying. They never took him for granted.
