The rivalry between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick has experienced memorable pages especially in the first decade of the new millennium. Both men are Grand Slam champions (Federer with 20 titles to Roddick’s one) and former world number one players.
Roddick has lost four Grand Slam finals (Wimbledon in 2004, 2005, and 2009, and the US Open in 2006), each time to Federer. Their match in the 2009 Wimbledon final, where Roddick brought Federer to a thirty-game fifth set, has been called one of the greatest matches in tennis history.
On February 2, 2004, Federer supplanted Roddick as World No. 1 to begin his record reign of 237 consecutive weeks at the top. They were the two highest-ranked players in the world from November 2003 to January 2005. One of the fastest servers on the ATP Tour Roddick explained, its frustrating when Federer tactfully returns the ball, or he comes up with a return winner.
“It was like a volume play, he would make a ton of returns. When I was serving some guys, they are taking tons of returns at least trying to hit over every return. They were rarely going to square it up perfectly,” Andy told Tennis Channel.
“But, if I had to win first-serve points with Roger, with every very very small movement he put the ball back in play. Once we were neutral it was his advantage. And his ability to accept my pace with very little movement and make a ton of return, it was frustrating.
He played great defense and knew how to get out of the tough situation. In his prime, maybe when he was a step faster, I guess, he passed amazingly well. I don’t think it’s talked enough,” he added.
