Andy Roddick on Federer's trick: "I was the idiot it took 12 years to find out"
Andy Roddick would probably have had some Wimbledon titles - had it not always been for Roger Federer in the way. And he obviously had fun with the return game of the American for years.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: May 05, 2020, 10:58 am
Andy Roddick and Roger Federer shared a love-hate relationship throughout their careers. The two met four times in Wimbledon, the Swiss won all four duels. Roddick's most brutal loss: 2009, when he was a completely failed backhand volley away from a 2-0 set lead and lost 14:16 in the fifth set. He had already explained his suffering at an award ceremony years ago: "I would like to hate you, but you are just too nice," he said.
The one was obviously nice - the other clever. Because Federer had obviously seen through one thing: when Roddick wanted to run the backhand on the return to clear the forehand. "For a while, I always chose the wrong time to run a second serve," Roddick told the Tennis Channel . "I guess I was always a quarter of a second early - and Roger knew that." Federer looks, contrary to other players, at the return player for a very long time when he serves - to the detriment of Roddick.
At some point someone stuck it to him. "The last time I played against him, I tapped the returns! In between three or four at a time. Roger looked over at me with the motto: 'Oh, you finally know.' Yes, I was really the idiot it took 12 years to find out. "
ps: //www.youtube.com/watch? v = rctOtFOXco8
Federer - one of the best servers
Federer's serve was one of the best anyway. Not the fastest, but Federer can hit all points of the T-field with the same ball throw. Don't be afraid of any kind of service at any game, play a slow twist service as a first service. And I had no predictable habits.
Even as a return player, Federer simply brought back an unbelievable number of balls with a small movement and set the ball change to "neutral". And then was the better one anyway. "In his prime he was able to play serve-and-volley, a strong defense, and he did extremely well - that is often overlooked," said Roddick, who ended his career with a 3:21 record against Federer, but at least that final game of the two won. Thanks in part to its returns.