Andy Roddick reveals his "Starbucks match"
In a live Facebook conversation with the International Tennis Hall of Fame , Andy Roddick revealed what match he is still being addressed at at Starbucks.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jul 18, 2020, 12:43 pm
In the careers of the really big players it is often individual tournaments, individual victories or individual moments for which they are addressed far beyond the end of their career. There is, for example, Robin Söderling, who can still often talk about the victory against Rafael Nadal in Roland Garros. But there is also Andy Roddick, whose match ended in defeat for eternity.
"If you're lucky as a tennis player, you have the moment when you go to any Starbucks people want to know more about them," Andy Roddick told the International Hall of Fame. This very special match in a player 's career, this "Starbucks match, for which you are addressed long after you retire, is the 2009 Wimbledon final for the American.
"This is my Starbucks game. Victory at the US Open and number one in the ATP ranking are not," explains Roddick. With 14:16 in the decisive fifth round, the American had to admit defeat in the said final, his final opponent, Federer, had thus set Pete Sampras' previous Grand Slam record. Roddick recalls that the "royal box" was present at top-class players to see the Swiss perform this feat.
"I said that I feel like the guy who tried to shoot Bambi that day," Roddick shows, as usual, humorously, and then gets serious again: "You go out and see that Sampras is there , and you know he's there because he and Roger both have 14 Grand Slam titles. You can feel the weight of the moment. "
Roddick: "Could have played longer"
In addition to the hair length that the Swiss Roddick was ahead of that endgame, the American mentions another fact where Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are ahead of him himself. "When you look at the precedent that Roger and Rafa have created, where they will only play when they are ready and perfectly healthy, and try to get into top shape at certain times. They decide what is best for them." , says Roddick.
He himself always tried to get back on the court as quickly as possible and didn't take breaks. And - finally - had to end his career at the age of 30. "I think I could have played a little longer if I had been a little more reluctant to train and a little more wise in scheduling," Roddick thinks today. And someone who shows how long such a tennis career can go, generally faced him in his Starbucks match.