"I don't like Andy Roddick, nobody in the locker room likes his acting" - When Ivan Ljubicic accused American of disrespect after tense US Open clash
Ivan Ljubicic once lashed out at Andy Roddick after their contentious clash at the 2003 US Open. Ljubicic claimed that the American wasn't a popular figure in the locker room due to his lack of respect for other players.
That year, Roddick entered the US Open as the fourth seed, on the hunt for his maiden Grand Slam title. The American made a strong start to his campaign, claiming a commanding 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 win over Tim Henman to set up a second-round clash against Ivan Ljubicic.
The duo engaged in a closely contested battle, with Andy Roddick edging past the Croatian to claim a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-6(8) victory on the eve of his 21st birthday. The tense clash also took a controversial turn in the fourth set over a disputed line call.
During the fourth-set tiebreak, Ljubicic had the opportunity to force a decider on his fourth set point. However, Roddick fended off the set point with a stunning forehand, which the Croatian believed was out. He contended that the line judge's call may have been impacted by the American's loud exclamation of 'Yes!' after the shot.
Ivan Ljubicic expressed frustration over the critical call, admitting that while he had prepared himself for bad calls, it was especially painful to experience one at such a crucial point.
"That was the crucial point, obviously. I am expecting some bad calls. But, you know, it hurts when it happens in the crucial moment like that," Ljubicic said (viaTaipei Times).
Ljubicic also lashed out at Andy Roddick, shedding light on his dislike for the American. The Croatian revealed that the entire locker room held a similarly negative view of Roddick's on-court behavior, claiming that the American didn't respect the other players.
"Anywhere in the world, except in the United States, if we played this match, I would have won it. I mean, generally, I don't like him. I mean, not me -- nobody in the locker room likes his acting on the court. I mean, he's a good player. He's going to win a lot of matches, but not because he's like that," he said.
"It's just that we don't like it. Because nobody acts like that. He's the only one. He doesn't respect the others. That's all I can say," he added.
"That's sour grapes" - Andy Roddick responded to Ivan Ljubicic's complaints about his conduct after US Open 2R win
Andy Roddick was taken aback by Ivan Ljubicic's harsh complaints about his conduct, dismissing his remarks as "sour grapes" and asserting that they weren't worth addressing.
The American denied any disrespectful behavior, emphasizing that he always endeavored to treat everyone with due regard. Roddick also suggested that it was Ljubicic's conduct after his loss that was disrespectful.
"I think that's pretty much sour grapes. You know, that doesn't deserve a response. I don't think that's very respectful. I don't have anything bad to say about him. So, that's disappointing ... I try to treat everyone with respect. I'm not mean to people," Andy Roddick said.
"He wished me 'Happy Birthday' walking down the hall just now. I was thinking, 'That's pretty classy,'" he added.
Andy Roddick went on to win his first and only Grand Slam title at the 2003 US Open, claiming a dominant 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 win over third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final.