"Imagine not serving hard at all, beating Pete Sampras in the US Open final" - Andy Roddick reveals the "best competitor" he's ever taken on
Andy Roddick recently shared insights about the "best competitor" he has ever faced, describing someone who achieved extraordinary success without relying on power or speed. He reflected on the player's iconic victory over Pete Sampras in the 2001 US Open final.
On his podcast "Served with Andy Roddick," the former tennis star shared insights about the competitors he deeply respects, reflecting on their game and their demeanor. He praised players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Kim Clijsters, highlighting their consistency and professionalism. He said,
"They don't have a bad day and if they do, they still get over their sh*t, whereas I am breaking rackets in a locker room and f**king getting mad at the ATP Tour media person for bugging me."
Roddick then named the competitor he considers the "best competitor" he’s ever faced, in Lleyton Hewitt. Roddick noted,
"We are fine now... I think mutual respect eventually wins out. But we had a lot of ugly moments, someone who is probably the best competitor I ever played against. He's never in his professional life had the best shot on the court, as far as pace or speed or spin, and yet he got to No. 1 and won two Majors, is Lleyton Hewitt. Tennis IQ...imagine, like, not serving hard at all and winning doubles Slams, winning singles Slams, beating Pete [Sampras] in the US Open final."
Further, according to the 2003 US Open winner, two players whose careers deserve more recognition are Jim Courier and Lleyton Hewitt.
Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick's head-to-head record
Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt's rivalry can be divided into two phases. Initially, Hewitt dominated the head-to-head against the American, winning six out of their first seven matches, including three Grand Slam event clashes.
The next phase belonged to the American. He won six matches in a row, from 2005 to 2011, to lead the head-to-head 7-6. These included a US Open quarterfinal clash in 2006 and a Wimbledon quarterfinal in 2009.
However, in their final encounter, Roddick retired after going down two sets to one in the Australian Open in 2012, which tied their record at 7-7.
When it comes to their careers, Roddick won 32 titles with over 600 match wins. Hewitt also notched up over 600 match wins and won 30 titles. The American won one Grand Slam title while the Aussie won two. They both held the World No. 1 rank in their careers.