"Roger Federer's created a monster, if he wins 3 Slams a year, everyone says he's lost it" - When Andy Roddick dismissed doubts about Swiss' longevity
Andy Roddick once dismissed concerns about Roger Federer's longevity on tour, expressing confidence that parenthood wouldn't slow the Swiss down. The American made these remarks after his devastating loss to Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon Championships final.
Roddick and Federer faced off in their 20th tour-level encounter in the final of the grasscourt Major that year, with the Swiss having won all but two of their previous meetings. He extended his dominance against the American, claiming a hard-fought 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14 victory after a grueling four-hour and 17-minute battle to clinch his sixth Wimbledon title.
The heartbreaking loss marked Andy Roddick's fourth defeat to Roger Federer at SW19, having previously fallen short against the Swiss in the 2003 semifinals as well as the 2004 and 2005 finals.
Even five months later, the American expressed lingering frustration over his loss in an interview with the Guardian. He admitted that, while he could reflect on his campaign with a sense of satisfaction, he found it difficult to think about his devastatingly narrow defeat in the final.
"I lost. That's the fact of it for me. I mean, I can look back on the process of the tournament as a whole with some satisfaction, the semi, beating Andy Murray, but the final itself is tough for me to think about," he said.
Just weeks after his Wimbledon triumph, Roger Federer and his wife Mirka also celebrated the birth of their twin daughters, Myla Rose and Charlene. This led Roddick to be asked whether he believed he could finally turn the tables against the Swiss, who would be dealing with the challenges of parenthood.
However, the American emphasized that Federer had created such a "monster" with his impressive accomplishments that any minor dip in performance led to speculation about his decline. He contended that, despite all the conjecture, the Swiss would continue to be a dominant force for many years to come.
"The thing with Roger is that he has created a monster for himself. If he only wins three out of four slams in a year, everyone says he's lost it, he is on the way out. I'm sure he will be around for a while yet," Roddick said.
Andy Roddick: "It's a privilege to be out there in a final with Roger Federer, one of these days I just have to find a way to win"
In the same interview, Andy Roddick also emphasized that he was honored to share the court with Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final but admitted the need to find a way to beat the Swiss in such big matches.
"It's a privilege to be out there in a final with him. One of these days I just have to find a way to win," he said.
Despite Roddick's determination to turn the tide in his rivalry with the Swiss legend, he eventually ended his career with three wins and 21 losses against his rival.
However, the American did triumph in their final encounter on tour, claiming a hard-fought 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-4 victory in the third round of the 2012 Miami Open.