SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Andy Roddick has done an admirable job of staying relevant and remaining a factor at the top of his sport. In fact, he and Roger Federer are the only active players to finish inside the top 10 for the past nine years. But with each passing year, U.S. tennis backers wonder if anyone will be there to take his place when it comes time for the Texan to gallop off into the sunset.
With only struggling Sam Querry (who, despite a career-high ranking of No. 17, has lost eight of his last nine matches, including a 7-6(6), 6-3 loss to unheralded Slovakian Lukas Lacko on Tuesday in San Jose) and No. 23 John Isner in close proximity, it’s clear that Americans have to do a better job when it comes to producing the next wave of future champions.
Roddick, No. 3 among active ATP Tour players with 29 career titles, puts it down to the globalization of the sport. And a lack of hunger, too.
“I know it’s kind of the in-vogue article about American tennis right now and how bad it is. But I understand a lot of American journalists — you can’t really say, ‘Where are all the American football players?’ because only football exists in America. So you have to go with something international. It’s become a much bigger sport worldwide, so it’s going to become a little bit more diluted.”
“From what I’ve seen, I’d like to see the younger American players hungrier and really passionate about the game of tennis as opposed to just being content with traveling around,” said the world No. 8. “I just want to see guys go to work. I think the mindset with the guys coming up…it has to be treated like a profession. Everybody else goes to work from 9 to 5, puts in long hours. I don’t think that should be any different for a tennis player.”
That being said, Roddick insists he’s willing to do his part. At 28, he’s seen a few things, and is more than ready to pass on his experience.
“I’m certainly available for any of the up-and-coming, high-level juniors, and I always have been,” he said. “I’m certainly not going to force my opinions on anybody, but I’m willing to help. I certainly have always accepted the responsibility of kind of being, I guess, the figurehead of American tennis.”
