Former world number one Andy Roddick, a prominent figure in 2000s men’s tennis, has shared his selections for the five greatest players in the history of the US Open. While Roddick himself reached four Grand Slam finals, including three Wimbledon finals against Roger Federer, and won 32 ATP Tour singles titles, his perspective offers a unique insight into the tournament’s most iconic figures. Known for his formidable serve, capable of speeds between 130-150 mph, Roddick was a dynamic and powerful competitor who also played a key role in the USA’s 2007 Davis Cup victory. His personal success at the US Open was highlighted by a single title, but he consistently benefited from strong home crowd support at Flushing Meadows.
Roger Federer: A Five-Time Champion
Andy Roddick’s list prominently features Roger Federer, a player who dominated the US Open by winning the title five consecutive times from 2004. Federer’s remarkable streak began with a straight-sets victory over Lleyton Hewitt in the 2004 final and extended to an astonishing 40 consecutive wins at the tournament. Roddick reflected on Federer’s impact, stating, “It took the perfect prototype of a player to even bother Roger a little. Chuckers like me certainly weren’t doing it, but you create a prototype of someone who is fast, strong, and can find the only pocket up and away on Roger, and all of a sudden it made tennis interesting again.” He further elaborated on Federer’s transformative influence, noting, “Roger completely transformed tennis with his ability to create spin, and power, and speed, and then all of a sudden you put all of those things together.”
Serena Williams: A Homegrown Icon
Serena Williams, another American tennis titan, is celebrated by Roddick for her extraordinary success at her home Grand Slam. Williams reached the US Open final an impressive ten times, securing the championship on six occasions. Her journey began with a title in 1999 and concluded with her last victory in 2014. A memorable moment in her career was defeating her sister Venus in the 2002 final. Between 2012 and 2014, Williams achieved a remarkable three consecutive titles, overcoming formidable opponents like Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki. Roddick acknowledged her profound impact, saying, “There was Serena coming from Compton and opening tennis up to an entire country of minority girls and women, and the impact that she had.” He added, “They both went about it in their own ways, with their own style, with their own personality. They were both very, very greedy with Grand Slam titles, but gosh, we are so lucky to have had them in the game of tennis. They made a 23-year career seem normal.”
Jimmy Connors: A Five-Time Champion Across Surfaces
Jimmy Connors is recognized by Roddick as one of the all-time greats at the US Open, sharing the distinction of five titles with Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. Connors’ unique achievement lies in winning the championship on three different surfaces: grass in 1974, clay in 1976, and hard courts in 1978 and subsequent years. His US Open legacy includes memorable victories against legendary players such as Bjorn Borg and Ivan Lendl. Roddick recalled Connors’ influence on his own career development, stating, “I brought in Jimmy Connors. It was one of the first times when a top player who had won a slam brought in a former player who had won a bunch of slams. We started and I was borderline outside the top 20 and then in no time at all I was number three in the world and had a couple of slam finals and a semi behind me.”
Chris Evert: Unmatched Consistency
Chris Evert, often referred to as the ‘Ice Maiden’, made a significant impact on her US Open debut at just 16 years old, reaching the semi-finals in 1971. Her unparalleled consistency at the tournament is marked by an incredible streak of 16 consecutive semi-final appearances from 1971 to 1986. Evert claimed her first US Open title in 1975, defeating Evonne Goolagong in a hard-fought final. Roddick emphasized her dominance, noting, “I think we all give Chrissy all the flowers that she deserves but in the context of the conversation around dominance on one surface, she needs to be right there in the first three names every single time. 125 straight matches on a surface is over years. That is absurd. It needs to be right up there. As dominant as Pete was on grass, Chrissy was more dominant on clay.”
Steffi Graf: A Dominant Force
Steffi Graf, a five-time US Open champion, enjoyed a period of exceptional success at the tournament throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. After finishing as runner-up to Martina Navratilova in 1988, Graf secured the title the following year by defeating Gabriela Sabatini. She avenged her earlier loss to Navratilova in the 1990 final, coming from a set down to win. Graf concluded her US Open career with an outstanding 73-9 win-loss record. Roddick expressed his admiration for Graf, sharing, “Like I’ve known Andre and he’s been my idol for a long time but I have a hard time being in Steff’s presence without being like incredibly starstruck. Which, in the tennis world, at this moment in my life, not too sound jaded, I don’t get that way around many people in our orbit anymore, having lived this life for a little while.”
Conclusion
Andy Roddick’s selection highlights a pantheon of tennis royalty, featuring players who not only achieved immense success at the US Open but also left an indelible mark on the sport. From Federer’s flawless runs and Williams’s powerful presence to Connors’s multi-surface mastery, Evert’s enduring consistency, and Graf’s dominant performances, these athletes represent the pinnacle of achievement at Flushing Meadows.
