What ‘classy’ Roger Federer told Andy Roddick after losing to him for the first time in three years at the Miami Open in 2012

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Roger Federer and Andy Roddick played out several legendary contests during their professional careers.

Bjorn Borg/John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors/Ivan Lendl, and Chris Evert/Martina Navratilova are all rivalries that tennis fans look back upon fondly.

Two of the very best competing at the highest level in rivalries that saw momentum swing back and forth over the years.

However, that’s not to say that rivalries need to be ‘even’ to achieve legendary status on the WTA or ATP Tour.

Federer and Roddick played one another 24 times in total, as the latter won on just three occasions, struggling to achieve success against his Swiss opponent.

Each of their 24 encounters was entertaining, as the American battled hard against the now-20-time Major champion.

A rivalry played in good spirits, and with the utmost respect, saw Federer full of praise for his opponent when Roddick won their final meeting 13 years ago.

Roger Federer told Andy Roddick he ‘deserved to win’ their match at the Miami Open in 2012.

Roddick had lost his previous six encounters with Federer when the pair faced off at the 2012 Miami Open, as very few backed him to come out on top.

He was determined to finally return to winning ways against his rival, however as he played some incredible tennis to clinch the first set, 7-6.

Federer’s level rose in the second, winning 6-1, as he sent things to a decider in Florida.

It was Roddick who came out on top in the third set, winning 6-4, securing just his third career victory over Federer in 24 attempts.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Roddick revealed what Federer told him after the match.

“Roger’s [Federer] great, he said, I’m happy for you,” said Roddick.

“You deserved to win tonight, good luck, keep it going.

“He said similar, something similar in the locker room before he left tonight, you know, he was really classy about it all.”

Roddick was then asked about fan support for Federer, as he explained what the Swiss star did that ‘amazed’ him just a few weeks earlier.

“The [Madison Square] Garden event that we did three weeks ago was the first time Roger and I spent an entire day together doing stuff,” he said.

“I’m amazed at the way he does every picture, every autograph, you know, I know what I deal with on a small scale, and it’s not what he does.

“So, you know, you start to have an understanding of why people are so fanatical about him, you know, I think the crowd anywhere cheers for him.”

The American admitted that support for Federer at his home tournament would’ve annoyed him in the past, something that had now changed.

“Probably in the USA it would have p—– me off not too long ago, but I fully get it now after seeing the way he is and was three weeks ago,” he said.

“You know, I didn’t think I could be more impressed with him, but I was really impressed with the way he went about his business for those couple days up there.”

Did Andy Roddick win another ATP title after the 2012 Miami Open?

Having shocked Federer in the third round, Roddick lost to Argentina’s Juan Monaco in the last 16, as he was dumped out of the Miami Open before the quarter-finals.

2012 was the American’s final year on tour, but did he add any more trophies to his collection before hanging up his racket in September?

Having won in Eastbourne in June, Roddick won his 32nd and final ATP title at the Atlanta Open in July, taking down Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller in the final.

The American retired from tennis after the 2012 US Open and remains his nation’s most recent male Grand Slam winner.