Andy Roddick enjoyed a stellar tennis career, winning a Grand Slam title and becoming world number one.
The American legend made his ATP Tour debut in 2000, winning his first Grand Slam title three years later at the US Open.
Roddick took down Juan Carlos Ferrero in three sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3, to lift the title in front of his home fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
He reached four further Major finals, but failed to add another trophy to his collection, coming up short against Roger Federer on all four occasions.
Roddick retired in 2012, having impressed fans with his serving brilliance during his tennis career.
Throughout his time on tour, Roddick was never one to shy away from a challenge, and once took on an ambitious amateur with an unusual racket.
Andy Roddick beat an amateur opponent 6-4 when he used a frying pan as a racket
Speaking on the Tennis Channel in 2023, Roddick recalled what happened when he once played an amateur while using a frying pan as a racket.
“I played an Ohio University intramural champion, back in like 2005 or 2006, because a guy was writing a book about what would be needed to compete with a pro,” he said.
“I beat him with a frying pan, a frying pan.”
When asked how many games he dropped against the amateur, Roddick joked that his opponent, Todd Gallagher, should consider winning four games as a ‘success’.
“Yeah, real success story for that guy, he won four games when I was playing with a frying pan,” he said.
Roddick’s comments came as part of a wider conversation discussing the results of a survey that showed 71% of Americans believed they could win a game against a professional.
- Players overall – 71% believed they’d win a game against a professional
- Players aged 18-24 – 82% believed they’d win a game against a professional
- Players aged 55+ – 47% believed they’d win a game against a professional
The 2003 US Open champion couldn’t quite believe the results of the survey, and wished he had the survey respondent’s self-confidence.
“This is insane,” said Roddick.
“If I had as much self-confidence in my tennis game as these people who were surveyed, I would’ve won Wimbledon 17 times minimum, this is absolutely insane. There is no chance.
“This is insanity on the highest level. If you play at your club and you didn’t play division one tennis, you cannot win a game off Novak Djokovic. Stop it.
“I’m sitting here as a 40-year-old, I won 32 times on tour, I cannot win a game off of Novak Djokovic right now in this moment, and you can’t either if I can’t. This is insane.”
Former French Open semi-finalist Andrea Petkovic agreed, and went one step further, claiming she wouldn’t drop a single point against an amateur.
“I actually like to do that, I like to play with amateurs, especially now that I’m retired and I hit with them, and when they hit, they think ‘Oh, this is easy, I can hang with the pros, I can do this’,” said Petkovic.
“Then, when we start playing points, I don’t give them even a point, not even one point.
“First of all, I was a professional tennis player, I’m competitive, I’m not going to give you a point for free, that’s number one, and number two, I like to put people in their place where they belong.
“Your place is not one point, not one game, not with me, thank you very much, see you next time.”
Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic’s head-to-head record
Roddick said he didn’t believe he would win a single game against Djokovic if they played a match against one another in 2023, but who had the better of their nine ATP Tour meetings?
It was the American who narrowly edged the head-to-head 5-4, despite losing their final two matches.
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2012 Olympics – 2R | Novak Djokovic | Andy Roddick | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 2010 ATP Finals – RR | Novak Djokovic | Andy Roddick | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2010 Cincinnati Open – QF | Andy Roddick | Novak Djokovic | 6-4, 7-5 |
| 2009 Canadian Open – QF | Andy Roddick | Novak Djokovic | 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2009 Indian Wells – QF | Andy Roddick | Novak Djokovic | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2009 Australian Open – QF | Andy Roddick | Novak Djokovic | 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 2-1 (RET) |
| 2008 US Open – QF | Novak Djokovic | Andy Roddick | 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 |
| 2008 Dubai Tennis Championships – SF | Andy Roddick | Novak Djokovic | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2007 Canadian Open – SF | Novak Djokovic | Andy Roddick | 7-6, 6-4 |
Djokovic dominated Roddick in their final two matches, beating him comfortably at the 2010 ATP Finals and the 2012 Olympic Games.
Roddick retired in 2012 with a winning record against Djokovic, a feat not many have been able to repeat.
Only he will know whether he considers that to be a greater achievement than his ‘frying pan’ victory 20 years ago.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
