Andy Roddick certainly left quite an impact on the game, having retired as a Grand Slam champion and former world number one.
Roddick wants more extreme courts in tennis, with the American continuing to keep tabs on the sport’s biggest issues after hanging up his racket.
His verdict comes after Indian Wells underwent a surface change, with Ben Shelton thinking the courts are bouncy at the Californian event.
Roddick reached one Indian Wells singles final during his career, but lost his meeting with Ivan Ljubicic there in 2010.
He did, however, manage to lift the Indian Wells men’s doubles trophy with fellow American Mardy Fish in 2009.
Andy Roddick lost to greatest tennis player ever Roger Federer in 2009 Wimbledon final
That same year, Roddick played in his fifth and final Grand Slam final, when he met Roger Federer at Wimbledon.
And it was the Swiss star who came out on top, winning their phenomenal battle 5-7, 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-5), 3-6, 16-14.
Asked in his post-match press conference if he had just lost to the world’s greatest tennis player ever, Roddick simply replied: “Yeah.”
And asked if it hurts more when it’s so close, and how it compares to his other Grand Slam finals, he said: “Yeah, I think so. I think it’s worse.”
Andy Roddick very happy with 2009 Wimbledon final display vs Roger Federer
The fifth set alone between the two icons lasted 95 minutes, with the pair perhaps sick of each other by that stage.
But Roddick would have undoubtedly been more so, having also lost to Federer in the 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finals.
To make matters worse, the American was then beaten by the Swiss in the 2006 US Open final, a tournament the former did manage to win in 2003.
Roddick beat Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in New York for his only Grand Slam title, ending his major final career with a 1-4 win-loss record.
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 2003 | US Open | Hard | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 6–3, 7–6(7–2), 6–3 |
| Loss | 2004 | Wimbledon | Grass | Roger Federer | 6–4, 5–7, 6–7(3–7), 4–6 |
| Loss | 2005 | Wimbledon | Grass | Roger Federer | 2–6, 6–7(2–7), 4–6 |
| Loss | 2006 | US Open | Hard | Roger Federer | 2–6, 6–4, 5–7, 1–6 |
| Loss | 2009 | Wimbledon | Grass | Roger Federer | 7–5, 6–7(6–8), 6–7(5–7), 6–3, 14–16 |
Also asked after his last-ever Wimbledon final loss to Federer if he thought it was the best match he’s ever played, Roddick said: “I played pretty good two days ago (semi-final vs Andy Murray).
“Again, I’ve been saying all week, I struggle with this, you know, comparisons of one match to another. You know, I don’t know. I was happy with the way I played. I thought I played real well.”
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