The tennis world has seen many greats, but few have commanded the court with the same effortless grace and unshakable confidence as Roger Federer.
For many years, the Swiss icon managed to transform the ATP Tour into his playground, successfully swinging matches in his favor with utmost ease.
Due to the sheer brilliance associated with Federer at Wimbledon, it’s easy to forget the period of dominance that he enjoyed at Flushing Meadows, having won an unprecedented five consecutive US Open titles between 2004 and 2008.
It’s therefore a fitting time to be talking about the retired legend, and that’s exactly what former rival Andy Roddick has been doing.
Roger Federer used to intimidate Andy Roddick in the locker room
The aura that Roger Federer held throughout his career wasn’t simply about his on-court prowess.
Off the court, the 20-time major champion exuded a quiet authority that commanded respect and reduced his colleagues to nerves.
Speaking on his ‘Served with Andy Roddick‘ podcast, the American recalls how Federer, as well as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, used to intimidate him before matches.
“I’ve been in the locker room about to play big matches against the three best male players of all time,” Roddick remembered. “That preparation, watching what they do, is all intimidating in its own way.
“Roger is just so calm, the fact that he’s so laid back is intimidating, I don’t like that. But then the other thing I don’t like is that Rafa is chewing through nails for four hours before you play, doing sprints and high knees, well I don’t like that either.
“Then Novak comes in and he’s stoic, and says this one thing. He’s calm but he also needs things to be in the perfect place. It’s like this angsty kind of thing which I didn’t like either.”
Roddick – Federer rivalry in numbers
Roddick has told countless stories of Federer when they were both on the tour, using his new platform as a way to voice his outlandish opinions as well as bag some laughs.
The American is, however, well suited to do so, having shared a captivating rivalry with his Swiss counterpart, albeit a very one-sided conflict.
Federer holds a 21-3 win-loss record over Roddick in tour-level matches, although eight of those have come at grand slams.
Roddick won the 2003 US Open and went on to reach four more major finals, but in all of them, he was defeated by – guess who – Federer.
It’s no wonder, then, that facing Federer felt so intimidating – he was up against not just a rival, but a legend who seemed invincible.
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