Andy Roddick has gone down as one of the all-time greats, having won a Grand Slam title and reached number one during his illustrious career.
Turning pro in 2000, Roddick won 32 ATP titles in total, with his greatest success arriving at the US Open.
The American lifted the prestigious trophy on home soil in 2003, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final.
Roddick went on to reach four more Grand Slam finals, but remarkably lost all four to fellow legend Roger Federer.
Federer has just been inducted into the tennis Hall of Fame, while Juan Martin del Potro failed to meet the voting threshold this time around.
If Andy Roddick was happy to retire from tennis at the 2012 US Open
Del Potro was another rival of Roddick once upon a time, with the Argentine representing the American’s last-ever opponent.
He called time on his career after losing to Del Potro at the 2012 US Open, after which he said: “It was tough.
“Once he got up in that match it was a different set of circumstances than my previous matches. You start thinking about how real it is.
“You’re thinking about matches you’re playing when you’re 12, I was thinking about my mom driving me to practice all over the place.
“Then all of a sudden you have to play a point against one of the best players in the world. It certainly was a mixed bag there at the end.
“Playing the last five games was pretty hard. Once I got down a break I could barely look at my box. I don’t know what the emotions are.
“I’m a little overwhelmed right now. I’m not ignorant to the fact that it’s a huge part of me and that I won’t miss it, of course I will.
“I’m not pretending like there aren’t going to be hard days. But I feel pretty settled in the decision and I feel content and happy with it.”
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The message Juan Martin del Potro had for Andy Roddick after his retirement
Roddick’s career came full circle at the 2012 US Open, with the situation leaving the American understandably emotional.
He fell 6-7(1-7), 7-6(7-4), 6-2, 6-4 to Del Potro at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the same venue where he won the US Open in 2003.
Sharing his verdict, the winner of the clash said: “It was a really tough moment for me and for him also: the last point of his life. The crowd was amazing for both players.
“I really enjoyed it, but it wasn’t easy for me to play. He has to enjoy his life and I would like to congratulate him because he made an unbelievable career.”
| 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 |
After his fourth round win against the home favorite, seventh seed Del Potro went on to lose to Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.
The Serbian second seed reached the final, but lost to third seed Andy Murray in a five-set thriller in New York.
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