US Open: ‘Roddick is a wonderful ambassador for the game’

Federer hails American’s retirement; cruises into 3rd round.

NEW YORK: Roger Federer admitted he was saddened by Andy Roddick’s retirement, insisting he will always regard him as a ‘Wimbledon champion’ despite the American’s epic failures to lift the All England Club title.

World number one Federer beat Roddick three times in the Wimbledon final (2004, 2005 and 2009) with their last encounter decided 16-14 in the final set.

“He could have gotten that title,” said Federer, whose stranglehold over Roddick also extended to the 2006 US Open championship match. “That’s what I said about him in 2009. He deserves this title as well. In my mind, he is a Wimbledon champion and a wonderful ambassador for the game.”

Roddick, the 2003 champion and a former world number one, turned 30 on Thursday and marked the occasion by revealing his decision to retire once the US Open is finished.

“I have decided that this is going to be my last tournament,” said Roddick. “I feel it is the right time to do it. These other guys have gotten really good, and I’m not interested in just existing on tour. I don’t want to disrespect the game by coasting home.”

Meanwhile, top-seed and five-time champion Federer reached the last-32 with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over Germany’s Bjorn Phau and now faces Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, whom he has beaten four times in four matches. Federer, bidding to become the first man to win six New York titles in the Open era, clinched the match with his 15th ace after also firing 44 winners past the world number 83.

Venus knocked out

Meanwhile, two-time women’s champion Venus Williams was knocked out, losing 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 to German sixth-seed, and 2011 semi-finalist, Angelique Kerber, who also knocked the American out of the Olympics.

Kerber has now won a tour-leading 55 matches in 2012.

Serena, the three-time champion, won her 60th match at the US Open, advancing to the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. Second-seed Agnieszka Radwanska almost suffered a fourth successive second-round exit, before fighting back from a set and 3-1 down to beat Carla Suarez-Navarro 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Fifth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was the highest men’s seed to fall when he slumped to a 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 defeat to Martin Klizan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2012.

Andy Roddick’s retirement