Comeback kid Roddick never went away

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-28 14:17

MONTREAL: For many tennis fans, Andy Roddick's epic final against Roger Federer at Wimbledon last month signalled the American's return to the sport's elite.

Andy Roddick of the US gestures to the umpire that a camera flash went off during his serve in his semi-final match against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Montreal August 15, 2009. [Agencies]

In reality, Roddick never went away.

Since 2002 only two players have finished every year in the top 10 of the ATP Tour world rankings. Their names? Federer and Roddick.

It comes as no surprise that the Swiss maestro, who has crammed a record 15 grand slams into his trophy case over those eight seasons, would find his name at the top of a short list.

But Roddick, who holds just one grand slam title from the 2003 US Open, does not automatically leap to mind as the other.

Spaniard Rafael Nadal, Serb Novak Djokovic and, most recently, Briton Andy Murray have stepped up to fill the role of Federer's chief rival. while Roddick faded into the background.

But since Wimbledon, Roddick is no longer tennis's forgotten man and in the buildup to this year's US Open has figured prominently among the discussion of possible champions.

"Andy's not under the radar anymore and that's probably a good thing," Brad Gilbert, Roddick's former coach told Reuters.

"Now that the expectations are there I think he's ready to handle it. He is definitely one of the six guys capable of winning."

It was not a great victory but a gut-wrenching five-set loss that thrust the 26-year-old American back into the spotlight. His gritty effort in the Wimbledon final earned him equal measures of sympathy and respect.

A wounded Roddick was gracious in defeat, not always the case with the combative American.

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