Roddick將在2012美網結束後退休 - 網球

http://0rz.tw/cklR2

By Erin Bruehl
Thursday, August 30, 2012

After 13 years, 32 singles titles, including one Grand Slam, and a world No.
1 ranking, Andy Roddick announced on his 30th birthday Thursday that he is
retiring from professional tennis after the 2012 US Open.

One of the most celebrated American male players, “A-Rod” was always known
for his lightning-fast serve and powerful forehand. He held the record for
fastest serve ever recorded on the ATP Tour at 155 mph, set on a hard court
during the Davis Cup semifinals in Charleston, S.C., in September 2004. The
record was broken in March 2011, when Ivo Karlovic hit a serve at 156 mph.

He remains the last U.S. man to win a Grand Slam title, which he recorded at
the 2003 US Open, the same year he ascended to No. 1 in the world for the
first time.

Roddick, currently ranked No. 22, has won two singles titles in 2012 at
Atlanta and Eastbourne. He has struggled with injuries in recent years,
including tearing a tendon in his hamstring earlier this year, which forced
him to retire from his second-round match at the Australian Open, and an
ankle injury shortly thereafter in San Jose. In 2011, he suffered injuries to
both his oblique muscle and his shoulder, which forced him out of the French
Open, among other tournaments. He finished the year ranked outside the top 10
for the first time since 2001.

Roddick, originally from Omaha, Neb., lived in Austin, Texas, his current
residence, for much of his childhood before moving to Boca Raton, Fla., where
he played high school basketball with fellow American and close friend Mardy
Fish. The two lived and trained together in 1999.

He has been heralded since he was a junior player, ascending to the world No.
1 boys' ranking and winning both the US Open and Australian Open boys’
singles titles in 2000. He played his first professional match, a Futures
tournament, in 1999 and turned pro in 2000, earning his first ATP Tour win in
Miami that year by beating then-world No. 41 Fernando Vicente of Spain.

Besides bringing the power on every shot, Roddick was known for his passion
for the game and occasionally for his temper and various outbursts on the
court. Off the court, he is known for his philanthropy through the Andy
Roddick Foundation, as well as his good looks, having been featured as one of
People Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Men Alive’ in 2006. Roddick, who became just
the second tennis player to host Saturday Night Live in 2003, married Sports
Illustrated swimsuit model and actress Brooklyn Decker in April 2009.

Always eager to represent his country, Roddick retires as one of the greatest
players in U.S. Davis Cup history. For years, he was the “closer” -- the
one looked upon to lead the team and come through whenever it ended a
victory. He led the team to its last Davis Cup title in 2007, going
undefeated in five Davis Cup matches throughout the year. Roddick now leaves
the game with 33 Davis Cup singles victories, second all-time in U.S. Davis
Cup team history to John McEnroe, dating from 2001-10.

Roddick always referred to the US Open as one of his favorite tournaments,
speaking of the event as a combination of both sports and entertainment and
saying he felt privileged to be able to spend his birthday at the tournament
each year. Besides his 2003 win, he also was the runner-up to Roger Federer
in 2006, one of four other Grand Slam finals he played during his career,
losing to Federer each time at Wimbledon in 2004, 2005 and 2009. The most
memorable Grand Slam final was at 2009 Wimbledon, an extremely well-played
match and serve-fest between him and his longtime rival. Federer clinched
with his only break of Roddick in the match and then a hold to win 5–7, 7–
6, 7–6, 3–6, 16–14.

Roddick seemed to be saying goodbye to the crowd he loved at the All England
Club, where he always had dreamed of winning the title, when he lost to world
No. 5 David Ferrer in the third round, waving and blowing kisses as he left
the court and bringing speculation that perhaps it was his last time there.

And it turned out it was, at least as a competitor. Roddick will say goodbye
to the crowd in Flushing Meadows sometime in the next week and a half, as
well, and next faces Bernard Tomic in the second round Friday night in Arthur
Ashe Stadium. Whether he ends on a win or a loss, he will never be forgotten.

大意是這兩年的傷勢不斷，讓他了解這樣的身體狀況無法再堅持下去
這次美網就是他最後一場賽事了

請大家鎖定明天晚場的比賽，也就是台灣時間早上七點開打的男單第二輪
珍惜最後幾場能看的到他身影的機會吧

為什麼這麼快呢?
連跟你說再見的心理準備都還沒有
難過

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