Friday, September 9, 2011

US Open Day 12: A-Rod

Curtain Call

Player: Andy Roddick
Age: 29
Nation: USA
Current Ranking: 21st
Notable Conquest: David Ferrer (5th seed, Spain)
Today's Result: loss to Rafael Nadal (2nd, Spain) in straight sets


Photo via TopNews

Amazingly, Roddick and Nadal had only faced one another at a Slam one other time: the second round of the 2004 US Open. Nadal was all of 18 years old, mostly a source of curiosity at the time. The tone of the discussion from the commentators was along the lines of "who is this punk kid who dares challenge the defending champion?" Little did anyone know what was in store. The Slam total since then: Nadal 10, Roddick 0.

That match was a straight sets victory, too - for the American. While I have never been a Roddick fan, he deserves props for his performance here. This was his first time in the US Open quarters in three years. I'm going to go out on a pretty strong limb and say that Roddick will never win a Slam again. It's too late and everyone else is too good. But it's been an awfully good run.

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