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Relive Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph
Brad Gilbert shares reminiscences of historic win
September 07, 2024
Nick Laham/Getty Pictures
Andy Roddick celebrates his 2003 US Open triumph.
By ATP Workers
For years, one of many largest questions in tennis has been when an American man would win a Grand Slam singles title. It has been 21 years since Andy Roddick triumphed on the US Open.
Taylor Fritz, the primary American man to achieve a serious singles ultimate since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, has an opportunity to halt the questions on Sunday when he faces World No. 1 Jannik Sinner for the trophy at Flushing Meadows.
In keeping with Brad Gilbert, who coached Roddick to the title right here in 2003, the circumstances are a lot totally different.
“I am not going to say you took it with no consideration or anticipated it, however 2002 was an all-American ultimate, and we had so many People within the finals of Slams then,” Gilbert informed ATPTour.com. “So it wasn’t a stretch. It was that you just figured Andy was the brand new man.”
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Roddick achieved loads in his Corridor of Fame profession, climbing to No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings and reaching 4 extra main finals. However no different American man has damaged by means of since he did greater than 20 years in the past.
When Roddick emerged victorious in New York, Roger Federer had simply received his first main title at Wimbledon two months earlier. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic weren’t but within the highlight.
“You did not know [Roger] was going to turn into what he was going to turn into, after which Rafa and Joker. So at the moment, I type of simply thought it was regular. It was American dominance,” Gilbert mentioned. “You thought it was going to proceed.”
Roddick entered the 2003 US Open in high kind, having received back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 titles in Montreal and Cincinnati, together with a victory in opposition to Federer in Canada. He received 20 of 21 matches main into the season’s ultimate main.
“Andy performed nice that complete summer time,” Gilbert mentioned.
After reaching the semi-finals with the lack of only one set, Roddick’s desires of Grand Slam glory almost got here to an early finish. He misplaced the primary two units of his semi-final in opposition to David Nalbandian earlier than rallying previous the Argentine 6-7(4), 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-1, 6-3.
At 5/6 within the third-set tie-break, Roddick saved match level with a giant serve.
“He needed to actually dig out of a jam within the semi when he was down two units to none and he was in bother in that breaker,” Gilbert mentioned.
The coach remembers rain wreaking havoc, forcing Roddick’s ultimate opponent, Juan Carlos Ferrero, to play on 4 consecutive days.
“That was positively tough that he had to try this,” Gilbert mentioned. “[Andy] obtained a spherical forward twice throughout the event… He positively benefitted a little bit by a pair instances ending [his match]. However you continue to needed to win the matches and the Nalbandian one was a nail biter.”
Roddick then defeated Ferrero 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 for the trophy. No American man has achieved the feat at a serious since.
Will Fritz change that on Sunday?
