Relive Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph | ATP Tour

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Relive Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph

Brad Gilbert shares reminiscences of historic win

September 07, 2024

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 closing 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 as a right or anticipated it, however 2002 was an all-American closing, and we had so many Individuals within the finals of Slams then,” Gilbert advised ATPTour.com. “So it wasn’t a stretch. It was that you simply 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 way of since he did greater than twenty 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 out to be what he was going to turn out to be, after which Rafa and Joker. So at the moment, I sort 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 prime type, 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 closing main.

“Andy performed nice that entire 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 an enormous 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 closing opponent, Juan Carlos Ferrero, to play on 4 consecutive days.

“That was positively difficult that he had to try this,” Gilbert mentioned. “[Andy] received a spherical forward twice throughout the match… He positively benefitted a bit of by a pair occasions 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?