July Chris Oddo 07/24/2017

Roddick: Praise, Awe, Anger For Big 4

Andy Roddick remains the last American man to raise a Grand Slam singles title.The 2003 US Open champion detailed how it feels facing the Big 4—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray—during an eloquent, wry and often moving speech he delivered in Newport on Saturday at his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.More: Djokovic Will Hold Belgrade Press Conference The 34-year-old American eloquently summed up the good, the bad and the beautiful about facing the Big 4."I can't believe the level of tennis that I got to see in my career," Roddick said in his Hall of Fame speech. "The shots hit, the records that were broken, the records that continue to be broken. Thanks to Murray, Novak, Roger and Rafa for playing the game at a higher level than it's ever been played."It sucked being in your vacuum at times."Roddick compared the experience of sharing the court against iconic champions to watching Picasso create art on a canvas."I still consider myself lucky," Roddick said. "I got to guard Jordan, I went the distance with Ali, I pitched to Babe Ruth. I feel like I know what it must have been like to watch Picasso. I saw it all. I won a couple times, not a lot, but a couple."I'm proud to say that no other sport has benefited from having such great people at its leaders. The big four guys really pissed me off most of the time when I played them. But I'm absolutely proud to have my life and career associated with such quality individuals."Nineteen-time Grand Slam champion Federer posted a 21-3 career edge over the 34-year-old American. Nadal won seven of 10 career meetings against Roddick. World No. 1 Murray won eight of 11 matches with Roddick.The ballistic serving Roddick won five of nine encounters with Djokovic, one of the top returners in tennis history. Roddick defeated Pete Sampras, who is 11 years his senior, in two of their three matches.Prior to his induction, Roddick joked "I think that Roger guy is going to be a good player someday" adding "I will say, I want to give Roger credit, the first text I had when I woke up this morning was from Roger Federer. He’s just a great human being.”