Roddick’s Career Ends With Loss to del Potro at U.S. Open

Andy Roddick’s career came to a close Wednesday when the only American remaining in the men’s singles draw was beaten 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 by Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round at the U.S. Open. Roddick’s last shot of his career was a running forehand that was long. After the match, he was handed a microphone and he started by emotionally saying, "For the first time in my career, I’m not sure what to say."

He continued, "Since I was a kid, I’ve been coming to this tournament and I felt lucky just to sit where all of you are and watch this game and see the champions that have come and gone. And I’ve loved every minute of it."

When play began today after yesterday’s rain delay, the match was in a first set tie-breaker. Roddick, as he typically does, started strong and took the opening set 7-6. The second set was a serving battle with no breaks before del Potro evened the match by winning the second set breaker. The third set was all del Potro as he won 6-2. At the start of set four, Roddick showed emotion as the pro-Roddick crowd urged him on one final time. At 2-2, del Potro managed to break Roddick and that sealed Roddick’s fate as del Potro couldn’t be broken and won the final set 6-4.

With the win, Del Potro advanced to Thursday’s men’s quarterfinals where he will face defending U.S. Open champion Novak Djokovic, who was leading 6-4, 6-1, 3-1 over 18th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka, when Wawrinka was forced to retire.

Roddick ended a career which saw him win the 2003 U.S. Open and briefly reach the top of the world rankings. He also made a second U.S. Open final and three Wimbledon finals, but lost them all to his nemesis Roger Federer.

With his wife and parents watching from the stands, Roddick struggled to keep his emotions in check as the realization that his career was over began to sink in. Del Potro and Roddick hugged at the net after the match and del Potro was very gracious in what he said and how he acted after the match, allowing Roddick to have his final moment with the New York crowd. Roddick wiped away the tears as the crowd stood to applaud him.

"One thing I’m not scared about retirement is the people I go home to," said Roddick. "It’s been a road, a lot of ups, a lot of downs, a lot of great moments."