Name: Andy Roddick
DOB: 30 August, 1982
Country: USA
Residence: Austin, Texas
Height: 6' 2
Turn pro: 2000
Plays: Right-handed, two-handed backhand
Racquet: Babolat Pure Drive Roddick GT Plus
Andy Roddick was born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 30, 1982. Roddick was no doubt born in the right family to be an athlete; his parents Jerry and Blanche had already raised two other athletes before him. John Roddick, his brother, played tennis for the University of Georgia and his eldest brother Lawrence was into springboard diving.
Roddick is a notable talent in the men’s tennis scene today because of his superhuman serve, flawless athleticism, and also a personal charisma that does not go unnoticed by his audience. By the time he turned 21, he had already solidified his position as a powerful, young tennis player that was expected to break records and set a new example for the future.
In addition to his skill as a player, Roddick boasts a set of good looks and ego that are further accentuated by his numerous junior titles. This attitude of his ultimately attracted the media and he was soon made into a teenage celebrity. Although Roddick was born in Nebraska, he was actually raised in Texas and Louisiana. He started his professional tennis career in the year 2000 and went on to win 6 world junior singles titles and 7 more titles in the doubles category. By 2003, he won the US Open and was accordingly awarded as the top tennis player in the world.
Despite being a newbie at the young age of 19, Roddick still managed to awe the spectators and media with his dynamic moves and utterly amazing shots on court. His well known charisma was even compared to that of John McEnroe, but of course, minus the temper.
Roddick’s success did not happen overnight – his progress as an athlete went through several stages, until it finally culminated in the player that he is today. He was the number one junior player in America in 1999 and a year later rose to the number one spot in the junior world rankings. Of the top 200 ATP players, Roddick was the youngest at only age 18. In the year 2000, he yet again proved his brilliance by winning the junior level Australian Open and the US Open, all in the same year.
Roddick maintained his winning status in 2001 – he won a handful of ATP titles in Atlanta, Houston, and Washington, and came in as a part of the top 20. In addition, he proved victorious at the International Series at Memphis and once again in Houston. He then took the US Open by storm, putting on one of his best performances at a Grand Slam. His charisma continued to attract a media following and he was thus featured in such magazines as GQ and People as a sports “heartthrob”.
As a young, hot, and successful sports celebrity, his life is no doubt worth envying. Along with one million US dollars earned from his winnings, Roddick received extra funds from sponsors/advertisements. As a media heartthrob, girls from all over the world swoon over him.
In 2004, Roddick did not celebrate any major wins. However, he maintained his status quo and won enough events to be ranked number two in the world. Roddick has all the qualities to be a tennis star. He is athletic, performs well on court, and is smart enough to be able to handle pressure ridden situations with a calm mentality. Also, his serve is most definitely the most feared in the tennis world.
If Andy Roddick is indeed the future of American tennis, it seems that it is in the right hands. Along with his undeniable skills as a player, his personality makes him attracted to the spotlight, and vice versa.