REMEMBERING US TENNIS STAR ANDY RODDICK

The top American tennis star Andy Roddick was recently inducted into the International Hall of Fame barely after five years into retirement – which is the minimum time required to be inducted.

That is how big the US star was.

He won the 2003 US Open event as a 21-year old tennis professional. His big serves were his biggest weapon in his 12-year career. He is the last American male tennis star to reach World No 1back in 2003, so his achievements for country are no small joke.

After the 2003 Grand Slam win, he never quite lifted another till he left the game. He reached the finals of four more majors and even won 32 ATP titles but all majors eluded him. The retired star was consistently ranked in the Top 10 for nine years but no major till he walked.

The 34-year old holds the record for last American male to lift a Grand Slam in the singles category. While the Williams sisters have dominated the women’s category for the last decade and half, the same cannot be said of their male counterparts.

Jared Isner, Jack Sock and Sam Querrey are the current hope for America but they fall short by current standards. Isner is the highest ranked in the Top 50 at the moment at the 14th spot. Sock comes close at 17th but the chances of winning a Grand Slam remain significantly low.

Mardy Fish was the last male to enter the Top 10 back in 2011. The home-grown talent from the great America, country of athletes has dried up. While the new generation remain promising at best, we take time to remember the US tennis legend Andy Roddick.