2009 Heartbreak 

Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final for the 3rd time in 2009.  The match went to 16-14 in the fifth set with Roddick being almost unbreakable  during the final showdown.  Roddick’s close loss to Federer as well as his out muscling of Andy Murray in the semifinals did revive hopes that Roddick could get a book-end for his 2003 US Open title by winning a second Grand Slam title.  Roddick lost close matches to Juan Martin del Potro in Washington, DC and Canada.  He then lost a 5 set match to John Isner at the US Open.  Close losses characterized Roddick’s hard court 2009.

2010 Started Well

Andy Roddick worked his way to the quarterfinal round of the Australian Open.  He lost in 5 sets to Marin Cilic after suffering from an in match injury.  Still, Roddick reached the finals of Indian Wells and won Miami beating Rafael Nadal along the way.  Since that Miami title, Roddick has struggled to find his form and health.

2011 US Open Offers Opportunities

Andy Roddick has struggled since March 2010.  His semifinal finish in North Carolina got him some match play.  His draw at the US Open has been soft to this point.  Michael Russell fought hard in the first round but lacked the power to challenge Roddick.  Jack Sock showed promise, but the youngster was way too green to sustain his early challenge to Roddick. The 29 year old had a relatively easy time with Julien Benneteau.

Roddick’s chances at a memorable US Open run in 2011 hinge on how well he can navigate the Spanish Armada.  David Ferrer helped sink the US in Davis Cup despite the tie being played indoors in Texas.  Roddick can beat the 5th seed, but make no mistake he will be an underdog vs. Ferrer.

If Andy can avenge his Davis Cup loss to Ferrer, Rafael Nadal likely awaits.  Nadal cramping during his press conference continues the theme of how vulnerable he has looked in North America this summer.  From dangerous restaurants, to blisters, to just looking uncomfortable, Nadal seems  more  beatable than one would expect from the #2 seed and defending champion.

Memories

Will Roddick win two matches in which he is the underdog?  That is hard to say.  It will be good theater as each match will likely be in front of a large night crowd in New York.  If Roddick can win a few tough matches, he may get a chance to be embraced by the sports fans in the US at least  one more time.  Given that he has spent 9+ years in the top 10, one more run would be quite nice.

 Abandon All Hope?

However, if he wins those two matches he will also have a Super Saturday to look forward to.  Being remembered is one thing, being a two time champion is another.  The odds do not favor Andy Roddick reaching the semifinal round.  If he gets there, he will face another long set of odds to contend for the title.  Still, the draw is looking soft enough that one can hope and hope is something Roddick likely had in short supply after his early losses at the past 5 majors.  In that sense Roddick’s play in North Carolina, his three wins in New York, and his reasonable chance at upsetting David Ferrer are a slow climb out of a tennis abyss.