What is a sport without some rivalry? In the hall of fame for sports rivalries, few come close to to the iconic rivalry shared by Andy Roddick and Roger Federer.
In a candid interview with GQ, the American shared the deepest, darkest moments of his career. The interview added a human tinge to the tennis icon’s story that we generally ignore.
Andy Roddick’s story is a story of hard work, perseverance, weakness, and moments of insecurity that even surround the best of us.
Roddick’s journey has been characterized by relentless work ethic and dedication, something that he supposedly inherited from his father. He was seen acknowledging the fact that “The work was non-negotiable.”
Feud With Federer:
Still, even after being an elite athlete with countless achievements, he was still surrounded by a cloud of insecurity. This became more and more apparent while facing Roger Federer.
Federer is one of the three pillars of the tennis world. Federer is one of the only eight men to have won all four grand slams during his career.
So, it is quite understandable that he would have a towering presence on the court. But for Roddick, this proved to be a huge challenge mentally.
Roddick recalled his feelings in the interview with GQ, “I never viewed myself on the same level ability-wise as a Roger, so I always had this insecurity where if it got away from me…”
Roger and Roddick have faced off in 24 matches, out of which Roger won 21 matches. As a result, it is understandable why Roddick felt the way he felt. Still, Roddick has never shied away from taking over the Swiss tennis legend.
This shows true courage, and not many people have that. The result might not be in your favor, but you are already a winner if you just show up.
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Additional Reading:
- Roger Federer Retires: “Finally, To The Game Of Tennis: I Love You And Will Never Leave You”
- Sara Foster Wanted To FaceTime Roger Federer On His Birthday, But The Athlete Was Unavailable. See What Happens Next
- Anderson and Federer are legends in their own respect. And now they are coming together to create something new.
