Some reactions to Andy Roddick’s announcement that he will retire after the U.S. Open:
Roger Federer
"He was happy to go into retirement. He wants to finish this one strong. There's no rules on how you announce it, how you do it. We've seen so many champions go out in different ways. He chose to do it this way. I'm so happy for him really. He's had an amazing career. Some expected better; some expected worse. But I'm sure he's happy with what he achieved because he almost achieved everything he ever wanted -- maybe to lose the Wimbledon title potentially, but let's forget about that. He was in those Wimbledon finals. He could have gotten that title. That's what I said when I beat him in '09. He deserves this title, as well. In my mind, he is a Wimbledon champion as well, a wonderful ambassador for the game. I'm thankful for everything he's done for the game, especially here for tennis in America. It's not been easy after Agassi and Sampras, Courier, Chang, Connors, McEnroe, you name it. I probably forget a bunch of them because you had so many good players in the past. It's been hard for him as well at times. I thought he always did the best he could. That's all you can ask from a guy like Andy."
James Blake
"I actually saw the press conference right before I went out. I had an inclination from maybe around the beginning of this year. But I really thought his success at Eastbourne, success at Atlanta, the fact he was playing well again, could have possibly changed his mind. To be honest, I thought it would have changed his mind when he beat Federer in Miami. To me that showed he could still beat the top guys.
"I also knew that his body isn't the same. His body, I mean, I don't even know what it feels like, but it's got to hurt to serve 140 miles an hour for 10, 12 years. I know he's always icing his knees, his back, his shoulders can be problematic. It's not an easy sport to keep playing that long because there's no real off-season, you don't get a chance to rest really, you're on the road so long.
"His career has been incredible. He's been such a stalwart in Davis Cup. I can never repay him for winning me a Davis Cup, for being the anchor on that team, clinching every match that year, just about. It's a great friendship. That will continue, but we'll miss his career, his charisma on the court, his excitement, what he brought to the game. He was a leader in the locker room, leader hanging out at Davis Cup, playing cards, doing whatever. He's definitely just a great leader."
Sam Querrey
“He's been my biggest role model the last 10 years playing tennis, watching tennis. He's been a great guy, a great leader to us all. Nice and kind, really generous to the up-and-comers. For me, for Harrison, for the 18-year-olds now, he's just an unbelievable champion, a Hall of Famer, just a great guy, great person for the sport the last 12 years."
Serena Williams
"He told me a while ago, last year, that this would be it. He told me again. I was at his house in Austin at the end of the year. You know, we were talking about it. You know, I was just thinking, Change your mind, Andy, change your mind. But I guess he didn't, so... Ever since I've been on tour, it feels like Andy has been there, at least for the most part of it. So many people retiring so far this year. He's been great for American men's tennis, great for the U.S. Open, doing so much, playing so well so often, just being such a great player. A great attitude, incredibly fun to watch. You know, I know a lot of people look up to Andy Roddick, That's who I want to be like. It's very incredibly, incredibly, incredibly sad for me to lose a friend on tour that I look forward to seeing every Grand Slam and every shared tournament. It's going to be hard.
"I think Andy has accomplished a lot. He's been to the Wimbledon final I think it was three years in a row. Almost won one. Was so close. Literally a point away. But he's done so much for American tennis, getting so many viewers. I see players that play on the men's tour, serve just like him. Starting the whole trend of big serve, big serve, you think of Andy Roddick.”