Miami Open, ATP Masters 2018

[Federberg]

Some of us did, I rarely feel bad for anyone though. Better they swallow an "L" than Roger.

I felt awful for him. Of all Roger's slam wins that's the one I hate the most

 

[El Dude]

That is a tautology dude. If the gap is not huge, one would not call it a big four era.

Not really.

 

[Moxie]

Some of us did, I rarely feel bad for anyone though. Better they swallow an "L" than Roger.

For you, that's quite a lot of empathy.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

I didn't expect my post about Roddick's "1.5-dimensional game" would generate so much sideline discussion here! As a result of this discussion, I've changed my opinion on Roddick somewhat. Indeed, Rod would've won at least couple more GS if not for Fed, exactly as Fed would've won few more Rolland Garros if not for Rafa.

In that previous post of mine, I had in mind mostly the later years of Roddick's career where his all around game became slower and inefficient (I agree with others it may've been caused by cumulative injuries), and the ridiculous spanking he received from Fed in Basel 2002. But when looked from a larger perspective, Rod's achievements are impressive, as good as they could've been alongside the Big 4 who disallowed him any more.

I didn't like Roddick personally because of his explosive and very silly on court antics: arguing with umps, throwing expletives at them. And for silly reasons because ump judgments he criticized were shown on replay to be very reasonable and sometimes the only ones correct. Almost like Johnny Mac.

BTW, Rod's career was cut short (relatively to his peers, Big4 including) who are still playing, no doubt the result of cumulative injuries mentioned above. It seems like Rod, given he's retired so long ago, would be somewhat older than Fed. But no! He's actually a full 1 year younger: born 30 August 1982 (current age 35).

 

[Front242]

Yeah there's no question there. Without Roger I think Andy would've had a similar career to the other Andy.

Easily 2 slams better than the other Andy imo and maybe more.

 

[DarthFed]

I felt awful for him. Of all Roger's slam wins that's the one I hate the most

For some reason I hated this recent one the most. It was just a mess of a match for him after a really good first set.

 

[El Dude]

Nice example of evolving one's perspective, @Chris Koziarz .

Roddick was in a completely different tier of player as Tsonga/Berdych. This isn't hard to support.

 

[DarthFed]

Easily 2 slams better than the other Andy imo and maybe more.

I like Roddick a lot more than Murray but the latter has had it pretty tough too it has to be said.

 

[El Dude]

Easily 2 slams better than the other Andy imo and maybe more.

I don't agree with this. Aside from pure conjecture, Murray was more consistent across tournaments and surfaces. He owned the field in a way that Roddick never did.

 

[Moxie]

Easily 2 slams better than the other Andy imo and maybe more.

I don't know how you can assign Roddick four+ more Slams than he actually won. That's a LOT of assuming. I'm willing to go with @DarthFed on equal, though, as a fair extrapolation. But do defend that, if you want to.

 

[DarthFed]

I don't agree with this. Aside from pure conjecture, Murray was more consistent across tournaments and surfaces. He owned the field in a way that Roddick never did.

I don't think Murray has ever owned the field unless you are talking the field minus the top 3 guys.

 

[Front242]

Thing about Roddick is that people mostly recall his last few years on tour more than his best years and his forehand deteriorated an awful lot later in his career same as Federer and Nadal's have also. In Roddick's early days he had a way flatter and harder forehand with low net clearance like Berdych's and Cilic's, for example (easy power), but as he declined (and he did, it wasn't all done to the "big four") and injuries slowed him down, his forehand morphed into a far worse loopy shot with much higher net clearance and lacked any of the punch it had in his prime. In his prime years, if his serve didn't win him the point, the next shot or 2 on his then flat and mighty forehand did. Last years on tour his forehand pretty much sucked.

 

[Front242]

I don't think Murray has ever owned the field unless you are talking the field minus the top 3 guys.

Murray probably owns a few fields in Dunblane with a few cows but nowhere else.

 

[Moxie]

Thing about Roddick is that people mostly recall his last few years on tour more than his best years and his forehand deteriorated an awful lot later in his career same as Federer and Nadal's have also. In Roddick's early days he had a way flatter and harder forehand with low net clearance like Berdych's and Cilic's, for example (easy power), but as he declined (and he did, it wasn't all done to the "big four") and injuries slowed him down, his forehand morphed into a far worse loopy shot with much higher net clearance and lacked any of the punch it had in his prime. In his prime years, if his serve didn't win him the point, the next shot or 2 on his then flat and mighty forehand did. Last years on tour his forehand pretty much sucked.

I think most of us have been around long enough to remember prime Roddick. I'm just wondering which 4 or more Majors you think he would have won?

 

[Federberg]

For some reason I hated this recent one the most. It was just a mess of a match for him after a really good first set.

At least I could sit and watch this one. That 09 final cost me 3 good cubans and a shit load of single malt whiskey to deal with it! Never been so stressed! That tie break alone almost destroyed me

 

[Front242]

I think most of us have been around long enough to remember prime Roddick. I'm just wondering which 4 or more Majors you think he would have won?

All the ones where he faced Roger (he pretty much soundly beat everyone but Rodge) and back when the courts were faster he'd have mangled many at the USO and Wimbledon.

 

[atttomole]

That 2009 final v. Roger was a heart-breaker. I think it did him in. I would think even Federer fans must have felt for him, a bit.

I felt sorry for Roddick that day, but I wanted Roger to win.

 

[DarthFed]

At least I could sit and watch this one. That 09 final cost me 3 good cubans and a shit load of single malt whiskey to deal with it! Never been so stressed! That tie break alone almost destroyed me

I never saw that one live so that may have changed things.

I was busy losing a 5.5 hour chess game, finding out the score of the final helped take the sting away as did my win the final round of that tourney.

 

[Front242]

At least I could sit and watch this one. That 09 final cost me 3 good cubans and a shit load of single malt whiskey to deal with it! Never been so stressed! That tie break alone almost destroyed me

Poor Roddick must still have nightmares over that horrific backhand volley miss. Missed by about 20 miles! One of the worst botched shots I've ever seen.

 

[Moxie]

I never saw that one live so that may have changed things.

I was busy losing a 5.5 hour chess game, finding out the score of the final helped take the sting away as did my win the final round of that tourney.

This is a bit of a revelation that you would play chess and miss a Wimby final with Roger in it. Interesting to know. But that would change your relationship to that match. It was such a nail-biter, even with no skin in the game. And Roddick didn't blink until the very end.