Andy Roddick Retirement: Tennis Star Will End Career After US Open

Andy Roddick’s retirement has arrived. The US tennis star and former No. 1-ranked player has announced plans to leave the game he loves following the U.S. Open.

Roddick scored the biggest win of his career during the 2003 championship at Flushing Meadows and so it seems like a fitting end to his brilliant career.

The US tennis player announced his planned retirement during a news conferences during his 30th birthday on Thursday. Roddick revealed:

“I’ll make this short and sweet: I’ve decided that this is going to be my last tournament.”

He went on to add:

“I just feel like it’s time. I don’t know that I’m healthy enough or committed enough to go another year. I’ve always wanted to, in a perfect world, finish at this event.”

Now ranked 20th in the world Roddick will play Bernard Tomic of Australia in the second round on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Andy Roddick told reporters he stuck around for the US Open because:

“I think I wanted an opportunity to say goodbye to people, as well. I don’t know how tomorrow’s going to go, and I hope it goes well, and I’m sticking around.”

Roddick then joked:

“If I do run into some emotions tomorrow or in four days, I don’t want people to think I’m a little unstable. Or more unstable. So that’s why I came to this decision.”

When Roddick won his title nine years ago he became the last American male to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Roddick barely pulled off a first-round victory against 21-year-old American Rhyne Williams who he defeated 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

The Andy Roddick retirement was a long time coming as he told reporters he knew all this year that this season would be his last.

With more than 30 career titles on the ATP World Tour Andy Roddick deserves to be celebrated, here’s a video showcasing some of his brilliant career performances (turn down your speakers to avoid loud overlay music):

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