“I would love nothing more than for an American to win on Sunday” : Andy Roddick ahead of the US Open final
The 2024 US Open is at its business end this weekend. With only one match left to determine the Grand Slam winner, we as fans are in for a treat. World no.1 and hot favorite, Jannik Sinner defeated Jack Draper in the semifinals in three grueling sets, as the Italian reaches his second Grand Slam final of the year.
On the other hand, in the all-American semifinal clash between Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, it was the latter who came out on top in a five-set encounter. Both players gave it their everything on Friday evening, however, it was Taylor Fritz who held his nerve to make a comeback win. But more importantly, the US Open will have an American competing in the final for the first time since 2006, when Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer.
Andy Roddick is also the last American to win at the Flushing Meadows in 2003, when he beat Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero in three straight sets. The 42-year-old recently commented on the all-American semi-final clash, and reflected that after more than two decades, he wants his crown to be taken by either Fritz or Tiafoe.
“American in the final, I want it all to end” : Andy Roddick on passing the baton to Taylor Fritz
Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open success led him to greater heights, while it also made him climb atop as the youngest US player to achieve the world no.1 ranking then. On the most recent episode of his podcast ‘The Served’, the 42-year-old wanted any of the American semi-finalists to have the fame he achieved during his early career.
“American in the final, I want it all to end, I would love nothing more than for an American to win on Sunday…I get, I hate it, I get this anxious feeling every time they have to answer for it. I f***ing hate it for them. I want them to have it, I want them to clear. And frankly speaking, if one of them breaks this thing, they could all, they could start contending regularly,” said the 2003 US Open winner.
For now, fifty percent of Andy Roddick’s anxiety-riddled dream is reality, as Taylor Fritz has advanced to the final at the Arthur Ashe stadium in New York. But the problem will arrive as to who he will be up against in the finals, which is Jannik Sinner.
