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Relive Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open victory
Brad Gilbert shares memories of the historic win
September 07, 2024
Nick Laham/Getty Images
Andy Roddick celebrates his 2003 US Open victory.
By ATP staff
For years, one of the biggest questions in tennis has been when an American man will win a Grand Slam title. It has been 21 years since Andy Roddick won the US Open.
Taylor Fritz, the first American man to reach a major singles final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, has a chance to stop the questions on Sunday when he faces World No. 1 Jannik Sinner cup at Flushing Meadows.
According to Brad Gilbert, who coached Roddick to a title here in 2003, the conditions are very different.
“I wouldn’t say you took it lightly or expected it, but 2002 was an all-American final, and we had a lot of Americans in the Slams finals at that time,” Gilbert told ATPTour.com. “So it was not easy. Turns out he thought Andy was the new guy. “
[ALSO LIKE]Roddick accomplished a lot in his Hall of Fame career, rising to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings and reaching four more major finals. But no other American man has broken through since he did more than two decades ago.
When Roddick won in New York, Roger Federer had just won his first title at Wimbledon two months earlier. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were not looking.
“You didn’t know [Roger] he was going to be what he was going to be, then Rafa and Joker. So at the time, I just thought it was normal. It was American rule,” said Gilbert. “You thought it would continue.”
Roddick entered the 2003 US Open in top form, having won back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 titles in Montreal and Cincinnati, including defeating Federer in Canada. He won 20 of 21 games leading up to the season finale.
“Andy played well all summer,” Gilbert said.
After reaching the semifinals with just one set loss, Roddick’s dreams of Grand Slam glory almost ended early on. He lost the first two sets in the semifinals against David Nalbandian before getting past the Argentine 6-7(4), 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-1, 6-3.
At 5/6 in the break of the third set, Roddick saved a match point with a big serve.
“He had to get out of the jam in the semi when he was down two sets until it was a problem in that breaker,” said Gilbert.
The coach remembers the rain that caused damage, forcing Roddick’s last opponent, Juan Carlos Ferrero, to play four days in a row.
“It was really hard for him to do that,” Gilbert said. “[Andy] he got a lap twice during the tournament… He really got the benefit of a couple of finishes [his match]. But you had to win games and Nalbandian was biting his nails.”
Roddick then defeated Ferrero 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 to take the title. No American has accomplished a greater feat since.
Will Fritz change that on Sunday?
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