A Briton's Tribute To The Biggest Heart in Tennis: Andy Roddick

Wall-to-wall Andy Murray: that’s been the reality of living in the UK for at least a month.

The hype began with the start of his campaign at Queens Club, and went into overdrive when he won that title.

Ever since, the media—from broadsheets to tabloids, radio to television, BBC to Wimbledon FM—have built up the Murray campaign to win his first Grand Slam for his home nation.

Even the launch of his new “look” was built around the Fred Perry heritage—with a nod to Roger Federer’s cardie last year. You have to admire the bravado of emulating that particular fashion statement.

And to his credit, Murray has borne the attention with extraordinary confidence.

But for a Briton, and one who’s known to follow tennis all year round, it became a really tricky place to be. The further Murray advanced, the more frequent the questions.

“Can he win?”
“Is he good enough?”
“You must be so excited!”

And the answers were: yes; yes; and, well… that’s when life got difficult.

For what I want is that the British fall in love with tennis, not just Wimbledon.

I want the winner of this most illustrious of titles to be the most deserving, the best player on the day, the most resilient and creative.

If that happens to be Murray, and one day it will be, I’ll cheer with the rest.

But on Friday, in the semi-finals, Murray was outplayed by the better, more resilient and creative man. That Andy Roddick also happened to be gracious, gutsy, and committed 110 percent to this sport made it that much more enjoyable.

But the media on Saturday morning?  Wall-to-wall Murray.

Now I am as patriotic as the next woman. I remember Virginia Wade winning Wimbledon, during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, with great pride, emotion, and satisfaction.

Wade had already won both the Australian and the US Slams, but it took her another five years to claim Wimbledon. It was timely, but she also happened to play a perfect serve-volley tournament, and was the deserving winner.

On this occasion, too, Roddick was the right winner.

It’s impossible not to be impressed by what he achieved, not simply in beating Murray and the Wimbledon crowd, but in his own personal endeavour to challenge at the very highest level again.

When he won the US Open six years ago, he looked set to win many more Slams. It was his fate to peak at the same time as Federer, who beat him in his following three Slam opportunities.

But Roddick is made of stern stuff. He has a never-say-die character, and one of the best work-ethics on the tour. He took on a new coach, a new training regime, lost weight and listened to new tactics. That takes both intelligence and commitment.

And the rewards have started to flow once more.

At Wimbledon this year, he has demonstrated a little more patience during rallies. He has developed a new backhand drive, particularly effective down the line, that has been absent in his career until now. He has shown a willingness to follow his serve to the net, and has played classy volleys when he got there.

Meanwhile that extra training and conditioning has improved both nimbleness and flexibility. He is better able to change the pace, break up the rhythm, mix up spin and direction.

Yet the old assets remain: superb serving; an intensity that never wavers; and maximum effort at all times.

To cap it all, Roddick showed extraordinary generosity and graciousness towards Murray in his post-match interview: “I can’t say enough good things about Andy’s game.”

More telling, he was near to tears in expressing how much his renewed success means. “I never thought I’d play another Grand Slam final again.”

Asked if his win was the result of just a little more effort this year, he calmly countered “I’ve had my shortcomings, but trying hard has not been one of them.”

Here is a player and a person who is a worthy winner by any measure. And this particular Briton is happy to make that the headline.