FORMER WORLD NUMBER one Andy Roddick will retire after this year’s US Open, the American star announced on Thursday, the day of his 30th birthday.
Roddick won the US Open in 2003 but never managed to add to his Grand Slam collection in an era dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
“I have decided that this is going to be my last tournament,” said Roddick.
“I feel it is the right time to do it. I have thought about it for a while.
“These other guys have gotten really, really good. I knew it was right time as soon as I played my first-round match here,” added Roddick.
“It has been a process, not just days. I am not interested in just existing on tour and I have other things that excite me outside of tennis. I don’t want to disrespect the game by coasting home.”
Roddick, who plays a second round match in New York on Friday against Australia’s Bernard Tomic, was also the 2006 runner-up in New York, losing to Federer, and lost to the Swiss great in the Wimbledon finals in 2004, 2005 and 2009.
Roddick won 32 career titles, winning his first on clay at Atlanta in 2001.
