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| Saying Goodbye on His Own Terms | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| There was no general manager to summon Andy Roddick into his office to say solemnly, “Son, I’m afraid we’re not going to pick up your option.” No one was about to give him a nudge or a shove out the door. Retirement for a professional tennis player is all personal reflection, that elusive intersection of heart and mind, full understanding that the time has come. | There was no general manager to summon Andy Roddick into his office to say solemnly, “Son, I’m afraid we’re not going to pick up your option.” No one was about to give him a nudge or a shove out the door. Retirement for a professional tennis player is all personal reflection, that elusive intersection of heart and mind, full understanding that the time has come. |
| The only remaining questions are how and when. | The only remaining questions are how and when. |
| A career-long source of sardonic wit that could be endearing or irritating, Roddick might not have seemed the type to need or stage a theatrical exit. Certainly his announcement wasn’t made for the benefit of the news media, which he believes have dwelled too much on who he wasn’t rather than who he has been. | A career-long source of sardonic wit that could be endearing or irritating, Roddick might not have seemed the type to need or stage a theatrical exit. Certainly his announcement wasn’t made for the benefit of the news media, which he believes have dwelled too much on who he wasn’t rather than who he has been. |
| But if we have known anything beyond the obvious about Roddick, it has been his fraternal nature, his abiding friendships with other American players, men’s and women’s. So as Gregarious Andy considered the possibility of losing Friday night to a talented 19-year-old Australian, Bernard Tomic, the reluctant heart sought one last concession from the retiring mind. | But if we have known anything beyond the obvious about Roddick, it has been his fraternal nature, his abiding friendships with other American players, men’s and women’s. So as Gregarious Andy considered the possibility of losing Friday night to a talented 19-year-old Australian, Bernard Tomic, the reluctant heart sought one last concession from the retiring mind. |
| “I just imagine being off the court tomorrow in an empty locker room,” Roddick said in his most poignant admission while declaring this United States Open his farewell tournament Thursday. “I think I wanted a chance to say goodbye.” | “I just imagine being off the court tomorrow in an empty locker room,” Roddick said in his most poignant admission while declaring this United States Open his farewell tournament Thursday. “I think I wanted a chance to say goodbye.” |
| Not yet, though. Tomic, 19 and playing a finesse game teleported from when the Open was played in Forest Hills on clay, was no more ready for such an occasion than the 20-year-old Roddick was in 2002 when Pete Sampras blew him out of the Open quarterfinals during his last run to championship glory. Serving consistently in the mid-130s, mixing big forehands and sliced backhand approach shots, Roddick won the second-round match, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0, and perhaps went to sleep to dream of pulling a Pistol Pete. | Not yet, though. Tomic, 19 and playing a finesse game teleported from when the Open was played in Forest Hills on clay, was no more ready for such an occasion than the 20-year-old Roddick was in 2002 when Pete Sampras blew him out of the Open quarterfinals during his last run to championship glory. Serving consistently in the mid-130s, mixing big forehands and sliced backhand approach shots, Roddick won the second-round match, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0, and perhaps went to sleep to dream of pulling a Pistol Pete. |
| “I’m going to try to stick around a little longer,” he said, suddenly excited by his next opponent, 59th-ranked Fabio Fognini of Italy. | “I’m going to try to stick around a little longer,” he said, suddenly excited by his next opponent, 59th-ranked Fabio Fognini of Italy. |
| With the rarest of exceptions, it is virtually impossible to script the perfect sports exit, although Pete Sampras did just that when he defeated Andre Agassi in the 2002 final at Flushing Meadows in what turned out to be Sampras’s last match. Sampras just didn’t know it yet, and as a result the moment was deprived of a more deserved gravitas. | With the rarest of exceptions, it is virtually impossible to script the perfect sports exit, although Pete Sampras did just that when he defeated Andre Agassi in the 2002 final at Flushing Meadows in what turned out to be Sampras’s last match. Sampras just didn’t know it yet, and as a result the moment was deprived of a more deserved gravitas. |
| Agassi, Sampras’s career rival but not his equal, managed to turn his preordained goodbye into a tearful melodrama after losing his third-round match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court to Benjamin Becker in 2006. We would have expected no less from the Las Vegas showman. | Agassi, Sampras’s career rival but not his equal, managed to turn his preordained goodbye into a tearful melodrama after losing his third-round match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court to Benjamin Becker in 2006. We would have expected no less from the Las Vegas showman. |
| But the period doesn’t have to be the most memorable career punctuation. One of my favorite tennis adieu moments occurred in 1989 Down a service break in the third set to a young Italian, Laura Golarsa, Chris Evert was in danger of closing at Wimbledon — where she was a beloved, three-time champion — in the quarterfinals on Court 1. | But the period doesn’t have to be the most memorable career punctuation. One of my favorite tennis adieu moments occurred in 1989 Down a service break in the third set to a young Italian, Laura Golarsa, Chris Evert was in danger of closing at Wimbledon — where she was a beloved, three-time champion — in the quarterfinals on Court 1. |
| After Golarsa hit a winning volley, a disconsolate Evert stood motionless in the doubles alley — head bowed, racket dangling — when a high-pitched voice cried out from the stands a few feet away. | After Golarsa hit a winning volley, a disconsolate Evert stood motionless in the doubles alley — head bowed, racket dangling — when a high-pitched voice cried out from the stands a few feet away. |
| “Come on, Chrissie.” It was Martina Navratilova, trying to rouse her forever friend and career measuring stick to a proper burial, on Centre Court, against Steffi Graf. With Navratilova leading the cheers, Evert rallied to win. | “Come on, Chrissie.” It was Martina Navratilova, trying to rouse her forever friend and career measuring stick to a proper burial, on Centre Court, against Steffi Graf. With Navratilova leading the cheers, Evert rallied to win. |
| Discounting a brief return to Wimbledon and the French Open at 47, Navratilova narrowly missed a Sampras-like ending, only predetermined. She just couldn’t muster enough game to take a 10th Wimbledon title in the 1994 Wimbledon final against Conchita Martinez. Choosing not to play the hard-court summer, Navratilova left her fans misty eyed by bending down to carry off a small piece of Wimbledon lawn. | Discounting a brief return to Wimbledon and the French Open at 47, Navratilova narrowly missed a Sampras-like ending, only predetermined. She just couldn’t muster enough game to take a 10th Wimbledon title in the 1994 Wimbledon final against Conchita Martinez. Choosing not to play the hard-court summer, Navratilova left her fans misty eyed by bending down to carry off a small piece of Wimbledon lawn. |
| Most get neither blades of grass nor a blaze of glory. Some burn out and others fade away. Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati, intense rivals who endured great suffering during bittersweet careers, for years of inactivity couldn’t publicly admit they were done while dealing with an eating disorder (Seles) and depression (Capriati). | Most get neither blades of grass nor a blaze of glory. Some burn out and others fade away. Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati, intense rivals who endured great suffering during bittersweet careers, for years of inactivity couldn’t publicly admit they were done while dealing with an eating disorder (Seles) and depression (Capriati). |
| Far more fortunate has been Kim Clijsters, who has now called two retirements, even if Wednesday’s final singles defeat to Laura Robson was on a two-thirds-empty Stadium court. | Far more fortunate has been Kim Clijsters, who has now called two retirements, even if Wednesday’s final singles defeat to Laura Robson was on a two-thirds-empty Stadium court. |
| From here on out, Roddick can expect the full capacity treatment, and who knows? Maybe he does have a run in him. Maybe it changes his mind going forward. That would be cool. Just don’t bet the kids’ college savings on it. | From here on out, Roddick can expect the full capacity treatment, and who knows? Maybe he does have a run in him. Maybe it changes his mind going forward. That would be cool. Just don’t bet the kids’ college savings on it. |
| “Frankly,” he said, “these guys have gotten really, really, really good.” | “Frankly,” he said, “these guys have gotten really, really, really good.” |
| Most tennis insiders believed that the most bizarre exit of all — Bjorn Borg’s from New York in 1981 — was the result of having been surpassed by John McEnroe as the best men’s player. After McEnroe beat him for the Open title, Borg walked to the net, shook hands, picked up his rackets and walked out. | Most tennis insiders believed that the most bizarre exit of all — Bjorn Borg’s from New York in 1981 — was the result of having been surpassed by John McEnroe as the best men’s player. After McEnroe beat him for the Open title, Borg walked to the net, shook hands, picked up his rackets and walked out. |
| It was later revealed that Borg had received death threats, which explained his departure from the stadium, not the Grand Slam stage. At 25, he never played another. | It was later revealed that Borg had received death threats, which explained his departure from the stadium, not the Grand Slam stage. At 25, he never played another. |
| Taken in that broader and less-scripted context, Roddick’s retirement seems to be perfect. Young American men he has helped mentor are beginning to emerge. Roddick has made millions and married a movie star, Brooklyn Decker. And as his friend, the broadcaster Justin Gimelstob, told me recently, “He’s a certain Hall of Famer.” | Taken in that broader and less-scripted context, Roddick’s retirement seems to be perfect. Young American men he has helped mentor are beginning to emerge. Roddick has made millions and married a movie star, Brooklyn Decker. And as his friend, the broadcaster Justin Gimelstob, told me recently, “He’s a certain Hall of Famer.” |
| For those who might disagree, please remember that the less-credentialed Michael Chang is already a member. | For those who might disagree, please remember that the less-credentialed Michael Chang is already a member. |
| As Roddick said, he “got to play” and win America’s Slam, and so from the courts of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center he will take his leave. It may be less difficult when someone else makes the decision, but on one’s own terms there is time to set a mood and have folks say thanks for the memories. | As Roddick said, he “got to play” and win America’s Slam, and so from the courts of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center he will take his leave. It may be less difficult when someone else makes the decision, but on one’s own terms there is time to set a mood and have folks say thanks for the memories. |