Andy Roddick says that tennis is lucky to have had great champions like Roger Federer and Serena Williams to play as long as they did. Federer, who turned professional in 1998, has won 20 Grand Slams throughout his astonishing career and is considered tennis’s greatest icon.
For her part, Williams, who turned professional in 1995, won 23 Grand Slams during her illustrious career and played at a high level until her retirement. Federer and Williams left a huge mark on tennis history and went down in history as some of the greatest players in tennis history.
“I don’t think you can, and they both did it her way. Serena came from Compton and opened up tennis to a whole country of minority girls and women, and the impact she had. The way Roger took care of his business, where you don’t have to go and punch someone in the nose because he’s number 1 in the world.
They both did it in their own way, with their own style, with their own personality, both were very, very greedy for Grand Slam titles, but gosh, we’re so lucky to have had them in the game of tennis, and Paul mentioned that, for as long as we had them.
They made a 23-year career look normal,” Roddick said on the Tennis Channel. With Federer and Williams retired, there are new faces dominating the tours. In the men’s, Carlos Alcaraz, 19, is a Grand Slam champion and number 1 youngest in tennis history.
In women’s tennis, Iga Swiatek, 21, already has three Grand Slams and has established herself as the most dominant player on the women’s circuit. After Federer’s withdrawal, he was asked about the state of tennis.
The anecdote of King Roger
During the presentation of the Sports Awards in Switzerland, Roger Federer evoked the famous ceremony of the Laver Cup. The Swiss in front of his family even revealed that there were several scenarios depending on his emotional state.
“In fact, with my agent Tony Godsick, we had planned a plan B if ever I had not been able to say a word. I must say that I was a little anxious before everything fell into place. At first, a few weeks before, I wasn’t even sure I could play so I thought I was going to have to show up in a suit and tie.
Then I knew I could do a double and that relaxed me a bit. On the day, despite the tears and the emotions, I managed to say a few words, so it was great, and I think that in the end I fought well (laughs).”
