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Federer beats Roddick Wimbledon 2009
ATP Tennis Players, Roger Federer, Tennis News

‘I was jealous of how relaxed he was before matches’, says Andy Roddick on Roger Federer


Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick said he always got nervous before matches, while his rival Roger Federer was able to be relaxed. 

The American – who won the 2003 US Open during a stellar career – retired in 2012. Roddick won three of his 24 meetings with 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer.

“I was always jittery before matches,” Roddick said in a Q&A on Tennis Channel.

“(Smiling) One of my many sources of jealousy with Roger was how relaxed he was able to be, just through kind of his operation, whether it was practice before matches.

“I was not that way. I was and am pretty high-strung when I care about something. I was actually less nervous probably later on in tournaments.

“Obviously, what was on the line was greater but if I was in the quarters, semi-finals of a tournament, I largely knew that I was playing okay. So, I didn’t really have to worry about that as much.”


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.