[Sipewrio]

Mere speculation with nothing concrete to base it on.

No more Grand Slams? He was a break of serve away from stopping Federer's 15th slam record, the fifth set going 30 games. 30 games against, arguably, the best man to ever pick up a racquet. That was just 3-1/2 months ago.

He reached the quarters at the Australian Open this year. He reached the 4th round at Roland Garros -- a career best at the French Open. And he's finished each year since 2002 in the top 10.

Psha.

The fact he choke in 2nd set tie-break Wimbledon Final it's a start to base my speculation! He made an spectacular tournament (even having trouble with a injuried Hewitt) until the final point, but that was that! No winner trophy! No victory over Federer! Nothing just a big disappointment givem the chances he created and blown himself.

When was the last time he won a Masters Series?? OH! 2006!!!

I'm not saying he's not consistent! He's just not good enough to raise to very top again if not for the injuries of players ahead of him. This year he has beaten Djokovic 3-in-a-row, for what??? Just to fade out in the hands of another top player!

I respect Roddick's career a lot nowadays but I can't see how can you expect more from him! It seems like he's just playing his role of top 10 consistency, waiting for his career-end.

And remember! It doesn't gets any easier! Once was Nadal, Nalbandian, Davydenko and others, now it's Murray, Djokovic and Del Potro. Who's going to be the next to pass by Andy keeping him in the border of the Top 4??? Cilic??? Tsonga??? Even Simon (this is almost a joke!!!) has a good chance!!! The future is coming fast!

[bobibnoxx]

Isn't this the conversation that's lasted since around 2004? Yet he's not really going anywhere, up or down.

[mensforyouthis]

Isn't this the conversation that's lasted since around 2004? Yet he's not really going anywhere, up or down.

Thereby justifying the thread title of "in limbo"

[staisacic]

Thereby justifying the thread title of "in limbo"

I agree. I found igor's take on the Roddick situation to be interesting, and certainly justifiable- whether or not I agree completely.

[Sipewrio]

Looking at Ranking History of Andy Roddick in the Atp page http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/P...dick.aspx?t=rh I just found out that Andy is player locked in a Limbo when it comes about rankings.


Since January/2005, Roddick's ranking travels from 3 to believe...12! When Nadal arrived and Hewitt became stronger he dropped from 2 to 4. Ok #4 is a very good ranking and assures him he wont play his greatest nemessis (Federer ,sure!!!) before semis.

But even Nalbandian started to steal some ground from Andy and he found himself as #5 in the rankings.

Lots of players spent some time in the top 5 this last 4 years: Hewitt, Safin, Davydenko, Ljubicic, Ferrer, Gonzalez, Blake????!!!! Except for Safin and Hewitt, all of them with no grand slams under their belts. Except for Hewitt, none of them is a year-end # 1 player. None of them has 27 ATP tour titles. But any of them performed better enough than Andy to be ranked ahead of him.

And it comes to nowadays...Djokovic, Murray and Del Potro. Those guys are since the US Open a safe lock into the top 5. First came Djokovic in 2007. Fast he became a Grand Slam winner, and 2 times it was a victory from the #2 ranking. He made a poor grand slam season this year, but it was consistently in the final rounds of the other big tournaments.

In 2008 came Murray. Started with an US Open breakout final and now he has the same number os Masters Series of Roddick: 4. Spent some tome in the #2 position and often beats the top guys. Still has to win a Grand Slam. But its likely he will!

Now its Del Potro time. He's the new US Open winner beating Federer and Nadal back-to-back and since August is a safe lock in the top 5 too. Has the same age Andy had when he became the US Open champion, but not a great wave of expectation over him. He's supposed to be one of the greatest players of the world through the next 5 years, but he's not expected to be the "new Pete Sampras".

All those expectations over Roddick's career just made him just burnout. He's not that accomplished and gifted. He has the best serve and a good fight spirit. He reach what he can. And now with so much good players around him hes imprisioned in the limbo of rankings. If not by injuries from the top 5, Andy has a very slim chance of return to the top 4 again. He will remain travelling in the limbo of the outside positions of the top 10, and with some bad results (like not defend his 2009 Wimbledon final points) could return to the #12.

For a guy who was expected to be one of the great American players (We are talking about a country that gave us Sampras Agassi, Connors, J-Mac and Courier) and a HOF inducted, Roddick seems like a overachiever more than ever. And please dont come with the talk of "Federer denied him a better career"... You get what you deserve it.

So...the limbo seems like a good place to be right now for him. Sorry! Maybe not a good place...but his right place for sure. I'm not happy saying this but...this year Wimbledon Final should be the Swan Song of Roddick's career. And becomes sad when you see the guy improved...but not enough.

[Henldyhl]

Is this the "Andy Roddick Is Washed Up" thread ?

I don't think he'll ever be #1 again, but he could rank in the top 10 for a few more years, couldn't he? He does seem to have been having a tough time of it lately, though. I wonder what the problem is ... his body? his head? his coach? shoes too tight?

Maybe after the year end time off, he'll come back stronger next year :thumbsup2:

[SannyGlow]

Meh, speculation at best. Roddick is a top 10 staple until he retires. No way he's #1, but he's got the top 10 goods, and could easily go deep into any slam draw but the French.

[Sipewrio]

Thats my point JT! Hes a top 10 and nothing else! No more Grand Slams! No more top 4 or even top 5! This is a limbo for a tough competitor and a so-called next best americam thing as he was in the beggining of his career!

[SannyGlow]

Thats my point JT! Hes a top 10 and nothing else! No more Grand Slams! No more top 4 or even top 5! This is a limbo for a tough competitor and a so-called next best americam thing as he was in the beggining of his career!

But there's not really any evidence to support your theory--he was in the top 5 for a good chunk of this year even. However, he was and still is the next best American thing. He can still win titles, even a slam if the draw lays out right. And I can surely see him get back into the top 5--not that big of a leap from number 6. Nadal's body is giving out due his physical game, Murray can't seem to get it together on the big stages, Djokovic and del Potro are talented but not necessarily mental giants. There's a lot of wiggle room up there; rumors of the Roddick's demise are extremely premature right now.

[urbalatte]

Just this summer he has played some of his best tennis in GS of past 4-5 years. I am sure he can still be a threat in 2010.

[b7RKli4l]

Mere speculation with nothing concrete to base it on.

No more Grand Slams? He was a break of serve away from stopping Federer's 15th slam record, the fifth set going 30 games. 30 games against, arguably, the best man to ever pick up a racquet. That was just 3-1/2 months ago.

He reached the quarters at the Australian Open this year. He reached the 4th round at Roland Garros -- a career best at the French Open. And he's finished each year since 2002 in the top 10.

Psha.