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Roddick has no retirement regrets

Andy Roddick is enjoying his retirement © Getty Images

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Andy Roddick insists he has not lost his love of tennis, but is enjoying the chance to improve his golf skills following his retirement in the autumn.

Roddick bade an emotional farewell to the sport in September after announcing he would call time on his career at the US Open, where he won his sole grand slam title in 2003.

The former world No. 1 beat Andy Murray in an exhibition in Miami earlier this month, and while he admits his retirement is unlikely to fully sink in until the new season gets underway, Roddick insists he has no regrets over his decision.

"To be honest, I don't know that it will really affect me until January comes around," Roddick told ESPN. "The last 13 Januarys I've been in Australia. I haven't experienced January 8 in the United States for 15 years.

"You start to identify certain months with certain places, that's where you are. … I wasn't jealous of the guys going on a 15-hour flight to Shanghai [in October] or wherever else. Once I see the guys over [in Australia], obviously I'll miss it a little bit."

Roddick has spent a large amount of time on the golf course, and while he has been seen at Augusta caddying for Nick Watney in the past, he is unlikely to be challenging the professionals any time soon.

"I have been playing a lot," Roddick said. "It depends if my wife [actress Brooklyn Decker] is travelling. No chance I play less than 36 holes on one of her travel days.

"I've played 50-60 rounds since the US Open. My game's OK, but I look at things in the grand scheme of sports. Someone who's OK at golf. I imagine the guy playing next to me in some tennis centre that I was judging and I think I'm that guy in golf now. I can hit the ball a little bit, but I definitely don't want to say I'm any good at it at all."

Roddick has been spotted hitting with James Blake in California recently, and although he does not miss the intensive training, he insists he never fell out of love with tennis.

"It's still fun," Roddick said. "That's the thing. Some people leave because they resent the game or they just can't play anymore. I don't know that was the case for me in either scenario. I always said I wanted to go out on my terms when I could still play a little bit. I still enjoy hitting balls.

"Tennis is a full-time job and not just the two hours that people see when we're on the court. The recovery became hard. I'm not graceful like Roger Federer. I have to use a lot more effort and a lot more of my physical tools. And what you see when I play is what I did in every practice. My body kept asking for more and I'm not sure I had more to give."

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