• What the Deuce

End of the line for Roddick?

Andy Roddick is the top-ranked American player © Getty Images

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For the best part of a decade, Andy Roddick has carried the hopes of the American nation on his shoulders.

A country with a rich tradition of tennis, home of the great John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, Roddick was handed the daunting task of stepping into Sampras' tennis shoes.

The American has been a virtually constant presence in the top ten since 2002, but has spent his career in the shadow of Roger Federer.

While Andy Murray has to deal with the ever-increasing pressure of finally breaking his grand slam duck, and becoming the first British man to win a major title in 75 years, Roddick's battle has been to capture an elusive second grand slam, and by doing so, prove the first was no fluke.

Ever since he won the US Open in 2003, the question hanging over Roddick's head has been, 'can Roddick win another grand slam?'

Though the 2003 triumph was undoubtedly his greatest achievement as a player, it was also his downfall. Former world No. 1 Sampras had just announced his retirement from professional tennis, and opted not to defend his title at Flushing Meadows.

Inevitably, it was hailed as the passing of the baton - as the American public expected Roddick to carry on where Sampras had left off. And initially, it seemed like it might just happen. Roddick's US Open win saw him catapulted to the top of the rankings, yet lurking in the shadows was Wimbledon champion Federer, who would go on to become the most successful tennis player of all time, with 16 grand slam titles and counting.

Roddick has reached five grand slam finals in his career, and on four occasions he has come up short against the same player. In the 2004 Wimbledon final, Roddick took the opening set, but was unable to stop Federer defending his title, famously saying, "I threw the kitchen sink at him but he went to the bathroom and got his tub."

He came agonisingly close at Wimbledon in 2009, but once again was powerless to stop the Fed Express powering to a sixth Wimbledon title after a gruelling 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 victory.

Roddick's sole grand slam victory came at the 2003 US Open © Getty Images

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In 22 meetings, Roddick has beaten Federer just twice - while not a rivalry in the strictest sense of the word, the pair are like chalk and cheese, and contrasts were inevitably struck when both players broke through in the same year. While Roddick throws himself around the court, Federer's game is a unique combination of power and grace.

Roddick's record against Federer is clearly nothing to write home about but, recently, he has come up short against lesser players.

At Wimbledon, Roddick was upset by the little-known world No. 82 Yen Hsun-Lu, and two months later in front of his home fans at the US Open he was dumped out in the second round by Janko Tipsarevic. Now, after reaching the third round for a ninth time at the Australian Open, he was ousted in three sets by Stanislas Wawrinka in the round of 16.

Roddick's serve has always been his greatest weapon - he is the world record holder for the fastest recorded serve at a rapid 155mph. Against Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final, Roddick was broken just once - in the 77th game of a 77-game match. But against Wawrinka, he was outserved 24 aces to 9 - and hit just 24 winners to his opponent's 67.

Roddick can consider himself unlucky to be playing in an era with two of the greatest players to step onto a tennis court - had he been five years older he would have undoubtedly had a few more trophies on his mantelpiece.

But regardless of his trophy collection, Roddick is a big name on the men's tour, and has a huge following around the world. Known for his explosive outbursts as much for his powerful serve, Roddick is a real character on court, he wears his heart on his sleeve and says just what he thinks.

When he finally decides to hang up his racket, he will be sorely missed. But the American No. 1 must surely have realised that his time has run out, and his chances of winning another grand slam title have all but faded.

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