Federer–Roddick rivalry

The Federer–Roddick rivalry was a rivalry between two professional tennis players, Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andy Roddick of the United States. Though lopsided, the rivalry is one of the longest in tennis. The two met 24 times in official Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) matches, and Federer led 21–3, making Roddick the player with the second-most tournament defeats to Federer in the ATP circuit (Novak Djokovic has lost to Federer on 22 occasions, but holds a positive record against him). In terms of number of matches played, it ranks as the 14th largest rivalry in the Open Era.

Both men are Grand Slam champions (Federer with 18 titles to Roddick's one) and former world number one players. Roddick has lost four Grand Slam finals (Wimbledon in 2004, 2005, and 2009, and the US Open in 2006), each time to Federer. Their match in the 2009 Wimbledon final, where Roddick brought Federer to a thirty-game fifth set, has been called one of the greatest matches in tennis history. On February 2, 2004, Federer supplanted Roddick as World No. 1 to begin his record reign of 237 consecutive weeks at #1. They were the two highest-ranked players in the world from November 2003 to January 2005.

Roddick retired in 2012, ending the rivalry. However, he made a brief comeback in doubles in 2015, playing one tournament.

The third match played between Federer and Roddick was in Federer's hometown of Basel, Switzerland, at the 2002 Davidoff Swiss Indoors. Federer had won the first set in a tiebreak and was up by a break in the second set when Federer made what Patrick McEnroe said was the "best shot of his career". In the point, Roddick served to Federer and moved up to the net, implying that he would use a serve and volley tactic. However, he forced a weak return from Federer and hit an overhead smash that appeared to be a winner. Federer managed to run across the court and hit a slicing overhead, however, and Roddick watched as the shot landed just within the line, giving Federer the point. Federer went on to win the match in straight sets.

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