Andy Roddick could have won Roland Garros with right coach

The Hero Cop Mark · 2025-09-29T14:28:56-0400

Did you know that Roddick won 4 of his first 6 ATP titles on clay?
Here's how Andy did on clay during his first years on tour

2001: won Atlanta and Houston back-to-back, reached R32 at his first ever Roland Garros (defeating prime Chang in 2R), only to lose to peak Hewitt in 3R, who used to be his kryptonite on every surface early on.
2002: Made R16 at Monte Carlo (beat Ulirach and Gonzo, lost to peak Haas), won Houston (beat prime Sampras in final), made SF at Rome (beat Pavel, Ferreira, Robredo, lost to peak Haas), R16 at Hamburg...but lost to Arthurs in RG 1R
2003: made Houston F (lost to peak Agassi), made 2R at Monte-Carlo (beat peak Gaudenzi, but lost to future RG finalist Verkerk in 3), made 2R at Hamburg (straight-setted prime Ljubicic and lost to peaking Calleri), won St. Poelten, beating Alberto Martin, Filipp Klownshceiber, and Nikolay Davydenko. ...but lost to Federer's friend Sargis Sargsian at FO in 1R.
2004: made Houston F (lost to peak Hass), but then lost to Mutis in the 2nd round of FO, the same Mutis who later that year obliterated Nadal on clay, a few months before Rafa won his first RG.

He had the potential to be great on clay, and with a good coach and preparation, he would have a shot to win RG. He was decent in pushing and had a good forehand, similar to Rafa. He is not worse than Verkerk on clay, who reached the final in 2003, or Henman, who made the SF in 2004, or Grosjean, who made the SF in 2001.
Years later, I remember Andy almost beating peak Federer at some clay Masters too.
I think back then (2001-2004), he was under the impression that a good server from the US couldn't do well on clay after he saw how every other clown used to own Sampras on the surface. That's sad, because the other day I watched Nadal-Roddick highlights from the Miami semifinals, and Andry outgrinded peak Nadal on a very slow surface. We lost a potential Clay great because of poor coaching and stereotypes.

RNW · 2025-09-29T14:30:12-0400

I like your tag "bombshell". Like this is news.

The Hero Cop Mark · 2025-09-29T14:39:45-0400

He also entered Roland Garros 2009 in the form of his life
I remember how organizers ruined the match against Monfils in the R16
Who knows, maybe Andy would have upsetted Federer in QF, as Roger was mentally tired after his back-to-back comebacks against Acasuso, Matthieu, and Hass

YonaMX · 2025-09-29T14:44:01-0400

With the right coach, Roddick could've maybe won the French Open title...

BauerAlmeida · 2025-09-29T15:16:10-0400

He had good runs in Houston, but it played very differently from Roland Garros and the clay masters.

At his best, he lost at RG to MUTIS, that tells you all you need to know. He did well in 2009.

theseth1119 · 2025-09-29T15:30:33-0400

Beat prime Sampras in 2002 Houston final, no way was Sampras in his prime in 2002!!

Darth Alcaraz · 2025-09-29T15:52:16-0400

American clay and European clay conditions are two very different things tbh. Also, I’m a bit unsure of your characterizations of peak and prime versions of tennis players. Sampras was out of his prime by 2002, and Agassi’s peak was probably 1995 or 1999. Also, prime Chang in 2001? This is surely satire at this point

The Hero Cop Mark · 2025-09-29T16:22:14-0400

Agree about American clay
However, he was also promising on European clay. He really underperformed at Roland Garros for some reason after a decent showing in 2001.
Prime/peak assesion is subjective, yeah

The Final Boss · 2025-09-29T18:42:15-0400

Roddick v nadal davis cup on clay was cool

BodyServe · 2025-09-30T04:50:01-0400

Winning it is a biiiiig stretch but he could/should have made several 2nd weeks appearances for sure, there were years where the clay wasn't so slow and clearly he should have done better. I am not saying he would have done better than someone like Soderling but it gives an idea of what he could have done.

The match against Acasuso in 2005 was quite entertaining to watch.

jfclams · 2025-09-30T11:23:31-0400

Ok what coach

The Hero Cop Mark · 2025-09-30T13:48:19-0400

Larry Stefanki. He came too late

EvilBotovic · 2025-09-30T11:38:06-0400

He could've won several if he were born a decade earlier.

asifm · 2025-09-30T12:24:15-0400

which year?

in theory could any huge server win any clay match? yes

can someone do that for 2 weeks in a row? incredibly unlikely

Time Violation · 2025-09-30T17:58:20-0400

He barely won 7 RG matches over his entire career

Fogmeister · 2025-09-30T18:19:44-0400

So, he would beat both Nadal and Federer in RG?

The Hero Cop Mark · 2025-09-30T18:41:59-0400

I mean, in 2001-2004
with an outside shot in 2009

Jolyon · 2025-09-30T18:58:44-0400

He could have hired Soders, and tried it.

adrianTennis · 2025-09-30T19:48:39-0400

His game had a lot of limitations for the roland garros clay, not a bad a player but far from a top player.

vogus_emeritus · 2025-09-30T19:58:21-0400

The Hero Cop Mark said:
reached R32 at his first ever Roland Garros (defeating prime Chang in 2R), only to lose to peak Hewitt in 3R, who used to be his kryptonite on every surface early on.

"prime Chang" :spit:

prime Chang? In fucking 2001? Chang was absolute dog shit after 1997.

the thread should be ruinated just for this, let alone all the other clownery.

florentine · 2025-10-01T03:10:32-0400

vogus_emeritus said:
"prime Chang"

prime Chang? In fucking 2001? Chang was absolute dog shit after 1997.

Chang (rk 38) is Federer's first GS match win at 18yo (rk 62) in .. AO 2000, that says where Chang was at the time. 😅

That said, Chang still got a win against Maestro... the same year... and not just anywhere... in Halle. 😌

#12·Aug 28, 2022

1X1X said:
Courier is also 29 years old but looks fat compared to his best years.

And Nalbfit looks slim

Chang 29 years old vs Federer in MC 2001
It is already their 3rd meeting

The 1st is more notable.. 1st round AO 2000.. it is the 1st match won by Federer in GS.
But I couldn't find any video

Tennis: The day Federer won his first match at a Grand Slam event

But for his 1st Halle played.. Federer loses.. against Chang

26-08-2002	US Open	Hard	R64	Roger Federer (13) Rank 13 d. Michael Chang Rank 132	6-3 6-1 6-3	1-4	Stats
14-01-2002	Australian Open	Hard	R128	Roger Federer (11) Rank 12 d. Michael Chang Rank 94	6-4 6-4 6-3	1-3	Stats
16-04-2001	Monte Carlo Masters	Clay	R64	Roger Federer (15) Rank 22 d. Michael Chang Rank 33	6-4 6-3	1-2	Stats
12-06-2000	Halle	Grass	QF	Michael Chang Rank 28 d. Roger Federer Rank 38	7-5 6-2	1-1	Stats
17-01-2000	Australian Open	Hard	R128	Roger Federer Rank 62 d. Michael Chang Rank 38	6-4 6-4 7-6(5)	0-1	Stats

Federinka · 2025-09-30T23:45:17-0400

Well, pre-2006 Rod had a big forehand which is a good weapon on clay. But that's far from enough.

TennisMann · 2025-10-01T07:33:18-0400

Strange things happen in tennis and Roddick made several slam finals and had some weapons. It's not out of the question.

Andy Roddick could have won Roland Garros with right coach

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