ANDY RODDICK stunned the tennis world when he announced his retirement on his 30th birthday back in 2012.
The big-serving star was competing at one final US Open when he decided to call it a day.
GettyAndy Roddick co-owns a golf course and whiskey brand[/caption]
Sweetens CoveThe former tennis star, 41, helped to launch Sweetens Cove whiskey[/caption]
“I went to bed an active tennis player,” Roddick recently told GQ of his sudden decision.
“And when I woke up I was gonna retire.”
Roddick, now 41, had confided in wife Brooklyn Decker of his upcoming decision, which he knew deep down was the right call.
Since calling it a day, the American has kept himself busy.
When he’s not busy rushing around after his two kids, Hank, seven, and Stevie, five, Roddick can often be heard providing cutting-edge analysis on Tennis Channel.
But the 6-foot-2-inch ace machine also has plenty of interests outside of the sport in which he made his name.
Alongside former NFL star Peyton Manning and other friends, Roddick purchased Sweetens Cove in 2019.
The luxurious, sprawling course is described as golf’s “field of dreams” and is located in Sequatchie Valley, Tennessee.
Sweetens Cove didn’t have a clubhouse upon their purchase, but it did have a strong tradition – that first timers take a shot of whiskey on the first tee.
In the spirit of this tradition, Roddick and Co set about creating their own special bourbon – and Sweetens Cove whiskey was soon born.
The group secured the services of Kentucky’s first female master blender Marianne Eaves as they looked to create the perfect taste.
And in May 2020, their first batch was released to the public.
American men’s tennis thrived throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s, spawning champions like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, to name just a few.
And when Sampras retired at the 2003 US Open, it appeared to be fate that Roddick won the tournament, seemingly ushering in a new era of that same American dominance.
There would be one significant obstacle to this, however – Roger Federer.
And then another; Rafael Nadal.
Then sprinkle in Novak Djokovic for good measure.
Roddick has admitted to throwing away the majority of his trophies, and he won a lot of them, 32 to be precise.
But his 2003 US Open trophy remains – hidden away in a corner of his home office.
American tennis has continued to thrive in the women’s game, but next week’s US Open will mark 20 years since their last men’s success.
While Roddick is proud of his achievement, despite losing four subsequent major finals to Federer, he would love to help a new American pick up the mantle and end their drought.
When his kids grow up, he could even help them along the way – as Connors did for him in the mid-2000s.
On the prospect of coaching on the tour, alongside his golf and whiskey commitments, Roddick said: “The kids would have to be grown up to where if I left for two weeks they wouldn’t really notice I was gone.
“So that’s ten years away. If there are still no winners, and there’s a guy you can help and maybe you break your own curse? That’d be interesting. I want someone to do it.”
AFPRoddick won the US Open in 2003… the last American man to do so[/caption]
Getty Images – GettyThe American lost four major finals to Roger Federer[/caption]