Andy Roddick, the U.S. Open’s last American male champion, sees himself a tennis schlub
Matthew Futtermannytimes.com
Andy Roddick, the U.S. Open’s last American male champion, sees himself a tennis schlub
I need to start the fifth with fury. I also need to acknowledge that I can’t win every point. I can’t run after everything, can’t lunge for each dink and drop. I can’t go full-speed against a kid who’s still teething. He wants to be out here all night, but I have forty-five minutes of energy left, forty-five minutes of a functioning body. Or maybe
... See moreAndre Agassi • Open
Someone showed up to my tennis clinic with an old racquet—a time capsule from a different game.
A 1988 Prince, an early power frame from when tennis was shifting from serve-and-volley and back to the baseline.
She hadn’t played in decades and didn’t realize how much the gear had changed.
There’s something sweet, almost childlike, about returning to th
... See moreMy father has a special name for this contrarian strategy. He calls it putting a blister on the other guy’s brain. With this strategy, this brutal philosophy, he stamps me for life. He turns me into a boxer with a tennis racket. More, since most tennis players pride themselves on their serve, my father turns me into a counterpuncher—a returner.
Andre Agassi • Open
Because of Stefanie, I make it to the quarters, where I face the number one seed, Federer. He’s not the man I beat in Key Biscayne. He’s growing before my eyes into one of the game’s all-time greats. He methodically builds a lead, two sets to one, and I can’t help but stand back and admire his immense skills, his magnificent composure.
Andre Agassi • Open
As a tennis player, Arthur Ashe was a beautiful contradiction. To survive segregation in the 1950s and 1960s, he learned from his father to mask his emotions and feelings on the court. No reacting, no getting upset at missed shots, and no challenging bad calls. Certainly, as a black player he could not afford to show off, celebrate, or be seen as t
... See moreRyan Holiday • The Obstacle is the Way: The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage
in the final of Key Biscayne, I beat Federer. It’s a good win. He’s as hot as anyone on tour. He came into this tournament with twenty-three wins so far this year.