Life is good for Andy Roddick
American tennis star Andy Roddick was very busy before the start of the last Grand Slam event of the year. For instance, he served up cocktails at the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis event in New York City on Aug. 27, just hours after filming "The Late Show with David Letterman" and throwing out the first pitch at a Rangers-Yankees game.
Although Roddick would love another chance to face Roger Federer after their epic Wimbledon final this summer, any potential chip on his shoulder has been replaced by something else around his arm -- Roddick's stunning swimsuit-model wife, Brooklyn Decker, who's been the tennis stud's biggest supporter. For Roddick, it's almost easy to say, Federer who?
Page 2: What was it like throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium?
Andy Roddick: It was really, really cool. The stadium's great. I didn't know the team actually goes out and takes their positions before you throw the first pitch out, so that was a little nerve-racking. I had [Derek] Jeter behind me playing short and A-Rod on the side.
Was that the first time you met A-Rod? Or the other A-Rod, I should say.
I had met him before. He's the A-Rod. I had met Derek [Jeter] before, but I didn't want to bother them. They had a game to play. They said I could have gone in the dugout, but the last thing I wanted to do was try to glad-hand people while they're trying to get ready for a game.
Have you ever joked with A-Rod about having the same nickname?
[Laughs] No, I don't think so. It's pretty straightforward. He's the A-Rod, and I'm kind of the other one.
Having the fastest recorded serve in tennis [155 mph], did you ever consider being a baseball pitcher?
I loved playing baseball when I was young. I was actually probably better at it than I was at tennis, but then we actually moved and I didn't want to start with a new team, you know. So I just ended up gravitating toward tennis.
What's your favorite sports team?
The Nebraska Cornhuskers, for sure. I was actually born in Nebraska. I get up to one [Nebraska football game] every couple of years. I haven't been to one since 2007. Maybe not this year, but hopefully next year.
What's the first thing Roger Federer said to you after the Wimbledon final?
It's such a rush of emotions. He's always pretty gracious about it. He had a lot of his own emotions going on at that moment. I'm not really sure. I'm sure it was something along the lines of "Good match."
Are you hoping to face him again at the U.S. Open and resume the rivalry?
You know, you hope so. I'd certainly love the opportunity.
What's one of the most memorable pranks in the tennis locker room?
I wasn't a part of it, but the funniest thing I've ever seen [involved] a Croatian player named Ivan Ljubicic. He was playing really well at the beginning of 2005 or 2006, and there's a French guy named Michael Llodra who was convinced that [Ljubicic] needed to kind of rub off on him. Llodra's about 6-foot-4, and he tucked himself into Ljubicic's locker and he got butt-naked. When Ljubicic opened up his locker, [Llodra] kind of jumped out. He was convinced it was going to bring him good luck. That was kind of funny.
Who does most of the cooking at home between you and Brooklyn?
We probably do a pretty equal amount. Actually, most of the time we stay home and cook.
How are your cooking skills?
Average at best. I can throw some stuff in a thing, and throw [in] some olive oil and kind of do it that way. But anything that requires any expertise is lost on me.
What would we be surprised to find in your kitchen?
Whole Foods is actually based in Austin [Texas, where Roddick lives], so pretty much everything we have is from there. Brooklyn actually has all the candy. She likes the sweets and the junk food.
What are your diet indulgences?
Most things are off-limits. Most of the time you try to stick to veggies and healthy carbs. But the week after a tournament, my one soft spot is just stuff like chips and salsa, and chips and guacamole. I can't get enough Mexican food if I've been gone for a while.
Is there an exercise you dread doing?
I don't think the fact that I actually get to exercise for a living is ever lost on me. I think it's better than most things.
2009 U.S. Open
2009 champions
Women's singles: Kim Clijsters, Belgium
Men's singles:
Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina
Men's doubles: Lukas Dlouhy, Czech Republic and Leander Paes, India
Women's doubles: Serena and Venus Williams, United States
Mixed doubles: Carly Gullickson and Travis Parrott, United States
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Day 15
- Garber: Del Potro stands tall in win
- Garber: How Rafa made Federer better
- U.S. Open Live
- Ford: Serena fallout
- Del Potro upsets Federer in final
- Serena apologizes to line judge for tirade
- Williams sisters win doubles title
- Federer uses profanity in dispute at final
Day 14
- Garber: Clijsters' win brings order to chaos
- Garber: Del Potro drubs Nadal to reach final
- Del Potro knocks Nadal out in semifinals
- Serena fined $10,000; review ongoing
- Dlouhy, Paes claim men's doubles title
- MacGregor: What has happened to civility?
- Del Potro destroys Rafa
Day 13
- Garber: Serena's tirade abruptly ends match
- Ford: Chaos detracts from encounter
- Ubha: Serena tirade blow-by-blow
- Garber: Men's semifinal preview
- Nadal wins rain-delayed quarterfinal
- Nadal routs Gonzalez
- Serena tirade analysis
- Serena loses controversial match
- Serena Williams press conference
- Day 14 preview
Day 12
Day 11
- Rafa-Gonzo postponed; del Potro advances
- Open Book: Rain wreaks havoc on Nadal-Gonzalez
- Ubha: Nadal-Gonzalez live blog
- Garber: Serena destined for Open win
- Williams sisters reach doubles final
- Gullickson, Parrott win mixed doubles title
- Oudin signs endorsement deal before loss
- Serena-Venus speak
- Digital Serve: Serena-Clijsters preview
- Williamses reach doubles final
- Women's semifinal preview
- Del Potro advances to semifinals
Day 10
- Women | Men
- Garber: Fed's great semis streak
- Open Book: Oudin the real deal
- Tennis.com: Tenacious Oudin
- Ford: Men's quarterfinal preview
- Oudin forced to find new hotel
- Report: Oudin's father filed for divorce in '08
- Filmmaker's bid to shoot wheelchairs denied
- Security breach in Nadal match
- Bud Rememers: Ashe's 1968 title
- Williamses reach doubles semis
- Digital Serve: Can Gonzo stop Rafa?
- Oudin falls in U.S. Open quarters
- Day 11 preview
- Oudin talks after loss
- Wozniacki's thoughts on win
- Federer holds off Soderling
- Djokovic beats Verdasco
Day 9
- Women | Men
- Serena can only be No. 1 if she wins Open
- Garber: Flat Murray flops at Open
- Ford: Infectious Oudin making a splash
- Open Book: Expect few tweaks from Helfant
- Tandon: Why can't the women serve?
- Filmmaker sues to shoot wheelchair tennis
- Cilic upsets Murray
- Clijsters advances to semis
- Digital Serve: Rapping with Vince
- McEnroe on playing Djokovic
- Players react to Oudin
- McEnroe on Murray
- Serena sails into semis
- Michael Phelps on the U.S. Open
- SC Highlight of the night: Nadal wins
Day 8
- Women | Men
- Ford: Clijsters stands out amid turmoil
- Open Book: Who's who of women's tennis?
- Ford: Isner finally utilizing massive game
- If Serena reaches Open final, she's No. 1
- Digital Serve: Will Federer advance?
- Djokovic challenges McEnroe
- Wozniacki beats Kuznetsova
- Verdasco takes down Isner
- Oudin's coach speaks on her win
- Day 9 preview
Day 7
- Women | Men
- Garber: Laver's epic quadruple 40 years ago
- Ford: Midway at the U.S. Open
- Rafael Nadal wins in three
- Serena thwarts Hantuchova
- Clijsters takes down Venus
- Day 8 preview
- Digital Serve: Will Federer advance?
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