NEW YORK - Andy Roddick, the top American man for the last decade, and the last American man to win a Grand Slam event, will retire from tennis after the U.S. Open.
Roddick made the announcement in a news conference Thursday.
"I have decided that this is going to be my last tournament," Roddick said. "I don't know if I'm healthy enough or committed enough to continue another year. I've always wanted to, in a perfect world, finish at this event. I have a lot of family and friends here. I've thought all year that I would know when I got to this tournament. When I was playing my first round, I knew."
Roddick flashed a bright smile as he made his announcement, and to the question, What will you miss most, he said, "All you guys."
And the media no doubt will miss Roddick, one of the wittiest, sharpest tennis players in the pressroom.
"If I'm being honest, I would have bet against myself on getting through this without tears today. I must have already gotten them out earlier.
"This has been a huge part of my life always. But I don't know that it's always been my entire life. I do feel very confident in the things and the people that I have to fall back on."
Roddick has 32 career ATP World Tour titles, including two this season. The biggest came in 2003 at the U.S. Open. He has four doubles titles. He reached No. 1 in the world for the first time in November 2003, becoming the youngest American (21 years, 3 months) to end the year at No. 1 (2003).
He is a three-time Wimbledon finalist (2004-05, '09), losing to Roger Federer each time. The 2009 final ended 16-14 in the fifth set.
Roddick also owns 33 Davis Cup victories, second in U.S. Davis Cup history, and he helped lead the USA to a Davis Cup title in 2007.
"For 13, 14 years, I was invested fully, every day. I've seen a lot of people throughout that time be invested for a year, kind of tap out for a year, come back. I've been pretty good about keeping my nose to the grindstone.
"I feel like I won a lot of matches from hard work and persistence, even maybe when I had better options as far as shot-making."
Roddick, who turned 30 Thursday, is married to model and actress Brooklyn Decker, and he even made a cameo appearance in her recent movie, Just Go With It.
His decision to walk away from the sport comes a day after four-time major champion Kim Clijsters played the last singles match of her career, a second-round loss to Laura Robson.
Roddick, who has battled injuries in the last couple of years, including this year, said he felt it coming.
"Walking off at Wimbledon, I felt like I knew," he said. "I don't want to disrespect the game by coasting home."
A debate about the Hall of Fame will certainly be coming, but first, Roddick is still in the tournament.
USA Today