Male Player of the Year

Rocking Roddick edges Federer based on big-match wins

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

The praise showered on the super-popular Roger Federer after his remarkable title run at the Tennis Masters Cup Houston were worthy of a king. After the brilliant 2003 Wimbledon champ ran through Andy Roddick in the semis and then blasted Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 in the final, even the eight-time Grand Slam champ couldn't find holes in his game.

"He's doing everything great," Agassi said. "He's a great mover, great striker of the ball off both sides. He's a factor from the back of the court, when he comes to the net. His serve is very effective. He knows the game real well, knows court position. As good as it gets out there."

Not quite in 2003.

While it could be argued that No. 2 Federer is as good or better than No. 1 Andy Roddick – especially given his 6-1 match record against him – it doesn't mean that the Swiss is a more accomplished big-match player, or had a better year than Roddick did when it really counted.

Both men won a Slam, with Federer taking Wimbledon and Roddick the US Open. But Roddick also reached the Aussie Open and Wimby semis, while Federer only reached the fourth round of the Aussie and US Open – losing two critical matches to David Nalbandian. Both Roddick and Federer flamed out in the first round of Roland Garros.

Roddick won two Masters Series titles (Canada and Cincy), while Federer won "only won" Houston. It could be argued that Federer had a more consistent year than Roddick at the Masters Series. He also won seven overall titles to six from Roddick and had a better match record (78-17 to 72-19), but Roddick's Slam performances simply push him over the top.

RODDICK STEPPED IT UP AT HOME
Sure, the underachieving Federer faced a lot of pressure at Wimbledon, especially without grass court legend Pete Sampras in the draw. But with three of America's famed Fab 4 legends having retired (Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang) and coming off a sizzling summer hard court season, Roddick was under much more pressure to win his first Slam at home.

Showing a Sampras-type first serve, Courier's in-you-face attitude and a bit of Chang's huge heart, Roddick won his first Slam title in resounding fashion, knocking off No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final.

It may have taken the 20-year-old a little longer than some might have wanted to win a Slam, but Roddick came through in flying colors. "No more what's it like to be the future of American tennis crap. No more," Roddick said with a smile. "You couldn't have written a script any better, starting it off with Pete's retirement, Chang is gone. It was just amazing, too good."

FEDERER WAS ONLY A MATCH OR TWO SHORT
Had Federer found a way to figure out Nalbandian, he would have faced Roddick in the semis and could have seized control of the entire season with a victory there. But he didn't.

Roddick didn't stop progressing in NY. With a savvy new coach, Brad Gilbert, he fought through the fall season and did what he had to do at the Tennis Masters Cup in Houston: securing the No. 1 ranking when Juan Carlos flamed out early. Had Ferrero survived and reached the semis, Roddick may have taken a different attitude on court against Federer.

Plus, while Federer is one of the most accomplished Davis Cup players ever, when push came to shove in the semis against Lleyton Hewitt, he lost a critical five-setter.

"Andy deserves his No. 1 spot," Federer said in Houston. "I think he should walk away from here and feel the best. I would feel the same way if I would be No. 1. I'll try to reach what he achieved next year."

Enough said.

There are a few folks who will argue that Ferrero is the player of the year, given that he is the only man to have reached two Slam finals. But after flying to his first Roland Garros crown and reaching the US Open final, Ferrero had a shot at No. 1 in Houston and collapsed, not winning a set in three matches. He also flamed out in the Davis Cup final, falling in five-setters to Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis. Players of the year simply do not perform like that.