Andy Roddick

I was watching on television last night along with the biggest attendance for an early round at the US Open wondering if this would be Andy Roddick's final match of his career. I was hoping it wouldn't be - losing to a newer kid on the block is not really the way one would like to bow out. Fortunately, Andy won.

Over his career, Andy has been tempestuous and resilient off court. Fabulous and lacking on court. His immense serve probably covered up a few weaknesses early in his career, like a backhand volley. But as he progressed through the ATP Tour year after year, he worked on his weaknesses and made perhaps his biggest impression by winning the US Open in 2003.

But for me, the indelible mark left on his career is the epic Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. If you would like a recap of the match, you can find one here at The Daily Telegraph: Telegraph Recap 2009 Wimbledon Final.

Andy is not my favourite American player - that will always be Pete Sampras on the men's side. But he deserves a great sending off. The media has treated him with disdain at times and yet Andy has been a Top 10 player, and ranked Number One back in 2003, for most of his career. Only a few stalwarts have been able to do that in the last 40 years and you can name them on three hands. Only 15 players have ever been ranked longer than Andy at the number one position.  And, to put that in perspective, Number 12 on the list of length being ranked at number one is the media's darling: Novak.

So, I look forward to watching Andy's next match and fingers crossed that he continues his run here at The Open. I think when history is written in years to come, he will always figure as a commanding performer within his sport and certainly at the arena that is the Open.