Andy Roddick, this generation’s greatest American Davis Cup player, was non-committal about his future of representing his country in future series and ruled himself out of playing later this year.
During the Tennis Channel’s coverage of Serbia’s victory over the United States in Belgrade Sunday, Roddick phoned in on the air to good friend and Tennis Channel commentator Justin Gimelstob and, when asked about playing on the team in the future, Roddick said simply “I don’t know” stating again “it won’t be this year.”
Roddick, known as the ultimate team player, remained in touch with the U.S. team, saying he spoke to U.S. team member John Isner after his loss in his Davis Cup debut match Friday.
He hinted that he would sit out the rest of the year, bowing to Isner and Sam Querrey, the two U.S. singles players to play against Serbia, to play in the remaining U.S. match later this year.
“If you commit to Davis Cup, you have to commit for the whole year,” said Roddick.
The 3-2 loss to Serbia places the United States into the Davis Cup Play-off Round, set for September 17-19. The United States will have to win this round to remain in the elite 16-team Davis Cup World Group in 2011 and be eligible to win the Davis Cup title. The draw for the Play-off Round will be made in May and the United States will likely play against a team emerging from the Europe-Africa, Asia-Oceania or Americas Zone Group I, depending on the seedings and draw made by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Roddick decided not to play Davis Cup in 2010 after he was advised that playing tennis on clay courts in Serbia during the hard court season would create further knee problems for the 27-year-old. Roddick has been the stalwart of the U.S. team since making his Davis Cup debut in 2001, leading his country to the title in 2007 over Russia. He has a 31-11 Davis Cup record (all in singles) and ranks behind John McEnroe for most Davis Cup singles victories by an American player.
Insiders predict he will play for the United States again, pending he remains healthy. In order for him to be eligible to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Roddick will have to “make himself available” for Davis Cup for one series in either 2011 or 2012, according to ITF rules. A player must make themselves available for Davis Cup or Fed Cup for two years between Olympic years, provided that one of those years is either one of the two years preceding the Olympic Games. Roddick did represent the United States in the 2004 Olympic Games, but skipped the 2008 Games in Beijing to prepare for the U.S. Open. On his twitter profile, Roddick has said he would like to play in the new mixed doubles at the 2012 Games in London with Serena Williams.
When asked on the Tennis Channel if someday he would like to be captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, Roddick said he would “love to do it some day,” but admitted he would have to maneuver through some “political correctness” to get the job as the leading American tennis ambassador.