By Art Spander
NEW YORK -- Andy Roddick’s September song remains a melody without end. The days grow short, but at the 2012 U.S. Open, his last tennis tournament of a huge career, autumn remains somewhere beyond the backcourt line.
Roddick held off his announced retirement one more match on a humid Sunday at Flushing Meadow, playing to a crowd he said was as loud as he could remember and also playing to his own sense of purpose.
After his three-hour, 7-5, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, third-round victory over Italy’s Fabio Fognini, Roddick appeared almost as surprised as he was satisfied.
"I don’t have a lot of questions of how, why or when," Roddick told the packed house of more than 21,000 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. "I’m just trying to play point to point, keep my emotions together and appreciate this tournament."
The appreciation comes from the fans.
For a decade, Roddick, who turned 30 on Thursday, has been the male face of American tennis, outspoken, occasionally outrageous and always in touch.
After Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, there was Roddick, with the Open title in 2003, and appearances in four other finals, one at the Open, three at Wimbledon. There was Roddick in commercials. There was Roddick on the Davis Cup team.
So, when, stunningly, Roddick, beset by injuries, called a press conference on his birthday to say this tournament would be his last competition, the news was emotional, maybe as much for those who follow American tennis as much as it was for Roddick.
Each match could be his final match. In classic Roddick style, he’s keeping us in suspense by keeping himself in the Open. Maybe not much longer. His next opponent, Tuesday night, is Juan Martin del Potro, the number 7 seed and the 2009 champion. Still, sport has a way of defying logic.
"I’m normally good about putting my thoughts (forward), able to articulate," he said. "But this whole process, I’m trying not to overthink it, trying I guess to be as simplistic as possible. I’m trying to enjoy the process and, when I get out there, trying to compete also.’’
He’s competed. He’s succeeded.
Tennis and golf are different. There are no hometown teams. There are home-country heroes. Maybe Roger Federer belongs as much to the world as he does to Switzerland, but Americans -- “U-S-A, U-S-A’’ -- are partial toward Americans.
Since the early part of the 21st century, Roddick has been their man. Our man.
Now, as Roddick pointed out, as it is his time to say goodbye to the venues and the pals, it’s the U.S. Open spectators’ time to say goodbye to Roddick. And they’re doing it in with clamorous joy.
"I’ve been surprised by the support," Roddick conceded. "I thought inside our world it would be something, but I don’t know that I expected all this and the crowd to react the way it has. It’s been a special experience for me. It’s been a lot of fun."
The first set, when the upper reaches of the stadium were mostly empty, Roddick was in front 5 games to 3. Then, as so often happens in tennis, a reversal and it was 5-5. The fans, almost out of desperation, shouted and screamed. Roddick responded.
The 25-year-old Fognini, who hugged Roddick at the net when the match ended, eventually would come to the locker room and ask for a signed Roddick tennis shirt, the LaCoste brand with the little crocodile on the front.
"Like one of the jerseys," said Roddick, "it’s customary to exchange in football (soccer matches)."
Fognini appeared to be overtaking Roddick after winning the third set, but Andy regained control.
"He has no pressure now," Fognini said of Roddick’s play. "He was really aggressive. He has nothing to lose."
Not quite true. He has a career to lose. He has fans to lose.
Following the on-court interview, Roddick was hauled up to the CBS-TV outdoor booth overlooking the plaza, the gathering point for the all-day party that is U.S. Open tennis. After removing his headset, Roddick was assaulted with booming cheers.
There will be more. For the ninth time, he is in the Open’s round of 16. For someone who failed to get past the third round this year at the Australian, French and Wimbledon, that is a great way to pull the curtain down.
"I love this place," he told the fans, blowing kisses and waving. "I love all of you."
Later, to the press, Roddick said, "I’ve been walking around with a smile on my face for three days. All of a sudden you’re kind of smiling, humming, whistling, walking around, and you feel pretty good about it."
Roddick came to this Open as a spectator in 1991. He will leave as a legend in 2012.
"I’d be an idiot not to use the crowd right now," he said about the biased cheers. "It’s a huge advantage. Each match is almost like it’s another memory."
When each match may be your final match, what else would it be?
