Font ResizeNEW YORK -- Chants of "Let’s go, Andy!" rang out between points during the last service game of his career, and again before the start of what would wind up as the last return game.
Always a fan favorite at the U.S. Open, and the 2003 champion, Andy Roddick headed into retirement with a 6-7 (1), 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4 loss to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday.
It was an emotional farewell for Roddick, who sat in his changeover chair, covering his face with a white towel, after sailing a running forehand long on the last point.
The key, probably, was the second set. Neither man faced so much as a single break point, and this time it was del Potro’s turn to dominate the tiebreaker. Gaining more traction on his opponent’s once-all-powerful serve, del Potro whipped a cross-court forehand return right at Roddick’s feet on set point.
Del Potro broke again for a 3-0 edge in that set, producing a drop shot winner that Roddick didn’t even chase.
