Andy Roddick is the top American tennis player and is ranked in the top 10 worldwide. He burst onto the scene in 2003 when he played a match that was truly a marathon at the Australian Open. Since then, he has garnered many awards, and while he had a lackluster year in 2006, he is now working to improve weaker aspects of his game and is preparing for major victories.

Andy Roddick became the Grand Slam singles champion in 2003 and has reached three additional Grand Slam finals. His main nemesis is Roger Federer, who defeated him in each of these finals. He has also won some victories against Roger Federer and any match between these two tennis giants is suspense-filled and leaves spectators breathless at every shot. Both players are known for their exacting technique and execution and are a pleasure to watch.

The pivotal match that defined Andy Roddick's career was the 2003 Australian Open quarterfinal against Moroccan player Younes El Aynaoui. The match lasted five full hours, and the fifth set made history as the longest fifth set in a Grand Slam tournament in the entire Open era; 2 hours and 23 minutes. However, this record has since been beaten recently at the 2007 Wimbledon men's double's match. While the 2003 victory was impressive, the same year he lost the French Open, won the Queen's Club in England. In the end, he lost to champion Roger Federer, but displayed impressive fortitude and gave a memorable performance, particularly for a newcomer on the world tennis scene.

Roddick is famous for his incredibly fast serves and forehands. He set a world record for the fastest serve in professional tennis at 155 miles per hour. He broke this record three times, and is expected to continue to top his best performances. One thing that can be said about Andy Roddick's serves: don't get on the wrong side of them!

Although 2003 was a great year for Andy Roddick, he was defeated in the 2004 U.S. Open. He defeated Fernando Gonzalez at the 2004 Olympics. Roddick showed bravery off the court as well as one when he rescued fellow player Sjeng Schalkenn from a hotel fire in 2004. Unlike certain other tennis players, Roddick is admired for his moral character as well as his game and does not throw rackets or have public temper tantrums which seemed typical of champions in the game of tennis in past years.