Once considered the future of men's tennis, Roddick has just one Slam to his credit.
At the US Open in 2003 Andy Roddick followed up a semifinals performance at Wimbledon by claiming the men's singles title. Shortly thereafter he became the world's number one player.
With Agassi and Sampras not to be in the picture anymore American tennis looked fairly secure on the men's side but then something 'unfair' happened: Roger Federer burst onto the scene and American men's singles tennis has been at least second best ever since (probably worse).
It's an overly pushed point in the American sports media that Andy Roddick has been unlucky on the men's tour. Roddick, so it's stated or implied, is the best player in the world and it's simply unfair for some odd reason that he should have to prove that against Federer. They should have been born at different times in history, it's implied or stated explicitly, so that Roddick could rightly bask in the glory of being the world's best.
American commentators regularly state (complain?) that if not for Federer that Roddick would have multiple Grand Slam titles, notably the 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon titles and the 2006 US Open title.
Doesn't Federer know that the 'world's best American' player is simply entitled to his fair of Grand Slams?
Perhaps fitting, this year's Wimbledon final has a bit of a subplot to it. Federer can claim his 15th Grand Slam title and that would make him the single holder of the all time lead, putting him one up on American Pete Sampras. The current 'world's best American' is the final guardian of Pete's place in history as at least a co-holder of that record.
As far the matchup goes there is not a lot to argue about or analyze. Federer has been better than Roddick at all points in their careers. With only a microscopic 2 wins against Federer in 20 attempts, Roddick isn't much of a guardian and even at +500 (5/1; all odds bet365) Roddick is simply untouchable in the sports betting market. Federer, the five time Wimbledon champion, is at -800 (1/8) and he is the only pick that can be made in this matchup.
