Andy Murray Reacts After Andy Roddick Signs ‘Multi-Year’ Deal with ESPN

Andy Roddick will join ESPN for its coverage of Wimbledon and the US Open.

Andy Murray Reacts After Andy Roddick Signs ‘Multi-Year’ Deal with ESPN

Andy Roddick, Andy Murray (Image via X/AllAboutHQ, Andy Murray)

Former World No.1 Andy Roddick will be a part of ESPN’s team for this year’s Wimbledon and the US Open. Roddick, who won the 2003 US Open, signed a multi-year deal with ESPN and will work as an analyst for match and studio coverage.

Roddick, who called time on his career in 2012, did commentary for the BBC during the 2015 Wimbledon. Then in 2024, he launched his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, and has nearly 200,000 subscribers on YouTube. Roddick discusses almost everything that happens in the tennis world, with several former and current players often making an appearance on his podcast, including 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and World No.2 Iga Swiatek.

Simply, I’m always just a massive fan of tennis. I’m very excited to join the ESPN tennis team and look forward to covering the two biggest tournaments in the world.

Andy Roddick said (via ESPN’s press release)

Roddick’s former rival and fellow former World No.1 Andy Murray has reacted to the news. On X, he said the deal between Roddick and ESPN is “great” for tennis.

This is a great deal for tennis. Andy is absolutely brilliant on his podcast. Great knowledge of the game, Well researched, speaks well, loves tennis, good fun, enjoys a debate, and my god, tennis needs way more of that on its broadcasts.

Check out his post here:

Roddick and his team, although they were able to record their podcast on the US Open site, were denied media credentials. No American man has yet to win a Major since Roddick’s win at the 2003 US Open.

Andy Roddick reacts to the Dubai Tennis Championships’ director’s suggestion of docking points due to last-minute withdrawals

Dubai Tennis Championships director Salah Tahlak was angry at Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek for their withdrawals from the tournament. He even suggested that the WTA should deduct ranking points for their late withdrawals.

Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (3)
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/News Aryna Sabalenka, Jimmie48 Photography)

Andy Roddick cannot understand how docking points will work and claimed on his Served podcast that top players will continue to withdraw from the two WTA 1000 events in the Middle East Swing due to the timing of the events. The two events take place after the Australian Open, and the top players, if they make a deep run, sometimes end up prioritizing rest and recovery.

So they are independent contractors, but if they choose not to play this week, we are going to deduct them ranking points? Make it make sense to me. It’s unfortunate, but we play a full schedule. You’re the one who pushes for the designation of a 1000 in that region in February. It’s a terrible slot. People are going to pull out, especially people who are playing for Slams and number one. It’s going to happen. So he [Tahlak] wants to dock points that they have already won somewhere else? They have earned those points.

Swiatek skipped the Qatar Open last year and lost to eventual champion Mirra Andreeva in the Dubai Open quarterfinals. Sabalenka also skipped the Doha event and lost to Clara Tauson in the last 16 of the Dubai event.

This year, Sabalenka withdrew from both WTA 1000 events, while Swiatek played in Doha. The six-time Grand Slam champion lost to Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals.

Next is the Indian Wells, where last year, Swiatek suffered defeat in the semifinals at the hands of Andreeva. Sabalenka made the final but failed to defeat Andreeva. In the Australian Open this year, while Swiatek crashed out in the quarterfinals, Sabalenka couldn’t complete the three-peat, losing to Elena Rybakina in three sets.

Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas Issues Update on Back Injury Ahead of Dubai Championships Title Defense