The Beginning is the End is the Beginning
I've been trying since Roddick announced his retirement on exactly what to write about him.
This is the tale of two men.
One who had early success beyond all expectations and struggled in dealing with staying at that level. Through it all, he fought to improve in every way he could to try to reach that dream again, only for it to be just slightly out of reach each time.
The other had early expectations and struggled in dealing with getting to that level. Through it all, he fought to improve in every way he could to try to reach that dream everyone else had, only for it to seem to be slightly out of reach each time.
It seems fitting that the two visions came to a head this summer.
One looked at the stage of Wimbledon and realized this could be his last goodbye. He then set foot at his favorite tournament and saw all signs that this particular road ends, no longer worth the struggle just to hold position.
The other looked at the stage of Wimbledon and saw what could be but not quite yet. He then set foot a month later at the same site and realized a dream that was never even in the picture in the form of gold.
As the crowd began chanting his name in the US Open final, it was possible to be transported to a time when it meant one player, a player who is now officially retired. The unfamiliar exhiliaration coming from a foreign land, all pushing the other to the finish line that he thought was too far from his reach.
As a fan of both, I knew what it was like to see one as a champion. The other, I had no clue if it would really happen or would that dreadful curse stay around for his entire career. I didn't seriously expect the other to actually become a champion when I first became a fan. I just liked the imperfect succeeding against the polished models.
Enjoy the next chapter of your life, Andy Roddick. Enjoy the ride up to the summit, Andy Murray.