Andy Roddick has delivered a tongue-in-cheek response to the news that Roger Federer will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The Swiss legend, who won 20 Grand Slam titles and 103 ATP-level titles before retiring in 2022, will be formally inducted during a ceremony in Rhode Island next August.
During his Served Media podcast, Roddick said: 'You know what I was shocked about just before we get into this list? Something happened this week. Floored me. Federer got voted into the Hall of Fame. On the first ballot.' He then added: 'Only one person voted against it, and I'm sure I don't know who it is. Undeserving?'
Roddick, who lost to Federer in the 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finals, has long expressed admiration for his former rival. After the 2005 final, he said: 'I have loads of respect for him, as a person as well. I told him, "I'd love to hate you, but you're really nice."'
Federer, one of only eight men to complete a career Grand Slam, learned of his induction at the Swiss Tennis centre where he trained as a youngster. He was welcomed by Hall of Fame members during a video call, and said: 'It's a tremendous honour to be inducted... To be recognised in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling.'
