What a match to watch!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to watch it all live. Thank goodness for DVR! I was amazed to see that they just got over the trophy presentation when I returned home from brunch around 12:45 PM. I saw the start of the match where Federer and Roddick were trading games back and forth before I eventually left for church around 9:40 AM.
What I could not believe, which I thought was completely tasteless and disrespectful on Federer’s part (which may not be entirely his fault), was when NetJets.com played a commercial congratulating Federer on his win at Wimbledon. And in the commercial Federer is pulling a large cart filled with all of his grand slam trophies. I mean, they haven’t even gotten to the trophy presentation at Wimbledon and a commercial is being played congratulating him.
And obviously this was a commercial made in advance of today’s match.
Think of all the money NetJets.com could have lost if Federer lost from all the production costs associated with the commercial. Just tasteless in my opinion. Had the commercial played a day later or a week later, it would have been in good taste. But to run the commercial right after the point was won to clench the match was terrible. I think of all of Andy Roddick’s family and friends who may have been watching the match and how much more livid they must have been than I was.
This match was also the longest played match in Wimbledon history at 4 hours and 16 minutes. Federer won the match, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14. Yes, that is 16-14 in the last set. No typo there. Between them they played a total of 77 games. And even though Federer won the match, Roddick won more games, 39-38. What was hard to watch was Roddick trying to hold back the emotion of the loss of the match. NBC-TV had their cameras on him from every angle and you could see Roddick’s eyes getting redder and redder and more and more teary. But Andy Roddick kept his composure and remained the gracious loser. I was a bit shocked by Federer’s comments to the BBC after the match which left the audience at Centre Court somewhat speechless until the commentator went on to another question.
This had to have been the best performance I have seen by Roddick. I can’t remember the last time Roddick had gotten so far in the Wimbledon Championships. It seemed like he was always ousted early due to some unfortunate mistakes, or just being overpowered by his opponent. I can only hope that Andy does as great next year. 
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I really don’t follow tennis that much. But I tell ya, these fellas are cuter than in the old John McEnroe days!!
HA!
So talented and so cute!
I was able to watch his semi-final match against Murray in The Quays Pub in Ireland. It was a wonderful place to be.
Roddick is one of my favorite tennis players.
The commercial? Tasteless and arrogant.
Great blog! Yes, the commercial was arrogant and unnecessary at the time of airing. It truly was one of the best matches I have seen in quite some time. I almost cried when he lost and when they had the cameras on him. He looked like his puppy died or something. It was terrible. I believe that if Fed wasn’t around Roddick would have at least 5 or 6 slam titles. I hope the Open will be his opportunity to show the tennis world that he’s not second tier.
Andy Roddick has gotten this far at Wimbledon before – twice, in fact. He lost both times in the finals to the same person he lost to in 2009. The years & results:
2004 Roger Federer defeats Andy Roddick 4-6 7-5 7-6(7-3 tiebreak) 6-4
2005 Roger Federer defeats Andy Roddick 6-2 7-6(7-2 tiebreak) 6-4