Brad Gilbert believes there wasn’t much between Andy Roddick and Roger Federer in the 2003/2004 season. In 2003, Roddick became a Grand Slam champion after winning the US Open. The following year, Roddick – then coached by Gilbert – reached his second Grand Slam final in Wimbledon.
Roddick got off to a good start in the 2004 Wimbledon final before Federer bounced back to win 4-6 7-5 7-6(3) 6-4. Reflecting on the 2004 Wimbledon final, Gilbert definitely feels that Roddick was “a bit unlucky” with the multiple rain delays disrupting his rhythm.
Gilbert: Roddick was just as good as Federer in 2003, 2004
“During 2003/2004 the gap wasn’t like that, I mean they played four times and Fed won three times. I felt Roddick was as good as Federer at that moment.
Two-three rain delays in this match where Roddick had the momentum and he was a bit unlucky. It’s not about how awesome that player is, it’s about executing your game plan.
As a coach, if you know your player will object, you can design a game plan that’s slightly outside of your comfort level. In 2003/2004 the gap was very small and if you’d asked me I felt Roddick was just as good,” Gilbert said on the Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast per Sportskeeda.
After Roddick won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open After winning in 2003, it was believed that he would achieve further Grand Slam success. Over the next few years, Roddick had several really strong Grand Slam runs, but he never won a Major title again – and Federer was to blame.
In the seasons after 2003, Roddick reached four more Grand Slam finals – three at Wimbledon and one at the US Open. In each of these four Grand Slam finals, Roddick was beaten by Federer. There has not been an American male Grand Slam champion since Roddick.
