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Andy Roddick Announces That He Will Retire Following U.S. Open

by Dan Duquette Jr. on Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 6:08PM

Andy Roddick is calling it a career.

The 30-year-old tennis player called an impromptu news conference on Thursday to announce that he will be retiring from tennis after the U.S. Open.

“I just feel like it’s time,” he told assembled reporters.

“When I was playing in the first round, I knew [this would be my last tournament].”

Roddick, who was also celebrating his birthday on Thursday, defeated Rhyne Williams in the first round of this year’s U.S. Open on Tuesday.

“I think I wanted a chance to say goodbye,” he explained. “If I do run into some emotions tomorrow or how long, I don’t want people to think I’m unstable.”

Roddick was the 2003 U.S. Open champion and the last North American male to capture a Grand Slam tournament title.