Biography - Andy Roddick

American super-jock Andy Roddick is much more than People Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Athlete’ - he also happens to be one of the greatest tennis players alive. Despite a notoriously shaky 2005, Roddick has staged a remarkable comeback this year and recently made it to the finals of the 2006 U.S. Open.

Born on August 30, 1982 in Omaha, Nebraska, Roddick grew up in Austin, Texas in an accomplished family of athletes – his brother John is a former All-American tennis player, and his older brother Lawrence served on the U.S. Senior National Team for springboard diving. Andy began playing professionally at only 18 years old in 2000, and was watched closely by tennis pros due to his inhumanly powerful serve, a stroke that reached 153.5 miles per hour in a 2004 match. Roddick’s best year to date was 2003, during which he won six singles titles including the coveted U.S. Open and reached the number one worldwide ranking. Roddick became the first American to hold the rank since Andre Agassi in 1999, and is the second-youngest number one in history.

Roddick had a strong 2004, winning several singles titles and reaching the final at Wimbledon, which he lost to Roger Federer. However, though the year started well with wins at the SAP Open and the U.S. Claycourt Championships, Roddick fell from grace in 2005 with huge losses at the French Open and a second Wimbledon final defeat from Federer. His ranking continued to fall in 2006 with early exits from Wimbledon and the Australian & French Opens, in addition to being defeated by James Blake at the 2006 Queen’s Club in London.

A win at the 2006 Cincinnati Masters put Roddick back atop the American heap, and he entered the 2006 U.S. Open armed with extraordinary momentum and a new coach, former champion Jimmy Connors. Roddick played some of the best tennis of his life at the tournament, but eventually lost to Federer in a rousing championship match, his third loss to the Swiss number one in Grand Slam finals.

Roddick is likely to continue his reign as America’s number one player, although the presence of Federer, who is arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, will likely thwart his chances at winning many international titles. Luckily, he keeps busy off the court with the Andy Roddick Foundation, which supports programs for at-risk youth. The sexy sports celebrity sustains a busy dating life as well, and has become tabloid fodder due to a long relationship with pop star Mandy Moore and current rumors that he is dating women’s tennis champion Maria Sharapova.