Andy Roddick has recounted the time he was sensationally beaten by Serena Williams in a practice set. Fans have often wondered how matches between the best WTA and ATP stars would play out - and it seems Williams had the better of Roddick in their junior days.
Both stars first crossed paths at Rick Macci's tennis academy in Florida during their youth. Roddick, who is 11 months younger than his compatriot, says he lost a practice set when he was around 10 years old. Williams, whose excellent physique was apparently evident even in her formative years, won 6-4. Now aged 43, Williams went on to win 23 Grand Slam titles, dominating the WTA Tour with her sister Venus. Roddick won the US Open and reached world No. 1 earlier in his career.
Quizzed on his potential meetings with Williams, Roddick told Tennis Channel: "You ask that jokingly but I lost a practice set against her. We were at Macci's together. I lost and my career record against Serena is 0-1. I lost a set 6-4 and we were like 10.
"We were around the same age. I was dodging rain jobs and she was already bench-pressing dump trucks."
Roddick and Williams have discussed their rivalry in the past. Speaking at the 2009 Australian Open, Roddick told the same story and gave the excuse that he had not developed physically at the age of 10.
The 42-year-old said: "When we were ten, I had to literally run around in the shower to get wet. I was [very small]. She was bench pressing dump trucks already at that time. I told her that yesterday, and she got a good laugh. Any chance she gets she just does it to get under my skin, and she does it very successfully."
Williams has denied the fact that she was well built even at a young age, insisting that she was actually much smaller. She said a day after Roddick's comments: "Andy's always exaggerating. I was so small for my age. He was small, too. But he just got jealous because my body was more fit and that my biceps are probably still bigger than his. Andy is incredibly jealous of me. You know, I just don't know why. I can't blame him really."
