Andy Roddick and journalist Jon Wertheim recently compared Andy Murray’s retirement row to a similar situation Venus Williams experienced in 2023.
Murray’s first-round elimination from the Open Sud de France at the hands of Benoit Paire caused quite a stir. A few fans and experts voiced calls for the two-time Wimbledon champion to retire due to his apparent inability to compete at the highest level.
Things went from bad to worse when a BBC article suggested that Murray was tarnishing his legacy. Murray himself slammed the writer of the article in response.
Roddick has now backed the 36-year-old and said that the decision to retire rests with Murray alone.
Roddick, who has started a podcast called Served With Andy Roddick, touched upon the issue in its latest episode. Prominent tennis journalist Jon Wertheim also joined the American.
The duo likened Murray’s present situation to Venus Williams’ situation during the 2023 Rothesay Classic in Birmingham.
Wertheim was the first to bring up the comparison, noting that Williams last won a singles Major in 2008. He said (37:56):
“She (Venus Williams) hasn’t won a Major in 15 years. You know what? She still finds fulfillment. She’s not taking money off anyone’s table. She still finds satisfaction. Is anybody saying her legacy is tarnished because she hasn’t won a Major in more than a decade?”
Roddick then chimed in with his opinion, saying:
“Well, she also must have sold tickets that bump up the economy in that community. How far do you want to take this argument? She might have added to the pockets of thousands of people.”
