Jimmy Connors, in a rare appearance at Flushing Meadows, said Thursday Andy Roddick belongs in the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. Roddick, whom Connors coached briefly, must wait five years before being considered as a candidate now that he has retired.
The USTA is already sending the wardrobe from Roddick’s final match Wednesday vs. Juan Martin del Potro for a Hall exhibit. Inside USTA media director Tim Curry’s office Thursday sat Roddick’s red-white-and-blue sneakers and a plastic bag containing his shirt, socks and even his briefs. Curry said the articles will be washed before being shipped to Newport.
But will Roddick, with just one Grand Slam title — the 2003 U.S. Open — have a Hall plaque with his name on it to go along with his briefs?
“He won 32 [ATP] tournaments, he won the U.S. Open, he’s been in the finals of Wimbledon three times, the Open another time,’’ Connors told The Post. “There’s guys who are in there with a lot less, to be honest about it. And with his Davis Cup career and the effort Andy’s put in to be a great champion, sure it’s a Hall of Fame career.’’
Following his career-ending fourth-round loss, Roddick said he would be “humbled’’ to get in.
“Obviously, it’s the ultimate honor of any tennis player and it’s something I’d be extremely humbled by,’’ Roddick said. “But I’m not going to be presumptuous. If it happens, I’ll be thrilled and amazed.’’
Connors, at the Open filming an ESPN “30-for-30’’ documentary on himself, retired at 39 — nine years older than Roddick’s current age.
“If he can’t go on practicing and working the way he wants to, Andy’s too proud to go half-assed in anything,’’ said Connors, who filmed a segment with Chris Evert. “He was a great champion and great ambassador for the game and I’m sure he made the right decision.’’
Asked if Roddick should have won more than one Slam title, Connors said, “He certainly had opportunities. It wasn’t for lack of effort. I can guarantee you that. He put everything he had into it every time he went out there. He can walk away with his head high. He should be proud of his record.’’
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Ekaterina Makarova and Bruno Soares defeated Kveta Peschke and Marcin Matkowski to win the mixed doubles final, 6-7 (8), 6-1, 12-10.
The two almost didn’t participate, but signed up for the tournament one minute before deadline.
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Sara Errani continued her remarkable U.S. Open run as she and Roberta Vinci advanced to the women’s doubles final with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. … Bob and Mike Bryan easily won their doubles semifinal match, 6-3, 6-4, defeating Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer to advance to Friday’s finals. It is their fifth appearance in the U.S. Open doubles final.
— Additonal reporting by David Satriano