Andy Roddick is paying close attention to this U.S. Open, as his friend Serena Williams, makes a bid for tennis immortality. In an interview with The New York Observer, Roddick discusses Serena, his friendship with her, her quest for the Slam and how they were treated differently throughout their careers. It’s an interesting quote from one of the most thoughtful and candid athletes of our time:

“I hope she wins it. We have been friends since we were eight. For four years we practiced on the courts in south Florida. We played right next to each other. To see her come from the 10-year-old year with beads in her hair — I mean [expletive] just to see her become just this complete icon and the best female athlete of all time. I love the respect she’s getting this week in the lead up too. She has the support of an entire country. We threw lots of fits on the court. I was a [jerk] a lot of the time, and I didn’t get a quarter of the criticism that she ever got. To see her at this moment, and on the precipice of doing something great, and that will be remembered forever, it’s just so cool. I’m so happy for her, and I hope she does it.”

(USA TODAY Sports Images)

It’s a great quote and the sentiment is shared by most of America, tennis fan or not. Everybody is rooting for Serena. But there’s one issue with it and it’s Roddick’s assertion that he didn’t receive a quarter of the criticism that Serena got.

1. Roddick was consistently a [jerk] on the court. His sarcasm with officials was part of his routine. It seemed to calm him. He got criticism for it, but because he was doing it with a boyish wink-and-a-nod, he got away with it, like a modern-day Eddie Haskell. It didn’t hurt that he would mock himself in press with a perfect degree of self-deprecation and self-awareness.

(Getty Images)

Serena isn’t Roddick. She doesn’t banter with officials every match. She mostly keeps to herself. She may have the occasional discussion/argument with the chair or shoot a nasty glare, but it’s nothing different than any dozen players does in a single day. What is different, however, is that when Serena blows up, she blows up hard, like in a 2009 U.S. Open semifinal when she said she would shove [expletive] balls down the [expletive] throat of a lineswoman who dared call her for a foot fault. Two years later, it happened again, this time in the U.S. Open final, when she said to a chair umpire, who she had confused with another female chair umpire, that she was “ugly inside” and should avoid her if they’re walking down a hallway. She apologized for neither, despite repeated attempts to get her to do so. Self-awareness isn’t part of Serena’s game. Play it or get out.

Roddick engaged in kid’s games. Serena had some of the worst tantrums the sport has ever seen.

So, she deserves every bit of the criticism she’s received. And if you think she’s treated to a double-standard, just look at Nick Kyrgios. He crossed a line with his comment to Stan Wawrinka and has been pummeled in the international press for it. He’s still getting ripped three weeks after it happened. That line will follow him forever. Yet, if you want to talk double-standard, when’s the last time you saw a televised clip of Serena getting in the lineswoman’s face and threateningly shaking her racquet at her? Or heard the “you’re ugly inside” comment? Serena doesn’t get a pass, but she’s not exactly public enemy No. 1 either.

(AP)

2. Serena is the king (or the queen, in this case). And you know what they say about coming at the king. Roddick was a great tennis player but even he would say that he wasn’t on Serena’s level (other than Roger Federer, who in this generation is)? Heck, later in his career, Roddick, a one-time “bad boy,” became a sort of tragic tennis figure in that everywhere he went, there was Federer, beating him in finals (including that brutal 16-14 fifth set defeat in the 2009 Wimbledon final). Nothing against Roddick who, again, is a Grand Slam champion and a former No. 1, but he made a total of 10 Grand Slam semifinals or finals in his career. Serena has won twice that many. They were playing completely different sports.

Things are different when you’re on top. There’s more scrutiny. There’s more pressure. Fairly or not, you’re held to a higher standard. So while Serena merits every bit of praise that comes her way (she’s the greatest female athlete in history) she warrants the criticism (her hot temper will always be a blemish on her career) too.

(EPA)