Former world No 1 Andy Roddick has shared a story about him being robbed by a police officer in Russia when he was in the country for a Davis Cup tie in 2006.
The 2003 US Open champion revealed the police officer threatened to send him to prison if he did not give him the $300 in cash he was carrying and said he has not returned to Russia since.
Roddick was part of a United States team that lost 3-2 to eventual winners Russia in Moscow in the semi-finals of the 2006 Davis Cup in Moscow. He lost 17-15 in the fifth set to Dmitry Tursunov in a marathon fourth rubber that sealed victory for the hosts.
The following year, Roddick helped the American team win the Davis Cup as they gained revenge on Russia with a 4-1 victory in the 2007 final in Portland. This was the last time the United States won the team competition.
In a post on X, Roddick recalled the shocking experience of his encounter with a police officer on his visit to Moscow.
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“I got robbed by a police officer on the street in Russia in 2006 when we were there for Davis Cup. True story. Came up and said how much cash do you have? I said $300… he simply said give it to me or go to jail,” wrote the American.
“I paid it and he went on his way. No emotion. Transactional. Let’s not get to that level of normalising crazy s**t. It ain’t it. Never went back.”
The 32-time ATP titlist was also asked if he considered making the incident public at the time and replied to explain why he decided not to.
“Nope. I wanted to do my job, and get out of there safely. At that time, I didn’t wanna make a stink in case it was just a bad actor. Looking back, I now understand the surrounding factors,” Roddick added.
On a recent episode of his Served podcast, Roddick marvelled at the rise of a “new prototype” of tall and athletic players in tennis.
“I see this new prototype of a professional tennis player, where you’re super skinny, you’re super athletic, you’re super fit, you can get in and out of the corners and you’re 6 ft. 7, you’re 6 ft. 4, like this new athlete in tennis,” the 41-year-old said.
“I was considered big when I played. I’m 6 foot 2, barely, and not all that athletic. I could serve but not super athletic. Now you have these guys that get in and out of the corners. They all play well off both sides. They can take you line, they can take you cross.
“I mean, [Jannik] Sinner is hitting open stance, you know, kind of recovery shots, but sticking them line out of nowhere. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. When I watch this, it just doesn’t make sense to me.”
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