Andy Roddick returns to Philly as Hall of Famer

Andy Roddick joined the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday, and as he entered his Tuesday night matches with the Freedoms, the shine of the honor still hadn't worn off.

Roddick retired from the sport four years ago, and the two weeks of the World TeamTennis season are the only matches of tennis he'll play this year. But only a few years removed from his professional career, Roddick, 34, was selected as the recent men's player to be inducted into the 2017 Hall of Fame class.

The selection came from a committee consisting mainly of tennis legends who have dominated the game over the years. Roddick's eventual selection wasn't a surprise — he held the world No. 1 ranking for 13 weeks of his career and clinched the U.S. Open in 2003 in a thrilling finish, closing out the match with three straight aces. He finished in the top 10 of the ATP rankings for nine straight years and made the Wimbledon final three times.

But for Roddick, it was both a surprise and an honor to be selected by the committee so soon after his retirement.

"I didn't think it would happen this quickly," Roddick said. "It was gratifying. Tennis isn't part of my everyday existence now, so looking back and realizing what my coaches and trainers gave … for my goals is something that hits me now more than it did before."

Roddick played in the men's doubles and singles matches in a  25-18 loss to the New York Empire on Tuesday night, and in both matches he faced a friendly foe — Mardy Fish, a longtime friend and opponent. Fish flew to Rhode Island to celebrate Roddick's induction into the Hall of Fame, and the pair traveled together from California for the match.

Paired with Fabrice Martin in men's doubles, Roddick fell, 5-3, to Fish and Neal Skupski to open the night. The Freedoms duo pulled ahead 3-1, but Fish and Skupski won four straight games.

The pair then went head-to-head in the men's singles match, a nine-game battle that stayed tight until the end. They traded blows, with Roddick finishing with two game-winning aces. But in the tiebreaker, Fish earned a 5-2 victory when Roddick overshot a forehand that skipped just out. Fish grinned at his friend, kicking the winning ball jokingly back at the net as Roddick raised a hand in respect.

Both are retired now, and Roddick said their approaches to any match are much different. But the familiarity made for a dynamic and fun matchup between the two on Tuesday night.

"It's weird; you used to have clarity around what you would do," Roddick said. "Now I just hope it goes well. It's always fun playing Marty. We're super close. There aren't going to be a lot of secrets out there."

World TeamTennis is a completely different experience. Hall of Famers and Grand Slam champions leave behind huge crowds for snug venues across the country. For two weeks this year, the biggest names of the sport are cramming into Hagan Arena at St. Joseph's University.

It's a different experience, Roddick said, for both the fans and the players. Retired and active players are pitted against one another in games that don't affect the world standings. The matches remain fiercely competitive, but with smaller venues and lower stakes.

"I like a more intimate setting, especially when you're playing in World TeamTennis," Roddick said. "You want to interact with the fans and here I think it's a little more interactive. I'm all for a little more intimate atmosphere."

As Roddick jogged onto the court Tuesday night, he was introduced for the first time by his new title: Hall of Famer. The crowd was smaller than the ones of his Wimbledon and U.S. Open days, but the fans in attendance — including 76ers big man Joel Embiid — greeted him with cheers fit for a champion.