December 6, 2023
People, Celebrity, Events, People Feature, Features,
ANDY RODDICK IS LIVING THE DREAM AND WORKING HARD TO MAKE OTHERS COME TRUE THROUGH HIS FOUNDATION.
Photographed by Rusty Williams
WHEN ASKED WHERE HOME IS, Andy Roddick took no time to reflect on his itinerant changes and the city of Austin’s development. But make no mistake, it’s loud and clear: Austin has always been home to him. “My wife and I got married in Austin. We had our first dogs together in Austin. Both of our children were born in Austin,” he says. “We have been spending more time in North Carolina recently to be closer to Brooklyn’s family, which has also been great, but it’s always nice to come back home.”
The family man and tennis champ was in Austin on November 15th for the much anticipated Andy Rodrick Foundation Gala (andyroddickfoundation.org), held at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater, and Roddick and his wife, Brooklyn, were riddled with excitement. His Austin-based nonprofit was founded in 2000 when Roddick was a mere 17 years old.
“Tennis has the most amazing history of our champions giving back and raising their hands to stand up for causes they believe in. I grew up in the right vacuum. From Billie Jean King to Arthur Ashe to Martina Navratilova to Andre Agassi to Venus and Serena Williams, giving back and standing up seemed like it was the norm as opposed to the exception,” he says. “I started the foundation over twenty years ago on the backs of their examples and continue it because there’s always a need to be met for kids who may not have access to the same opportunities.”
The foundation aims to eliminate inequities for children outside the classroom, specifically those in low-income areas. Closing the learning gap for kids who may receive different experiences due to financial circumstances is outside the cards, thanks to ARF. “Our team is amazing, and to see what ARF has grown into is humbling,” he says. “To provide these quality educational programs that have changed lives for kids and their families is beyond a dream.” It’s clear Roddick has no plans to slow down, and with the city of Austin behind him and his foundation, there is no telling just how far he’ll go.
Photographed by Rusty Williams
As Roddick has seen Austin evolve, the diversity of industry has always been something he’s gravitated toward and has invested in multiple companies over the years. “It feels like there’s always someone doing something cool or innovative,” he says. The tech boom and constant growth certainly keep him busy and evolving new ideas alongside his peers. “Since retiring from professional tennis, it’s as busy as ever. Between starting new companies [recently as co-founder of ViewFi, a healthcare platform that uses telehealth to offer virtual care to diagnose injuries], working on the foundation, dabbling in some tennis analysis and commentating for Tennis Channel, and being a present father and husband, my days are full! Every day is different, and it seems like a million miles from how my life used to operate.”
Photographed by Rusty Williams
“TENNIS HAS THE MOST AMAZING HISTORY OF OUR CHAMPIONS GIVING BACK AND RAISING THEIR HANDS TO STAND UP FOR CAUSES THEY BELIEVE IN.”
But don’t worry, tennis fans, I asked the question we were all dying to know, especially as we recently came up on the 20th anniversary of his 2003 U.S. Open win… does he still play? Yes, though he didn’t play tennis for a few years, he has recently started playing again. “I’m enjoying it as much as I have in a decade,” he says. “It’s certainly more fun than going for a run.” I even asked if he had fallen prey to the pickleball craze like the rest of Austin, and Roddick agreed pickleball is fun, too. “Certainly much easier and less physical than tennis,” he notes, “but still really fun.” I think we can all agree with him on that.
When asked if he’d do it all over again, knowing what he knows, Roddick replied precisely how you think he would. “The path chooses us sometimes. I will continue to try to meet the moment. Hopefully, I can more often than not,” he says. “Winning two more points at Wimbledon would’ve been nice, though.” Then he laughed. Of course!
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