“Maybe for the next Grand Slams don’t pick us": Andy Roddick shares hilarious moment with Sabalenka over Wimbledon frustration

Andy Roddick recently shared a humorous confession with Aryna Sabalenka about why her sudden Wimbledon withdrawal left him frustrated. The 2003 US Open champion had confidently predicted that Sabalenka would win the tournament, even forecasting a final showdown with Jessica Pegula.

Just hours after his bold call, however, Sabalenka announced her withdrawal, leaving Roddick feeling both amused and slightly annoyed. The 2003 US Open champion had analyzed the tournament draw and predicted that Sabalenka would win Wimbledon and face Jessica Pegula in the final. As for the American, she was handed an early exit after losing to Wang Xinyu in the second round.

At that time, Sabalenka was ranked No. 2 in the world and went on to have a remarkable end to the season after her Wimbledon withdrawal. Since then, she racked up 26 wins in her next 29 matches up to the WTA Finals, capturing two Masters 1000 titles and the US Open, where she defeated Jessica Pegula in straight sets.

On the Served with Roddick podcast, the former World No. 1 said, “I was angry with you earlier this year,” Roddick commented, recalling the days before Wimbledon. “I have to get a preview show for Wimbledon out. I mean, I know who I think’s going to win—it was pretty obvious to me at that point—and then f*** it, if you didn’t pull out six hours after I made my call.”

“Thank you so much for betting on me; it means a lot, thank you,” Sabalenka responded, laughing. “Maybe for the next Grand Slams, don’t pick us so we make it to the final? That’s a deal.”

“I chose you and Jess (Pegula) to reach the Wimbledon final,” Roddick continued. “And then, once the US Open came around, I thought, like, I can’t go through this all over again. I’m just going to be lazy and pick the two players who screwed me over at Wimbledon—and this time, it actually worked out.”

“Probably for the next Grand Slams, don’t pick us, so maybe we’ll actually reach the finals,” Sabalenka joked. “Please remember that for every Grand Slam. I’m not the player to pick.”

Although Sabalenka finished the season with consecutive losses to Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals, she secured the year-end World No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career a few days earlier, reclaiming the top spot from Iga Swiatek after 50 weeks.