INDIANAPOLIS - American Andy Roddick will try to serve his way into the RCA Championships history books this summer by becoming the first three-peat singles champion and joining Pete Sampras as the only three-time winners.
Only one other player, Sampras, has had the chance to three-peat. Sampras won in 1991 and 1992 but lost in 1993 in the quarterfinals to a young upstart from Australia, Patrick Rafter. Sampras’s third title came in 1996.
“We are delighted that Andy has decided to defend his title in 2005, going for a three-peat,” said Tournament Director Rob MacGill. “This will be his third appearance in Indianapolis, and from day one he became a fan favorite. It’s easy to see why our fans love to watch him play. He brings raw power, passion, intensity and flair to the game of tennis that our fans just love to root for.”
The 22-year-old from Nebraska won four singles titles in 2004, at San Jose, Miami, Queen’s and Indianapolis, and finished the year as the #2 player in the world. He also led the U.S. Davis Cup team to its first final since 1997 by going 6-2 in singles play. During the Davis Cup semifinal tie he recorded the world’s fastest serve at 155 mph. He also became the first American to win 70 or more matches in back-to-back seasons since Sampras accomplished that same feat from 1992-1995.
Roddick is currently ranked #5 on IDESIT ATP 2005 Race. This year, he captured his 16th and 17th career singles title at San Jose and Houston and he reached the semifinals at the Australian Open, Memphis and Indian Wells. Andy, who defeated Nicolas Kiefer in last year’s final, is 10-0 on the hardcourts in Indianapolis.
Tickets for the 2005 RCA Championships, which will be held July 16-24 at the Indianapolis Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI, can be purchased by calling 800-622-LOVE or by visiting any Ticketmaster location.