NEW YORK -- It was another moment of joy for Andy Roddick of Boca Raton -- perhaps the final big moment of his junior career.
With the U.S. Open junior title in his possession Sunday and one more junior event to go he'll soon be turning his full attention to leaving the nest and embarking on full schedule of professional tennis on the ATP Tour challenger trail.
Roddick defeated Robbie Genepri of Marietta, Ga., 6-1, 6-3 in the first all-American final at the U.S. Open juniors since 1985. Roddick also becomes the first U.S. champion since Brian Dunn of Brandon in 1992.
"It was a great ending to a fun two weeks. I learned a lot over the last two weeks," Roddick said. But it was a two weeks tempered by the deaths of two people close to him.
One was his uncle, Azel Griswold. "He's just been a big part of my life ever since I can remember. He passed right before the tournament in Cincinnati this year. I miss him a lot." The other was Beth Hodges, a longtime volunteer at the U.S. Hardcourt Juniors in Kalamazoo, Mich., who was well known by just about every teenager that played the event. Hodges died in a car accident.
Using a grease pencil, Roddick wrote the initial BH on the backs of his tennis shoes for the tournament.
"Everybody loved her," Roddick said. "She knew all the players."
Roddick will go straight from here to New Orleans, where he will play the Sugar Bowl -- his last junior tournament. Then, on to the challengers.
