Q. What are the emotions? ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. You know, playing the last five games was pretty hard. Once I got down a break I could barely look at my box. I don't know what the emotions are. I'm a little overwhelmed right now. I normally feel like I can grasp things pretty quickly and clearly; I certainly don't feel that way right now. Q. I think you ought to be clapped to. ANDY RODDICK: Thanks, man. (Applause.) Q. There is a tradition of the press that there is no applause in the press box, no applause at a press conference, there is no applause at anything like that, but you deserve it. ANDY RODDICK: Thanks, Bud. (Applause.) Q. You have had a lot of chances and opportunities to reflect on your career since you made the announcement and even leading up to it. What do you consider the most rewarding aspect that you have experienced? ANDY RODDICK: It's so hard. I mean, I get asked these big questions and I'm not good at choosing. You know, I'm not sure. You know, I know the thing that is certain is I didn't take any of it for granted. You know, I think I went about things the right way. The umpires might disagree with me. (Laughter.) You know, I was consistent, and I don't feel like I left a lot on the table on a daily basis. When I look back, that's probably what I'm proud of. Q. You may not remember this. You were 17 years old. You're playing in Delray Beach, it's Saturday night, the fans are were all over you. A woman said, Andy, would you sign my chest? And you said, I wasn't brought up that way. How were you... ANDY RODDICK: I had just never seen a boob before, to be honest. (Laughter.) It was just ‑‑ that was overwhelming for me. This is the second time I have been overwhelmed. (Laughter.) Q. How many thoughts were going through your mind? Can you just share one or two? When you're about to serve or receive, how do you keep things out of your mind? What was running through your mind? ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, like I said, it was tough. Once he kind of got up there in that match it was a different set of circumstances than my previous matches. You know, then you start thinking about, you know, how real it is and, you know, a lot of thoughts go through your head. You're thinking about matches you're playing when you're 12 or you're thinking about ‑‑ you know, I was thinking about my mom driving me to practices all over the place. You just think about a million things. Then all of a sudden you have to play a point against one of the best players in the world. It certainly was a mixed bag there at the end. Q. I'm assuming you never served with tears in your eyes before; am I right? ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, you try to keep it as best you can. I have done better over the last week or so than I thought I would. Like I said, this was all new for me. I had seen most things that this game had to offer, and this was entirely new. It was emotional, but not emotional like we normally have it. It's normally a very selfish emotion for us. It's if we do badly then it costs us something; if we do well we get great things. This was about something bigger. It wasn't about ranking points or paychecks or anything else, you know. It was fun. This week I felt like I was, you know, 12 years old playing in a park. It was extremely innocent. That was fun. I enjoyed it.
Q. Were you actually losing it during that last service game? ANDY RODDICK: Well, literally losing it. I almost got broken. (Laughter.) No, I don't remember. I mean, I felt like I was on the verge for a little while, so I'm not sure what I actually got through. Q. Before the start of the tournament did you craft an ending for yourself and what would have been the perfect ending for you, do you think? ANDY RODDICK: No, I don't really prepare things. You know, I didn't know before the tournament that that was that. I knew in the middle of my match in the first round, and then I gave myself a day not to be, you know, kind of reactionary. I woke up one of the days and Brooke was out running an errand and I kind of had an hour and a half to myself, and I was just walking back and forth. Then, you know, kind of started texting her frantically and telling her I need to chat. Saying it out loud was the hardest part for me. Then started calling people so they wouldn't hear it from you bunch first. (Smiling.) Yeah, I don't know that I crafted any part of this besides coming in here and sharing it with you all. Q. You think, having said all that, the way it worked out in the end playing Del Potro on that court ‑ it wasn't a night match but a day match ‑ but do you feel good about the setting in a sense? ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, I don't know that I had a plan. You know, I was just going to try to win. It was perfect. This whole week has been perfect, you know. Rain‑delayed match, come back the next day. It's like typical US Open. Played with me in the end, so I guess it was right.