Roddick takes break from retirement to play doubles

The first stop of Mardy Fish’s farewell tour ended quickly with a 6-4, 6-4 first-round loss to Israel’s Dudi Sela in the Atlanta Open on Tuesday. Fish said he was happy to play his second competitive match of the year.

Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick will end his almost three-year retirement this week as he partners with Mardy Fish at the ATP Atlanta Open.

Roddick is returning to help escort Fish into his retirement. When Fish’s shoes and socks were soaked with sweat, he asked his trainer to find more socks.

Roddick said it was “so hard” to watch Fish try to play through health issues others didn’t understand. “I threw them away”.

When asked whether there were positives from the match, he said, “I have two more tournaments left”. He plans to play in Washington and Cincinnati before the U.S. Open.

“I am glad he is getting this opportunity”, said Roddick.

The 32-year-old Roddick says Atlanta served as the “bookends” of his career.

“It seems like since he made his announcement and he can kind of see the finish line, it’s nearly a weight has been lifted off his shoulders a little bit”, Roddick said.

Fifth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus earlier downed America’s Austin Krajicek 6-4, 6-0, while No 6 seed Steve Johnson of the United States ground out a 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2 victory over Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.

Ryan Harrison, a semifinalist in 2011 and 2013, lost to qualifier Denis Kudla 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Roddick also played a singles exhibition match against 17-year-old Francis Tiafoe whom he beat 6-3, 6-4.

Bob and Mike Bryan, playing in Atlanta for the first time since 2001, are the top doubles seed.