Acknowledging former tennis stars’ presence at a prestigious tournament always takes the front seat. Especially when you’re Andy Roddick. But probably not when you’re at the US Open. The Flushing Meadows Slam is known for housing big names from all walks of life. While celebrities often tune in to witness impressive clashes, some mark their presence for the mere love of it. That’s where Roddick comes in. While the retired American pro is proud of his ability to identify flaws in current players’ games, fans are upset that he was overlooked for a recent hardcourt match.

Roddick was recently seated in the stands with popular musician Lin-Manuel Miranda. The duo spectated Serbian giant Novak Djokovic in action against the “consistent and tenacious” Radu Albot in the tournament’s R1. The duel witnessed the ‘Serbinator’ decimate his Moldovan rival without facing much resistance in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. However, to much surprise, the 2003 US Open champion was taken for a ride by the Slam’s social media admins.

Notably, while making an Instagram post, they failed to mention Roddick’s name and instead, solely focused on tagging the 44-year-old songwriter. “It’s only Round 1 and @lin_manuel is locked in 🔒”, the caption read.

This, in turn, wasn’t well-received by fans.

Tennis fans take potshots at US Open socials for ignoring Andy Roddick

Astonished with their ignorance, one fan commented on the post, asking “Not even gonna mention Andy in the house?” Another Instagram user “respectfully” under-dealt Miranda’s importance, opining that “the only important person related to tennis I see is Roddick”. One tennis fan voiced his stern admission, notifying the admins saying “Don’t disrespect Andy like that, he’s the most important person in that video”.

Fans who claim Andy Roddick is the most important or only significant person in the video likely emphasized his historical significance as the last American to win the US Open (in 2003). Even after his retirement in 2012, Roddick continues to engage with the tennis community through his podcast, ‘Served,’ and other interviews. This ongoing involvement likely fosters a sense of respect and appreciation among tennis fans.

One user fired the tournament officials at all fronts, commenting “You mean former World No. 1 Roddick and some dude.” Another tennis fan took the unfortunate incident to heart and passionately advocated for the 41-year-old, giving the Slam’s Instagram overseer a hard time by extensively reiterating their blunder. “Are you not aware that Roddick, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, is sitting next to him (Miranda), no one cares about a Broadway singer’s reaction at the US Open, have some respect.”

Andy Roddick is often considered one of the greatest tennis players of his generation, but he is not typically included in the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate. However, he was a dominant force in the early 2000s(owing to his powerful serve and aggressive style of play), achieving the World No. 1 ranking and reaching multiple other Grand Slam finals. But the dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic overshadowed his career.

While the event’s social media handles have failed to acknowledge Roddick’s presence this time, it’ll be hard for them to make the same mistake twice after following up on fans’ comments. What are your thoughts on their recent oversight? Do let us know in the comments.