Andy Roddick recently shared details about a practice set he played against Serena Williams during their time on the juniors‘ tennis circuit. Reflecting on the encounter, he noted that Williams’ physical strength at that stage was already impressive, which contributed to his loss.

Roddick, who turned professional in 2000, rose quickly to become one of the sport’s top male competitors. He won the 2003 US Open and held the World No. 1 ranking for 13 weeks from late 2003 into early 2004. Despite injuries later in his career, the 32-time ATP titlist stayed competitive until retiring at the 2012 US Open. After retiring, Roddick transitioned into tennis analysis and recently launched a podcast. During an interview with Tennis Channel, he recounted his junior-era practice match against Serena Williams, revealing that she defeated him 6-4.

When asked by Tennis Channel’s Steve Weissman about facing Serena, Roddick said,

“So you ask that jokingly, I lost a practice set to Serena. We were at Macy’s together and I lost, my career record against Serena is 0 and 1. I lost a set 6-4.” —Andy Roddick, Tennis Player

Roddick humorously added that Serena’s physical conditioning as a junior was already remarkable, joking that she was “bench-pressing dumptrucks” at the time.

“We were the same age but I was dodging rain jobs. At that age she was already bench-pressing dumptrucks, so…” —Andy Roddick, Tennis Player

This practice set between Roddick and Williams had previously come up in their conversations, including during the 2009 Australian Open.

A Playful Exchange Between Roddick and Williams in Melbourne

At the 2009 Australian Open, the two players engaged in a lighthearted exchange during press conferences. Serena Williams downplayed the idea that she was significantly stronger than Roddick, suggesting their junior matchup had been more balanced than he claimed. She jokingly accused him of jealousy over her superior fitness.

“Andy’s always exaggerating. I was so small for my age. He was small, too. But he just got jealous because my body was more fit and that my biceps are probably still bigger than his. Andy is incredibly jealous of me. You know, I just don’t know why. I can’t blame him really.” —Serena Williams, Tennis Player

Following this, both players entertained the idea of teaming up in doubles at one point, but that partnership never materialized.

This glimpse into their junior practice duel highlights not only their early competitive spirit but also the mutual respect and playful rivalry that developed between two of the sport’s most successful American players. Roddick’s reflection on losing to Williams on the practice court offers insight into her formidable physical presence even before she began dominating the professional circuit. Their story serves as a reminder of how early encounters can shape future champions.