Todd Martin retired from competitive tennis, mostly all alone but for his wife, Amy; his son, Jack; his mother and coaches; and a smattering of French fans whistling approval for Fabrice Santoro. It was a day match that went into the night on Louis Armstrong court and when it was over, a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win for Santoro, a United States Tennis Association official grabbed a microphone to announce that Martin had just played his final competitive professional tennis match.
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Martin brushed away some tears and thanked his family and friends. It was a touching moment for a graying, 34-year-old who never won a major title but who caused trouble at many of them. Martin was in one U.S. Open final, in 1999, when he played the foil for Andre Agassi. And that’s where most of the fans gathered Monday night–on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court to first watch Serena Williams, fashion plate, and then Agassi, icon.
This was Martin’s 15th straight U.S. Open and over that time he’s played in 10 five-set matches here. Once he beat Greg Rusedski after Rusedski had won the first two sets easily, and then led big in the fifth too. Martin ended up on an IV that time, but he also ended up a winner who earned a standing ovation.
No standing ovations Monday. Just thank yous and tears and appreciation for the life he’s had.
But Martin was that other American for most of his career. He wasn’t Agassi or Pete Sampras or Michael Chang or Jim Courier.
A night that began with studded shirts and navel rings and Serena as James Dean the rebel ended with gauzy nostalgia and an appreciation of things solid and dependable. Todd Martin said goodbye. “He’ll be missed,” Agassi said.
Well said.