TORONTO — Serena Williams, Andy Roddick and Agnieszka Radwanska will join Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., in the Face-Off at the Air Canada Centre on Friday night.
Leading up to the event, the four stars held a press conference in downtown Toronto. Unlike the usual, serious press conferences, this one was full of laughs mostly between besties Serena Williams and Andy Roddick. And yes, I just referred to them as besties. To be fair, Serena called Roddick her “bestest” on Twitter.
Excited to be in Canada with my bestest @andyroddick @milosraonic and Aga Radwanska for our tennis Toronto!! We play tomorrow check us out!! — Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) November 16, 2012
Excited to be in Canada with my bestest @andyroddick @milosraonic and Aga Radwanska for our tennis Toronto!! We play tomorrow check us out!!
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) November 16, 2012
I digress. Here are some gems:
Roddick on his retirement: “What kind of shape am I in right now? Round is a shape. I had a very detailed retirement plan and I feel that I’ve met every aspect of it. A lot of golf, a lot of carbs, a lot of fried food, and some booze, occasionally. I’ve been completely committed and the results have shown.”
Serena on playing her first professional match in Canada: “I think it was in the 1950s.”
Williams and Roddick on playing mixed doubles:
Roddick: “I couldn’t convince Serena to play with me when I was actually good. Now that I suck she’s all about it. I’m just glad that I don’t have to return her serve. That would have been embarrassing for all parties involved … except for her.”
Williams: “We were supposed to play in Australia — but it didn’t work out. Andy was tired.”
Serena Williams’ CN Tower experience:
Williams: “I’m afraid of heights but for whatever reason I decided to go to the CN Tower. I thought, ‘I can do it, I can do it!’ The minute I went up the elevator, when you go to the top, I panicked. I got out of the elevator and I was huddled in a corner shaking and I couldn’t be consoled. I remember I bought all kinds of candies and carbs and cakes and I started shoving them in my mouth …”
Roddick: “That sounds like retirement.”
Williams: “And then my friend had to come get me and then people came and they escorted me down cause I completely panicked, I had a complete panic attack. And I was outside because they have benches outside the CN Tower and I was laying down on the bench …”
Roddick: “You just made that up.”
Williams: “No I swear (I didn’t), I promise. My heart was beating; I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Heights aren’t for me. I realized, you know what, I’m going to definitely stick to the ground.”
Let’s hope these two besties — now I can’t stop saying besties — make a comedy album. And because I just came up with that idea, I expect to collect royalties.