Grand Slams singles champion Andy Roddick will join Fox Sports 1 as co-host of the network’s signature news and highlights program Fox Sports Live. The announcement came Wednesday from Fox Sports co-president and COO Eric Shanks and executive vp Scott Ackerson.
It is a high profile hire for Fox Sports, which is gunning for cable sports leader ESPN when the former launches Aug. 17 in more than 80 million homes. Roddick, 30, announced his retirement from tennis after last summer’s U.S. Open. He’ll appear on the Fox Sports Live Monday through Friday with host Charissa Thompson, the ESPN SportsNation host who will leave the network for Fox Sports.
“It is very rare that you find an exceptional athlete who can step off the field or in this case the court, who has the potential to be as equally talented in an on-air role,” said Ackerson in a statement. “Andy is not only an expert tennis analyst, but his knowledge, candor and opinions on all sports are equally as impressive, and that makes him a unique fit for what we have in mind for Fox Sports Live.”
Roddick joins Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole, previously announced as the primary highlight team on Fox Sports Live. The program, which will air nightly from 11 p.m. - 2 a.m., is Fox Sports' answer to ESPN's now-iconic SportsCenter. Roddick does have some media experience in addition to his countless talk show appearances throughout his career. In 2011, he began hosting a Fox Sports Radio show with friend Bobby Bones that was a mix of sports, pop culture and entertainment. (Bones continues to host a country music radio show based in Nashville, Tennessee.)
“I was a tennis player for a long time, but I’ve been a sports fan a lot longer than that,” added Roddick. “It has always been a dream of mine to pursue an opportunity like this after my playing career, and I am incredibly grateful to Eric, Scott and the entire Fox Sports 1 team for helping make this dream a reality. I can’t wait to get started."
