Ankle Injury Forces Roddick To Retire

Andy Roddick's run of bad luck continued at Roland Garros Tuesday. The slumping fifth seeded American was forced to retire against Spaniard Alberto Martin due to reinjuring his ankle. Trailing 4-6, 5-7, 0-1, Roddick finally decided it was too much of a risk to continue, making it the third time he hasn't gotten out of the first round in Paris.

Despite putting forth a valiant effort from the baseline, he tweaked his ankle a couple of different times while trying to slide across on the clay to play back shots. He originally injured it last week at the World Team Cup.

After dropping the opening set, Roddick was locked in a tight battle to try to level the match when he fell awkwardly and twisted the ankle.

"At 5-all when I tried to go back for an overhead, I kind of caught it the wrong way again," Roddick told reporters after the disappointing conclusion.

"It started affecting the way I landed on my serve. Not much else was working besides my serve. It was a lost cause, I think. I didn't think it was going to be a hundred percent. Maybe I was stupidly optimistic last week. But I was definitely tentative sliding around out there."

Since losing to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final last year, Roddick has been knocked out twice in the first round ('05 U.S. Open, '06 French Open). He lost in the fourth round to eventual Australian Open runner up Marcos Baghdatis back in January. He hasn't won a title this year.

"Right now I just want to get healthy," added Roddick. "It's been an extremely annoying the last month or so. It's frustrating. You feel kind of helpless because mentally you're one way, then physically you're another."

While Roddick's frustrations mounted, the same could be said for 17th seeded American Robby Ginepri. Having won just three matches all year, Ginepri was knocked off by Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4. The match took two days to complete. Despite having an extra day to comeback, Ginepri couldn't force a fifth set.

"I'm out there, and I'm wondering: How am I going to win the next point? I'm questioning. I'm not out there trusting my instincts, I'm not out there believing I can overcome whatever I need to," Ginepri said. "I don't feel that hunger that I've had."

Ginepri's loss leaves just two Americans alive in the men's field, making it the second time since 1967 that the United States had just two men left entering the second round. It also took place last year leaving Roddick to conclude,"It's like 'Groundhog Day."' "Whatever I said last year, just copy it. Whatever I said last year, I'm sure it still fits."

Just lucky loser Kevin Kim and eighth seeded American James Blake remain. Kim has the daunting task of having to face defending champ Rafael Nadal next while Blake takes on clay court specialist Nicolas Almagro.

While it was a tough day for the American men, fourth seeded Croat Ivan Ljubicic disposed of Argentine Carlos Belocq 6-2, 6-0, 6-3. Ninth seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez advanced in four sets over Russian Marat Safin 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1. Also moving on was 14th seeded Aussie Lleyton Hewitt with a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory over Czech Jan Hernych.

In a battle of Spaniards, David Ferrer (15) prevailed in straight sets over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5, 6-1, 6-0. Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis (19) advanced in four sets over Albert Portas 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1. In a German showdown, Tommy Haas (23) was a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 winner over Rainer Schuettler. Meanwhile, 22nd seeded Slovak Dominik Hrbaty needed five before posting a 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3 win over Argentine Sergio Roitman.

Belgian Olivier Rochus (27) also moved into Round 2 with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Frenchman Jean-Christophe Faurel. While he was taking care of business, older brother Christophe Rochus cameback from two sets down to upend 18th seeded Swede Thomas Johansson 3-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Spaniard Fernando Verdasco (28) defeated Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in four 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4. Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu (29) also advanced with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 win over Bjorn Phau.

In a battle of 19-year-olds, 25th seeded Frenchman Gaels Monfils prevailed over British Scot Andy Murray 6-4, 6-7 (2), 1-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Other notables who moved on included Julien Benneteau, Dick Norman, Jiri Vanek, Davide Sanguinetti, Ivo Karlovic and Novak Djokovic.

The second round gets underway later today.