Roddick Unstuck on Clay Again

Perhaps it was beginner's luck that enabled Andy Roddick to reach the semi-finals of the Italian Open on his first visit two years ago. It certainly appeared that way yesterday when the world No2, performed like a clay-court stumblebum as he lost 7-6, 6-1 in the first round against Argentina's Guillermo Canas.

Since reaching the last four at the Foro Italico in 2002, Roddick has been singularly unsuccessful on European clay, losing in the first round of the French Open for the last two years, which prompted him to enlist Brad Gilbert as his new coach last summer.

There were, however, extenuating circumstances for this defeat. Last weekend the hotel where Roddick was staying in Rome caught fire and he was instrumental in helping eight people get down from the floor above. But he was not making excuses. "It's no secret it is not my favourite surface but I had plenty of days to get ready, and I didn't do it which is the bottom line."

When Roddick chose not to play in Monte Carlo last month there were a number of snide remarks concerning both his, and his coach's, commitment to clay. Against Canas he seemed no nearer unravelling the mysteries of this most demanding of surfaces.

Clay exaggerates the lack of subtlety and touch in Roddick's game, while the comparative slowness of the surface - although on this occasion the wind had scoured much of the dirt, and the balls were flying - negates his serve and forehand. "Actually I was pretty excited by the conditions," Roddick said. Excitement was quickly replaced by frustration, particularly as he had held a 6-4 lead in the tie-break.

Roger Federer, the world No1, also skipped Monte Carlo, citing fatigue, and was a good way short of his best in a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman.

"I haven't felt great on the practice courts, and today wasn't so good. I had the chance to break early on and I didn't, and this made me play more defensive," said the Swiss. "I didn't believe in my shots too much, and was shanking a lot of balls."

Spain's Felix Mantilla, who surprisingly defeated Federer in last year's final, was on the verge of a first round exit against Robby Ginepri of the US, saving four match points before turning the match around 5-7, 7-5, 6-0 victory.

Miles Thompson of the US has become the first wheelchair tennis player to fail a drugs test. Thompson tested positive for cocaine at last year's US wheelchair championships in San Diego and has been banned for three months.

Kim Clijsters plays for the first time on the WTA Tour in the German Open today, admitting she has no chance of winning the French Open and is concentrating on peaking for Wimbledon. Clijsters will play against Spain's Marta Marrero with her left wrist in a brace and said: "I think the main thing to focus on is Wimbledon. It's there I want to play my best. I'll try and play the French Open, but it will still be with the brace. So my shots are restricted."