Andy Roddick: My Footwork On Clay Is Really, Really Bad

May 27th, 2012

Andy Roddick: My Footwork On Clay Is Really, Really Bad
by Tom Gainey

Andy Roddick’s brief clay season mercifully came to an end on Sunday in the first round of the French Open. Playing just his second clay tournament of the season Roddick was trounced by another clay-challenged player, Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Roddick finishes his abbreviated 2012 clay campaign at 0-4 with just one single set won, that coming today.

“Just from the first ball to get set I just feel like I get exposed too easily out here,” Roddick said. “I feel like I’m not set on most shots. If you’re not set, it’s tough to get match of a flow going. When you don’t have much of a flow going, it lends itself to sporadic play. It all adds up.

“You can’t fake it out here. These are the best tournaments in the world. It’s tough to lie out here. My footwork on this stuff is really, really bad.

“It’s movement. My movement on this stuff is maybe it was a big ask coming off what I was dealing with this spring and starting here. I don’t know. But it was something I chose to do. I just never felt comfortable out there.”

The 29-year-old Roddick who is also ranked 29 now looks ahead to the grass season in two weeks and Queen’s Club where he’s enjoyed better memories. But there still will be work needed to be done by the former No. 1 who hasn’t won a match since beating Roger Federer in Miami.

“Obviously that starts a part of the season that I’m probably more comfortable in,” Roddick said in regards to the grass. “You know, there are a lot of guys who know how to play on clay, and it’s just second nature to them. I feel that way on grass, so, you know, hopefully I can turn it around there.”

So was that the last time we’ll see Andy Roddick play at the French Open?

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Filed under: French Open
Tags: Andy Roddick, Nicolas Mahut

11 Comments for Andy Roddick: My Footwork On Clay Is Really, Really Bad

Rick Says:

Speaking of an easy draw for Fed!

May 27th, 2012 at 3:31 pm

ccmack Says:

Shame to see Roddick so crestfallen in his press conference. But he refused to be drawn into a fitness blame game with the journalists. Hopefully he can string some decent results together on grass next month, and maybe Serena will come knocking for an Olympic mixed partner.

May 27th, 2012 at 3:38 pm

Gordo Says:

Hey Rick…

Do you have a secret crush on Roger Federer?

If he divorced Mirka, would your aunt, er… I mean mother… let you date a divorced man?

Do you long to carry his bay-bee?

May 27th, 2012 at 10:13 pm

Djokovic Opens Bid For “Djoker Slam”, Federer, Azarenka Also Scheduled; Roddick Roughed Up At Roland Garros Says:

[...] draw became slightly clearer when Andy Roddick was routed by Nicolas Mahut of all people in four sets. Roddick, who lost all six sets at the World Team Cup last week, I think [...]

May 27th, 2012 at 10:15 pm

skeezer Says:

Gordo,

Re; RICK…

He is old news, posters are united in the fact that Rick has a hard on for Fed. He will continue to lay down his love for the greatest ever, he can’t help giving him attention. He is drawn to him. In every post he proves his undying love and respect. He will continue to post his infatuation with the worlds greatest that ever is and was, so just let him continue the attention he gives……

May 28th, 2012 at 12:06 am

Gordo Says:

Skeezer,

Yeah, I am in awe of such open man-love. Wow!

May 28th, 2012 at 12:44 am

Michael Says:

Roddick should have never played the French Open in my opinion.

May 28th, 2012 at 12:53 am

WTF Says:

The next time anyone criticizes Nadal or Djokovic for skipping Madrid in future, just look at Roddick. He’s allowed to play only 1 or 2 clay tournaments every year even though 3 of them are supposedly mandatory. And he gets away with it every year.

If Roddick can skip events he doesn’t like, so can Rafa and Nole.

May 28th, 2012 at 1:51 am

WTF Says:

Michael Says:

“Roddick should have never played the French Open in my opinion.”

He didn’t want to. Believe me. But if you make direct entry into the draw, you have to show up unless you’re injured. It’s a mandatory event.

May 28th, 2012 at 1:53 am

Michael Says:

WTF,

Yeah it is mandatory. But he could have come up with some injury excuse to escape this ignominy. Roddick cannot simply play on Clay. Matter is as simple as that.

May 29th, 2012 at 12:11 am

skeezer Says:

WTF,

Roddick never threatened the FO or any other venue to change the surface or else, BIG difference. The guys has a horrible record on Clay, but he still plays on it and doesn’t give organizers threats to change it or else.

May 29th, 2012 at 12:50 am

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