“I hate not playing and I hate withdrawing from tournaments,” said Roddick, chomping at the bit to take the court and gain some momentum entering Flushing Meadows. “It’s the most hollow feeling every when you have to walk off because you’re hurt and you know people have come to watch you play.”

Now another former No. 1 and French Open champ, Carlos Moya, has to wonder how much time he has left after a first-round exit in five sets to unheralded Eduardo Schwank.