Roddick, Querrey Contrasting Studies at French Open

Americans Andy Roddick and Sam Querrey took contrastingly different paths on Tuesday at the French Open — Roddick gutting out a five-setter against Finn Jarkko Nieminen, and Querrey essentially giving up against fellow American Robby Ginepri, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-2.
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Roddick found himself down 1-2 sets before battling back for a 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 win. Querrey admitted he didn’t want to be on the court and was burnt-out after playing too many tournaments leading up to Roland Garros.

“Mentally not there,” Querrey said of the match. “Just did not enjoy myself out there. It’s been like that on and off for like a while. So I’m going home tomorrow.”

That was likely news to his doubles partner, John Isner.

“I’ve not been a professional, you know, on and off for the last few months,” Querrey said. “You’re out there facing one opponent. You don’t want to face the opponent and myself. I just need to get it together mentally in my head. You know, right now I’ll be enjoying it and as soon as one thing goes wrong, I’m done. My coach thinks I’m a little tapped out.”

Roddick came into the match under less than ideal conditions, recently enduring an illness and little match play.

“There was a lot of ugliness out there today,” Roddick said. “He was hitting huge balls and taking loads of chances and the stats would suggest that both us played a pretty high level, more winners than unforced errors. Just managed to come back in the end, fighting and believing.”

Perhaps Roddick can take Querrey out in the woods for a little man-time ‘belief-quest.’

Other Top 10-seeded winners joining Roddick in the second round Tuesday were (2) Rafael Nadal, (7) Fernando Verdasco, and (9) David Ferrer.

Slovenian unknown Grega Zemlja said ‘Look at me!’ when he ousted No. 26 seed Juan Monaco in four sets.

Other seeded winners were (16) Juan Carlos Ferrero, (22) Jurgen “Tuna” Melzer, (28) Lleyton “The Lawnmower” Hewitt, and (30) Philipp Kohlschreiber, all advancing in straight sets.

Nicolas Mahut and Florent Serra kept the unseeded French flag flying Tuesday, defeating Mischa Zverev and Mike Russell in straight sets respectively.

Matches to look for on Wednesday at Roland Garros include (1) Roger Federer vs. Colombia’s Alejandro Falla, Taylor Dent’s rush-and-crush vs. (5) Robin Soderling, an all-French-bread in Josselin Ouanna vs. (8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, escape artist (4) Andy Murray vs. Juan Ignacio Chela, and (17) John Isner vs. Marco “Chud” Chiudinelli.