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Roddick frustrated by injury-hit start


 

Originally published on: 23/02/12 09:51

A week that started badly got immediately worse for Andy Roddick after the former world No.1 saw his title defence at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships end in round one.

The 29-year-old American, who had plummeted to his lowest ranking since 2001 on Monday, lost 7-6(8) 7-5 to Xavier Malisse in his opening match at the Memphis event.

Defeat to the Belgian, who recorded his first win in four matches this year, was Roddick’s third in five matches in 2012 and his first in 10 clashes with 31-year-old Malisse.

“I hit the ball okay, I just didn’t hit it well when I had to,” admitted the three-time Memphis champion, who had defeated Milos Raonic with an incredible diving forehand winner on match point in last year’s final.

The Texan reached a semi-final and three quarter-finals in his last six events of 2011, but has struggled with physical ailments this year. Forced to retire at two sets to one down against Lleyton Hewitt at the Australian Open, he also sprained an ankle in San Jose last week, where he fell to world No.61 Denis Istomin.

“It’s frustrating, but at the same token, I had 9-10 years of pretty clean bill of health overall,” said Roddick, who pointed to the example of good friend Mardy Fish as motivation not to dwell on his injury misfortune.

“I think for me to feel too sorry for myself now, it probably wouldn’t be okay,” he said. “I know Mardy, for instance, had wrist surgeries in the middle of his career, 22, 23 years old, so I didn’t have that. It’s the first time I’m really dealing with anything significant.”

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.