Robby Ginepri was left with the task of saving the reputation of American men’s tennis on Wednesday after eight out of nine compatriots crashed out in the French Open first round.
Former world number one Andy Roddick, the third seed, and James Blake, seeded eight, led the retreat from Paris as the Americans suffered their worst Roland Garros performance for what’s believed to be about 30 years.
Ginepri resumes his opener later on Wednesday at one-set all against Argentina’s Diego Hartfield after a virtual Tuesday wipe-out.
Roddick lost in the first round for the fourth time in seven Roland Garros visits going down to Russia’s Igor Andreev, who won 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
The statistics told a worrying story for the American with Andreev hitting an astonishing 66 winners to Roddick’s 19.
The French Open remains the 24-year-old’s professional graveyard.
He has never made it past the third round despite reaching at least the semifinals at the other three Grand Slams.
”I’m not going to give up. It’s my biggest challenge. That’s not a secret,” said Roddick.
”I’ve been my own worst enemy here a lot of times.”
Blake also won the first set against Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic before surrendering his first-round tie 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5.
”It’s no secret that we haven’t done great on clay this year,” said Blake.
”But I think we have the ability. Andy got a terrible draw. Andreev is probably the toughest non-seed here. I got a tough draw on Karlovic if he’s serving well.
”I promise we won’t have all eight guys losing the first round at Wimbledon.”
Andre Agassi was the last American man to win the French Open singles title in 1999, one of 11 triumphs for the United States in the history of the event.
Despite the gloom, Blake insists that his countrymen will continue to keep playing the French Open and resist the temptation to give the European clay court season a miss.
”I feel like I have the ability to beat top players on this surface. Playing Ivo is not a normal match, I didn’t get the chance to get in the points and I didn’t get the chance to step around and hit forehands or any of the things I would normally do on a clay court.
”I’ve beaten [Carlos] Moya on clay; I’ve beaten [Gael] Monfils on clay. It’s not like I can’t do it. I have the ability here. I’m not going to stop coming.” — Sapa-AFP