Seles_Beckham
Apr 14th, 2003, 02:16 PM
Roddick upset in Monte Carlo
4/14/2003
MONTE CARLO (AP) - American star Andy Roddick was upset at the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday, losing in the first round to Spanish qualifier Albert Portas, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Roddick, 20, seemed at odds with himself throughout the match and Portas - a winner at the Hamburg Masters in 2001 - seized his chance, picking off Roddick with clever ground strokes.
Roddick also seemed unhappy with some of the line calls particularly in the opening set, taking a closer inspection of dust marks several times to check where he thought the ball had landed.
Despite his apparent frustration, Roddick displayed good sportsmanship, shouting "yeah" and nodding his head in appreciation of Porta's excellent passing shots.
Renowned for his booming serves, Roddick lost his service at a crucial point in the second set, when he was down 3-4. He was unable to recover, despite saving two match points in the last game.
In other games, Spain's Alex Corretja, a clay-court specialist and twice runner-up at the French Open, lost to countryman Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (4), 6-3.
France's teenage sensation Richard Gasquet, still only 16 and a second-round loser to Russia's Marat Safin at this tournament last year, was outclassed by Argentina's David Nalbandian - runner-up at Wimbledon last year.
Nalbandian, 21, proved too strong for Gasquet triumphing 6-4, 6-0. The Argentine is seeded sixth at the tournament.
"I was very nervous and did not play well" Gasquet said. "I was training well last week but it didn't work out here. I was thinking too much about the impact I made here last year."
France's Arnaud Clement, not reputed for his fondness of clay-court tennis, was delighted with his 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, seeded 12th.
"It's true that clay is not really my favorite surface, but it feels good to have won here," he said, adding that he had set "no objectives" for the tournament.
4/14/2003
MONTE CARLO (AP) - American star Andy Roddick was upset at the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday, losing in the first round to Spanish qualifier Albert Portas, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Roddick, 20, seemed at odds with himself throughout the match and Portas - a winner at the Hamburg Masters in 2001 - seized his chance, picking off Roddick with clever ground strokes.
Roddick also seemed unhappy with some of the line calls particularly in the opening set, taking a closer inspection of dust marks several times to check where he thought the ball had landed.
Despite his apparent frustration, Roddick displayed good sportsmanship, shouting "yeah" and nodding his head in appreciation of Porta's excellent passing shots.
Renowned for his booming serves, Roddick lost his service at a crucial point in the second set, when he was down 3-4. He was unable to recover, despite saving two match points in the last game.
In other games, Spain's Alex Corretja, a clay-court specialist and twice runner-up at the French Open, lost to countryman Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (4), 6-3.
France's teenage sensation Richard Gasquet, still only 16 and a second-round loser to Russia's Marat Safin at this tournament last year, was outclassed by Argentina's David Nalbandian - runner-up at Wimbledon last year.
Nalbandian, 21, proved too strong for Gasquet triumphing 6-4, 6-0. The Argentine is seeded sixth at the tournament.
"I was very nervous and did not play well" Gasquet said. "I was training well last week but it didn't work out here. I was thinking too much about the impact I made here last year."
France's Arnaud Clement, not reputed for his fondness of clay-court tennis, was delighted with his 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, seeded 12th.
"It's true that clay is not really my favorite surface, but it feels good to have won here," he said, adding that he had set "no objectives" for the tournament.