Roddick's Paris adventure
leaves him chastened
Robert Woodward
Last week Andy Roddick joined thousands of young American men who have journeyed to Paris over the years with romantic dreams and a desire to experience everything the French capital has to offer.
The 20-year-old "future of U.S. tennis" was bursting with anticipation about playing Davis Cup tennis for his country against the champions, France, in front of a passionate crowd at Roland Garros.
But Roddick leaves a chastened and wiser man after suffering harsh treatment on the stadium's red clay courts. Like many before him, he discovered that experience is not something that can be developed overnight in Paris.
Unbeaten in seven Davis Cup matches before the weekend's semi-final, Roddick was despatched in four sets by Sebastien Grosjean and Arnaud Clement, comprehensively out-thought and out-manoeuvred on both occasions as France won the tie 3-2 to clinch a meeting with Russia in the final.
The exuberant power play that took him to five titles in two years was not enough on the slower clay courts -- Roddick's patience, volleying and shot selection were all found wanting.
But he is determined to take something positive from the nightmare.
"I'm just learning -- this year has been one life experience after another and I like to think these will make me better prepared, especially for Davis Cup matches like this," Roddick said.
"I have to go back to the drawing board and work on everything."
Even before the tie, French captain Guy Forget had pinpointed Roddick as a weakness in the American team because of his lack of movement on court and a tendency to drop out of a match mentally for no apparent reason.
After the opening day defeats for Roddick and James Blake, more athletic than his team mate but also reliant on power-hitting, Forget was almost dismissive of both.
"Whether you're talking about Blake or Roddick, they are not claycourt players. Roddick only stayed in the match because of his service.
"Sebastien and Arnaud are less extravagant and more "mean" in how they play points. They (the Americans) always want to blow you away and follow a game plan which is almost always the same."
BLAKE RECOVERY
American captain Patrick McEnroe was pleased with how Blake, devastated by his defeat by Grosjean on Friday, recovered to win the doubles with Todd Martin and then beat Clement in the final match.
In McEnroe's eyes, the tie was all part of a learning process for a young team which has probably seen the last of Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, a player who, despite winning 14 Grand Slam titles, has never worked out the secrets of red clay.
"I'm very encouraged," he said on Sunday. "We are going to take away a lot from this experience as a team.
"Andy played a much smarter match today -- he hung in there, continued to play and didn't panic. I want him to learn from what he went through out there and to believe in his game and think it can get better."
McEnroe pinpointed the team spirit of the French as an element that has contributed enormously to their Davis Cup success -- the French are in their third final in four years despite relying on a team with no stars and few titles among them.
"That camaraderie is one thing we are working to build. But you've got to have versatile players who can play on all surfaces -- that's also something the French have," he said.
Roddick took one positive from the weekend. The "awesome" atmosphere at Roland Garros made him more determined than ever to win America's first Davis Cup title since 1995.
"Desire's not the problem," he said.
