Roddick pays price for youthful impatience

It may be tempting fate to write this, but Tim Henman's improved play on clay courts is a consequence of adding patience to his game without sacrificing his natural talent at the net. Other attacking players, such as the American Andy Roddick, may achieve more at the French Open if they follow the British No 1's example.

Roddick, the 13th seed, will have to wait until next May to put that into practice, having been eliminated in the first round yesterday, 4-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, by Wayne Arthurs, a big-serving Australian based in Pinner, Middlesex. Arthurs, No 81 in the ATP tournament entry system, is as far removed from a conventional clay-courter as it is possible to be. He attacks everything, whether playing on crushed antbeds or grass.

"I don't think the surface was too much of a factor," the 19-year-old Roddick said. "Wayne has about 72 different serves and hits them off the same toss. He's tough to read." Yesterday, Arthurs hit 25 aces and 10 double-faults. He also won 85 points at the net from 132 approaches. Roddick won 14 of 25 net points, illustrating his reluctance to take a risk.

Roddick made a dramatic debut here last year, defeating Australia's Scott Draper in his opening match and overcoming cramp to edge Michael Chang in the second round, 7-5 in the fifth set. Roddick hit 37 aces in that match. A strained left hamstring forced him to retire at one set all and 2-2 in the third set of his third-round match against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt.

With his career still in its infancy, Roddick has time to develop his strategy on clay, along with the faster surfaces. "I don't know half as much as the guys out here," he reminded us, adding that when it comes to winning matches, "a lot of it is between the ears."

Arthurs, who prepared for this tournament on clay courts in Sutton, Surrey ­ "they're not in great condition, and it was really windy" ­ said he had specific tactics for the match. "I stood a long way back on his serves. If you stand up on his serve, he bombs it past you most of the time. And I served a high percentage to his backhand." Arthurs also put himself in the contest by winning the second set tie-break, 16-14.

The 31-year-old Australian smiled when reminded that he had amassed 95 unforced errors. "I have to play pretty risky tennis," he said. "If I see an opportunity, I hit the ball. If it goes in, it does; if it doesn't, it doesn't. If you win the last point, it doesn't matter how many errors you make."

Henman may keep that in mind today when he plays Xavier Malisse, of Belgium, in the second round. The Briton's half of the draw is rather more inviting now that Roddick, a potential quarter-final opponent has gone. Juan Carlos Ferrero, of Spain, a semi-finalist for the past two years, may be forced to withdraw today, having sprained his right ankle practising yesterday.

Thomas Johansson, the Australian Open champion, was defeated by Arnaud Clement, of France, 7-6, 6-1, 6-3. Lleyton Hewitt, the world No 1, gave a spirited performance on Court One, known as "The Bullring", recovering from a set and 0-5 down to overcome Andrei Stoliarov, of Russia, 4-6, 7-6, 6-0, 7-5.

Spectators puzzled by Hewitt's exclamations of, "Come on, Rock!" after winning every big point may not have heard that he sometimes wiles away the time between matches watching tapes of the Rocky films.

Gustavo Kuerten's hopes of winning the title for a third consecutive year seemed in danger of foundering in his second-round match against Davide Sanguinetti, of Italy. The Brazilian seventh seed lost a first set tie-break, 0-7, and trailed by two sets to one and 0-2 in the fourth set before levelling the contest. Sanguinetti broke for 3-2 in the final set, only for Kuerten to win the next four games to prevail, 6-7, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In the women's singles, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, a three-times former champion here, had cause to ponder her future in the game after being embarrassed, 6-0, 6-1, by her 19-year-old Spanish compatriot, Marta Marrero.

Anna Kournikova, too, has gone back to the drawing board after losing, 6-4, 6-3, to Christina Wheeler, an Australian wild card, ranked No 193 in the world. Kournikova, who cut a finger when tumbling trying to return a shot, has now gone 108 WTA tournaments without winning a trophy.

Serena Williams became the first woman to play in football socks. The American third seed wore them as part of a green, red and yellow ensemble provided by Puma, who also supply the Cameroon World Cup team. Williams defeated the pristine Martina Sucha, of Slovakia, 6-3, 6-0. Whatever next? Perhaps Serena will wear shin guards if she meets her sister Venus in the final.