LEARNING THE LESSONS OF THE TOUR

Roddick rethinks his reaction to hamstring injury

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

PARIS, June 6 – An 18-year-old teenager, Andy Roddick made some mistakes this past week here at Roland Garros by refusing to clear the release of his MRI results on his hamstring.

On Wednesday afternoon, a day after he received his award for being the 2000 ITF Junior Champion at a fancy affair, Roddick behaved like a man and took responsibility for his misstep.

"Things just went from good to bad quickly," Roddick admitted, after saying that the MRI showed no tear of the hamstring. "You have to learn and I learned a lot this week how to handle myself. I'm definitely more experienced.

"It really was the first time in my career you (the press) were interested about me and I didn't handle it in the best way. But it wasn't on purpose, it was just a lack of experience." This was just another sign for Roddick that his life has changed dramatically even though he might want some things to stay the same.

"I didn't realize it at all, especially it was important after I was out of the tournament," he said. "I didn't understand. In the past, I didn't have to worry about all this and now I have to mature and take care of things in a better way."

Roddick says the injury is getting better every day, he is feeling no pain, and is planning on his first on court practice session since retiring against Lleyton Hewitt in the third round tomorrow to see how things are going. At the moment, it is his intention to stick to his play schedule of Queen's Club, Nottingham and Wimbledon.

As for the reports that the night of the injury he was seen out dancing, Roddick insists that it just isn't true. "I was surprised," he said. "I was having dinner with my agent. I wasn't dancing. The place they go to do dancing was upstairs and I was just downstairs eating."

Andy Roddick has been having no trouble filling his time in Paris since he's been out of Roland Garros – he's been spending time sightseeing. "I've went to see Notre Dame and I went to the Louvre – I think I have a cool appreciation for them."

One thing he admits he isn't too cool at is picking up French from his French coach, Tarik Benhabiles, even though he's been trying. Roddick, honestly, is willing to say, "I'm intellectually challenged when it comes to speaking French."