Melbourne, Australia — Rising American standout Andy Roddick fell on an already injured right ankle in a losing first-set tiebreaker and pulled out of the Australian Open in the second round Thursday. Roddick, who hurt himself in his first-round victory, ran wide for a forehand, tried to use his right foot to stop, and tumbled awkwardly. He got up slowly and continued playing, but couldn't hit effectively.
The withdrawal sent Croatian Ivan Ljubicic into the third round. He led 7-6 (11), 3-2 when Roddick pulled out.
Arnaud Clement, last year's runner-up, also joined the list of players making early exits, spraying shots wide and long in a loss Thursday to Argentina's Gaston Gaudio, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3).
No. 7 Tommy Haas and No. 9 Marat Safin, the 2000 U.S. Open winner, both advanced. Haas, an Australian Open semifinalist in 1999, made short work of French qualifier Jean-Francois Bachelot 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. The ninth-seeded Safin saved four set points in the second-set tiebreaker on his way to beating Belgium's Christophe Rochus 6-2, 7-6 (6), 6-1.
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