Beaten Roddick criticises ‘horrendous’ surface

Andy Roddick described his movement on the red clay of Roland Garros as “horrendous” as the former world number one made an opening-day exit from the French Open.

Roddick’s 2012 season has been decimated by injury — indicated by a 7-9 win-loss record coming to Paris which included three straight-set defeats at the World Team Championship in Dusseldorf last week.

And his dismal run continued as he lost 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-2 to Frenchman Nicolas Mahut to exit a grand slam event at the first-round stage for the first time since 2007.