KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) — An ailing Andy Roddick has been eliminated in his opening match at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Roddick, the defending champion, needed three visits from a trainer in the second set and lost Saturday to Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 7-6 (4).
The nature of Roddick’s ailment wasn’t immediately disclosed, but sunny, 85-degree weather may have taken a toll. He bent over several times after points, and at the end of the match he began limping.
Cuevas never lost his serve and had 15 aces, partly a reflection of Roddick’s sluggishness. Roddick’s serve kept him in the match and reached 142 mph, but he was erratic with his backhand and volleys.
The 25-year-old Cuevas, a Uruguayan ranked 67th, beat a top-10 opponent for the first time.
