Roddick bites the dust in Rome but Federer eases through

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2004

ROME (AFP) — Number two seed Andy Roddick, lucky to escape with his life at the weekend after his hotel was swept by a fire that killed three people, bit the dust in the first round of the Rome Masters.

The American world number two served poorly and produced 35 unforced errors on his way to a crushing 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 defeat to unseeded Argentinian Guillermo Canas at the Foro Italico.

Roddick, 21, said Saturday's blaze - during which he rang his mother in Florida to ask for her advice on what to do and then offered to buy the firemen pizzas if they rescued him and several other guests - had been playing on his mind, but refused to use it as an excuse for his straight sets loss.

"I wasn't concentrating for one reason or another, but I don't think it was that...