Roddick looks for Olympics boost in Paris

Andy Roddick is determined to bury the horrors of his last two visits to Roland Garros and use the French Open as a springboard for a gold m...

Andy Roddick is determined to bury the horrors of his last two visits to Roland Garros and use the French Open as a springboard for a gold medal push at the Olympics later this year.

The second seeded American has been humiliated here in the last two years where he has suffered embarrassing first round exits at the hands of Wayne Arthurs in 2002 and Sargis Sargsian in 2003.

But with the clay courts at Roland Garros playing faster in the spring heat this week, the 21-year-old Roddick believes a better performance here can only help his Olympic dream.

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“It’s something that I’ve dreamed about forever and I’m super-excited about the Games,” said the US Open champion. It’s definitely right up there with the Slams for me this year.”

Roddick, who will begin his 2004 French Open campaign with a first round clash against fellow American Todd Martin, hopes his gold medal dream won’t be sabotaged by a packed summer programme which includes Wimbledon and the US Open as well as the trip to Athens.

“It’s packed. It is every four years; it’s the Olympic Games. Someone is going to have to drag me off the court not to play there,” said Roddick.

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