FRENCH OPEN NOTEBOOK

updated 7:44 p.m. ET May 28, 2006

PARIS - Andy Roddick got through a second practice session at Roland Garros on his injured left ankle with no apparent problems Sunday and his coach said the fifth-seeded American probably will play at the French Open.

“It looks that way right now,” said John Roddick, Andy’s older brother and coach. “The progress has been faster than we expected, and with the Tuesday start, it looks good.”

The clay-court Grand Slam tournament started Sunday — a day earlier than normal — and the first round is being stretched out over three days. Roddick’s portion of the draw is in action Tuesday; he’s scheduled to face Alberto Martin of Spain.

Roddick moved around more during Sunday’s training hour session on Court 18 at the far end of Roland Garros than he did Saturday. He didn’t seem to be having trouble with the ankle, although he did complain aloud that his shoes weren’t giving him much stability on the red clay.

The 2003 U.S. Open champion and former top-ranked player sprained ligaments in the ankle Wednesday at the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany.

“He’s still feeling his way out,” John Roddick said.

Allez, Gators?
Joakim Noah is famous in two countries, for two very different reasons.

In the United States, of course, he’s known for leading Florida to the 2006 NCAA college basketball championship, selected the Final Four’s most outstanding player after his 16 points and record six blocks led the Gators past UCLA in the title game.

In France? He’s known because his father, Yannick, won the 1983 French Open, the last local man to win this Grand Slam tournament.

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As the younger Noah wandered the grounds of Roland Garros on Sunday en route to seeing some tennis, he was beseeched for autographs and photos.

So, Joakim was asked, do the French know all about Florida’s championship?

“No. They don’t understand at all,” he said with a smile. “I’m just the son of Yannick Noah here.”

0-FOR-17
Juan Antonio Marin just keeps pluggin’ away, hoping to win a Grand Slam match someday. Not a title. A match.

Marin’s career mark at the majors dropped to 0-17 on Sunday, when he lost 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 to 1998 champion Carlos Moya in the first round of the French Open. No man has ever lost that many Grand Slam matches without winning one.

“Given my stats, I don’t know if I am going to win. ... I’ll keep on trying,” said Marin, who was playing his first match at a major since 2002, in part because of knee and ankle injuries.

“Truthfully,” he added, “I don’t feel down.”

Marin is the only tennis player from Costa Rica to play in a Grand Slam. But he has lived in Barcelona since 1989, and he and Moya are friends.

“I would have preferred another opponent, but it is always nice to play on show court,” he said. “I am going away happy.”

No Drysdale
TV analyst Cliff Drysdale will miss ESPN2’s coverage of the French Open because of illness, the network said Sunday.

Drysdale has been a part of ESPN or ESPN2 telecasts at 37 majors.

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