Clay-court season gets under way

Associated Press

KEY BISCAYNE, FlA.

Only hours after his upset loss at the Sony Ericsson Open, Roger Federer was back at practice, hitting across the street on the Ritz Carlton’s courts.

They’re clay.

The men’s tour switches to clay this week, and Federer has already started preparing to defend the French Open title he won last year to complete a career Grand Slam. He no longer approaches with trepidation the surface that for so long tripped him up. In the wake of a so-so showing last month on U.S. hard courts, he’s ready for a switch.

“It helps to move on to a different surface,” Federer said. “I’m looking forward to the clay court season.”

Ranked No. 1, as he’s been for most of the past six years, Federer won his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. He withdrew from Dubai in February because of a lung infection, then lost in March at Indian Wells and Key Biscayne, both Masters 1000 events.

Marcos Baghdatis beat him in a third-set tiebreaker in the third round at Indian Wells after Federer held three match points. Thomas Berdych beat him in a third-set tiebreaker in the fourth round at Key Biscayne last week after Federer held one match point.

“Maybe the sickness did take it out of me more than I thought,” Federer said. “I could have done much better.”

Rafael Nadal remains Federer’s biggest threat on clay, while other contenders at the French Open include Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic. Soderling last week reached the Key Biscayne semifinals, and last year ended Nadal’s Roland Garros winning streak at 31 matches. Djokovic is a two-time semifinalist at Roland Garros.

Unlikely to be a French Open title threat is Key Biscayne champion Andy Roddick, who leads the tour with 26 victories this year. He’s only 7-8 at Roland Garros, although last year’s run to the fourth round was his best yet.