Andy Roddick is out Down Under

American cutie Andy Roddick had to quit during the middle of his match with Lleyton Hewitt at the Australian Open today due to injury.

Roddick, the second-highest ranked player in the U.S., had won the first set then in the third came of the second set, he injured a hamstring when he overstretched his leg going after one of Hewitt’s shots.

“It’s a miserable, terrible thing being out there compromised like that,” Roddick told the press of his attempt to play with the injury. “I wanted to see what I could do. You don’t really have much time for clarity in that situation. He’s a tough guy to play … he knew what was going on.”

Hewitt said the injury was “a nightmare for both of us.”

“Obviously, he stretched something,” Hewitt said. “It’s not easy for the person up the other end of the court. It’s hard to concentrate when they’re having injury timeouts.

“Andy’s a great competitor … he’s similar to me. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, has that never-say-die attitude as well. It’s never easy to play injured or to pull out of a match. It’s not a good feeling.”

Roddick and Hewitt have had similar careers with both experiencing their greatest success before Roger Federer ascended to the number one ranking in 2004. Roddick won the US Open in 2003 and obtained the number one ranking. Hewitt, also a former number one, won the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002.

Neither has managed to win another major title although Roddick is a three-time Wimbledon finalist. Hewitt was a US Open finalist in 2004 and at the Australian Open in 2005.