The French Open is the cruelest Grand Slam tournament for Andy Roddick, the toughest for all U.S. men over the years, really. Toss in a bum ankle, and Roddick never really stood a chance this time.

He quit Tuesday because of his injury while trailing Alberto Martin of Spain, 6-4, 7-5, 1-0, in the first round at Roland Garros, and the fifth-seeded American hobbled off the court to a chorus of full-throated boos and whistles.

His exit, combined with that of No. 17 Robby Ginepri, left the United States with only two men in the second round at the French Open for just the second time since 1967.

Unlike the hard courts at the U.S. Open — which Roddick won in 2003 — or the grass at Wimbledon — where he’s been the runner-up twice — the red clay at the French Open hampers rather than helps Roddick’s strengths: his serve and forehand.

Clay also makes for longer points and requires plenty of good footwork, and Roddick sprained ligaments in his left ankle last week. He tweaked it in the eighth game against Martin, who’s ranked 68th, had lost his previous five matches at majors, and entered 0-4 vs. Roddick.

The ankle got worse when Roddick tried to cut back for a lob in the second set’s 11th game, which he closed with a double fault to fall behind, 6-5.

“I was definitely tentative sliding around out there,” Roddick said. “It started affecting the way I landed on my serve. You know, not much else was working besides my serve. It was a lost cause, I think.”

He double-faulted twice starting the third set, and hit a ball into the 20th row of the stands. After losing the game at love on a forehand that sailed five feet long, Roddick sat in his sideline chair. He removed his left shoe, sock and ankle brace, and called for a trainer.

“What do you think?” Roddick asked. “Do you think it’s dangerous?”

He decided to stop, the chair umpire informed the crowd, and Roddick walked off to a nasty serenade, his career mark at the French Open now 4-6, including three first-round departures.

Martina Hingis knows quite well how unforgiving the French Open fans can be: She sobbed after being harangued for disputing calls during her infamous loss to Steffi Graf in the 1999 final. Tuesday, Hingis dispatched Lisa Raymond, 6-2, 6-2, in her first Roland Garros match since 2001.

Two seeded players in her half of the draw were sent home: No. 3 Nadia Petrova, twice a semifinalist in Paris, was upset, 6-2, 6-2, by Akiko Morigami of Japan, and No. 23 Tatiana Golovin lost, too. Otherwise, form pretty much held, with two-time champion Justine Henin-Hardenne and 2004 champion Anastasia Myskina winning in straight sets.

Most of the seeded men fared OK, too, including No. 9 Fernando Gonzalez, who beat two-time major champion Marat Safin, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.

The men’s seeded losers were No. 18 Thomas Johansson, Roddick and Ginepri, a semifinalist at the 2005 U.S. Open. Roddick and Ginepri joined countrymen Paul Goldstein, Vince Spadea and Justin Gimelstob on the sideline.

Left among U.S. men? No. 8 James Blake (who faces clay-court expert Nicolas Almagro) and Kevin Kim (vs. defending champion Rafael Nadal).