Nonthaburi (Thailand), Sept 22: US Open champion Andy Roddick withdrew from the Thailand Open today citing a hamstring injury. No. 2-ranked Roddick said his doctors had advised him to rest for a week, ATP executive vice president of players services Weller Evans told reporters.

"Obviously, everybody is disappointed that Andy will not be participating, with the possible exception of the other players," said Evans. He said the ATP would fine Roddick USD 40,000 for his withdrawal from the event, which began today.

Evans said world no. 1 and French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero and no. 6 Carlos Moya, both from Spain, were still scheduled to arrive tomorrow and play on Wednesday.

The other top seed is Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan. This year's Thailand Open at impact arena is the first ATP event to be played in Thailand, and organizers hope to make it Asia's premier tennis event.

One organiser, Chaiyapak Siriwat, said they were "extremely concerned and disappointed" by Roddick's withdrawal, but didn't expect any other players to drop out.

In first-round results today, Alexander Popp of Germany beat Werner Eschauer of austria 7-5 6-3 and Croatian teenager Mario Ancic defeated Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli 6-4 4-6 6-3.

Ancic will meet either his compatriot Ivan Ljubicic or Frenchman Cyril Saulnier in the second round. Bureau Report