Delays created havoc, but gave me time with legends

	Even though he lost, Justin Gimelstob didn't play that badly in his first Grand Slam match since undergoing back surgery last year. AP
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PARIS -- "Rain, rain, go away," has been the mantra around the grounds at Roland Garros the past few days, and nobody has been more frustrated than the players. A rain delay during the early stages of a Grand Slam is the equivalent of sitting in a dentist's chair for an extensive root canal.

By the beginning of a Grand Slam, players are jumping out of their skin to get on the court. We have been practicing and training to hit our peaks at the start of the event and any deviation from the plan breaks our rhythm.

The past few days have been pure torture. The locker room and players' lounge have been packed, because all 128 players in the singles and in both the men's and women's draw were all still alive longer than normal -- thus the congestion rivaled Grand Central Station during rush hour in Manhattan.

For the most part, we try and keep busy, scurrying around booking indoor practice time (which gets almost as competitive as the matches with the shortage of courts), getting into the gym to ride the stationary bike and other intellectually stimulating endeavors like playing cards, surfing the Internet and rating the beautiful girlfriends on tour.

I had a few enjoyable encounters while relaxing in the players' lounge with American legends John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. I spent some time commiserating with Mac over his heartbreaking loss in the French final in 1984. I watched the match for the first time on the Tennis Channel before coming over here to play and I was determined to ask him a few questions, mainly why he was arguing calls when in such a commanding position, up two sets to love and break points in the third.

After a few tepid inquiries I realized it was still a very sensitive subject and I quickly changed the topic to the more benign NBA Playoffs. When I walked away from McEnroe, I was amazed that a match 23 years ago still struck such an emotional chord. He kept repeating, "I was playing so well; that was my chance." I actually felt bad for him.

My interaction with Connors was equally intense but on a totally different topic. Connors and I talked about Andy Roddick's opening match (which he lost in four sets to Igor Andreev) and how much Connors enjoyed "getting down and dirty" on the clay. Even though he never won here and it never played to his strengths, he respected the work it took to win points and how effort was almost as rewarded as talent.

Connors was very forthright about why Americans have struggled here over the past few years. We agreed that the American mentality of aggressive play and short points plays into the defensive, gritty players who specialize in clay-court tennis. He was adamant that we needed to be prepared to work harder and earn the points. He then gave me a nice little pep talk for my match against Nicolas Almagro, and by the end of it, I was ready to run through a wall!

Unfortunately, I think Almagro actually can run through a wall. I lost 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday. I played well, just not good enough. This guy must have really eaten his spinach when he was younger, because he absolutely crushed the ball. I tried to attack at every opportunity but the clay is a great neutralizer against aggressive play.

That said, I'm excited to continue my men's singles charge next month at Wimbledon and hopefully I'll have more success there. For now, I'm still playing here at Roland Garros in the doubles competition and moonlighting as an analyst for the Tennis Channel's coverage of the French Open.

Hey, it beats another rain delay.

Twelve-year ATP veteran Justin Gimelstob is competing in his seventh French Open. He'll write periodically for SI.com from Roland Garros during the tournament.