0
HOUSTON, April 12: Defending champion and top seed Andy Roddick eased into the second round of the US Clay Court Championships on Tuesday, with a straightforward 6-3, 6-2 win over Paul Capdeville of Chile.
Second seeded American James Blake, however, made an early exit, beaten 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-1 by Frenchman Antony Dupuis.
Eighth-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina was also among the early casualties falling 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5) to American wild card Mardy Fish.
Roddick needed just 58 minutes to dispose of Capdeville and remain on course for a sixth consecutive appearance in the US Clay Court final and a fourth title success.
In other first-round action, Vince Spadea of the US advanced with 6-1, 6-3 decision over Argentine Carlos Berlocq while Scoville Jenkins stopped Russian qualifier Igor Kunitsyn 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
On Monday third seed Robby Ginepri was the highest-ranked casualty in the first round when the American lost 6-4, 6-4 to Spain's Albert Montanes.
Results:
Played on Tuesday:
First round: Antony Dupuis (France) bt 2-James Blake (US) 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-1; 1-Andy Roddick (US) bt Paul Capdeville (Chile) 6-3, 6-2; Mardy Fish (US) bt 8-Juan Monaco (Argentina) 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5); Scoville Jenkins (US) bt Igor Kunitsyn (Russia) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3; Rainer Schuettler (Germany) bt Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 6-0, 6-3; Alexander Waske (Germany) bt Jiri Vanek (Czech Republic) 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-2); Fernando Vicente (Spain) bt Bobby Reynolds (US) 6-2, 6-1; Vince Spadea (US) bt Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 6-1, 6-3.
Played on Monday:
First round: Albert Montanes (Spain) bt 3-Robby Ginepri (US) 6-4, 6-4; Tomas Behrend (Germany) bt Razvan Sabau (Romania) 7-5, 5-7, 7-5; 5-Tommy Haas (Germany) bt Oscar Hernandez (Spain) 6-1, 6-4; Juergen Melzer (Austria) bt Ivo Minar (Czech Republic) 7-6 (9-7), 6-0; Oliver Marach (Austria) bt Juan Antonio Marin (Costa Rica) 6-4, 6-1.
FIRST ROUND SHOCKS
VALENICA: Top seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia and Spaniards David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero fell in a trio of first round shocks at the Valencia Open on Tuesday.
Davydenko lost 7-5, 7-5 to Czech opponent Jan Hernych on the Spanish clay.
Another of Russia's Davis Cup players, wild card entrant Marat Safin, enjoyed a 7-6, 6-4 victory over his compatriot Igor Andreev.
Ferrer, the third seed, retired with back pain after losing a first set tiebreak against France's Thierry Ascione 7-1.
Tuesday’s results:
First round: Marat Safin (Russia) bt 5-Igor Andreev (Russia) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4; Tomas Zib (Czech Republic) bt Andrei Pavel (Romania) 7-5 6-3; Nicolas Almagro (Spain) bt 4-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-4; Davide Sanguinetti (Italy) bt 8-Teimuraz Gabashvili (Russia) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-3; 6-Filippo Volandri (Italy) bt Albert Portas (Spain) 6-0, 6-1; Thierry Ascione (France) bt 3-David Ferrer (Spain) 7-6 (7-1) -- Ferrer retired; Bjoern Phau (Germany) bt Gorka Fraile (Spain) 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2; Potito Starace (Italy) bt Lukas Dlouhy (Czech Republic) 6-3, 6-3; Jan Hernych (Czech Republic) bt 1-Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 7-5, 7-5; Gilles Simon (France) bt Robin Vik (Czech Republic) 6-3, 6-2; Andreas Seppi (Italy) bt Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (Spain) 6-2, 6-2.
CONFORTABLE START
CHARLESTON (North Carolina): Top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne opened the defence of her Family Circle Cup title on Tuesday with a comfortable win, but number 14 Nicole Vaidisova was one of three seeds to fall by the wayside.
Henin-Hardenne defeated Sybille Bammer of Austria 6-2, 6-3.
Vaidisova was cruising toward the third round when unseeded Colombian Catalina Castano roared back, winning 10 straight games on the way to a 7-5, 6-2 victory.
Results:
Played on Tuesday:
Second round; 7-Dinara Safina (Russia) bt Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 7-5, 7-5; 1-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) bt Sybille Bammer (Austria) 6-2, 6-3; 3-Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) bt Meilen Tu (US) 6-4, 7-5; Lourdes Dominguez (Spain) bt Kristina Brandi (Puerto Rico) 6-4, 6-4; Catalina Castano (Colombia) bt 5-Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic) 7-5, 6-2.
First round: Meghann Shaughnessy (US) bt Vanessa Henke (Germany) 6-3, 6-3; 9-Anabel Medina (Spain) bt Mariana Diaz Oliva (Argentina) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2; 11-Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) bt Virginie Razzano (France) 6-3, 6-3; Julia Vakulenko (Ukraine) bt 10-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia and Montenegro) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5; Jamea Jackson (US) bt 15-Kveta Peschke (Czech Republic) 6-4, 6-3; 12-Marion Bartoli (France) beat Shuai Peng (China) 6-1 6-4; Jill Craybas (US) bt Maria Elena Camerin (Italy) 6-4, 6-2; Virginia Ruano (Spain) bt Shenay Perry (US) 6-0, 7-5; Julia Schruff (Germany) bt Shinobu Asagoe (Japan) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.Played on Monday:
First round: Meilen Tu beat Amy Frazier (U.S.) 6-3, 6-4; 14-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) bt Samantha Stosur (Australia) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4; Anna Tatishvili (Georgia) bt Laura Pous (Spain) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5; Karolina Sprem (Croatia) bt Katerina Bondarenko (Ukraine) 7-5, 6-4; Yuliana Fedak (Ukraine) bt Conchita Martinez Granados (Spain) 7-5, 6-3; Antonella Serra Zanetti (Italy) bt Maria Vento-Kabchi (Venezuela) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4; Catalina Castano (Colombia) bt Ashley Harkleroad (US) 6-2, 6-0; Lourdes Dominguez (Spain) bt Viktoriya Kutuzova (Ukraine) 6-3, 7-5; Alona Bondarenko (Ukraine) bt Ekaterina Bychkova (Russia) 6-1, 7-5; Martina Sucha (Slovakia) bt Laura Granville (US) 6-4, 6-1; Vera Zvonareva (Russia) bt Elena Vesnina (Russia) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2; Neha Uberoi (US) bt Lisa Raymond (US) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; 16-Mara Santangelo (Italy) bt Stephanie Foretz (France) 6-2 6-4; Brandi bt 13-Sofia Arvidsson (Sweden) 7-5, 6-3; Sybille Bammer (Austria) bt Iveta Benesova (Czech Republic) 6-4, 6-1 —Reuters
