Roddick maintains winning run with first-round stroll
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.
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.
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.