HOUSTON, April 10: Ivo Karlovic ousted sixth seeded German Benjamin Becker 7-5, 7-6 in the first round of the US Clay Court Championships on Monday.

The unseeded Croat fired 16 aces and saved nine of 10 break points to claim his second victory over Becker this season.

Eighth seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina, seeking his second ATP victory of the season, beat American wild card Jan-Michael Gambill 7-5, 6-4.

Romanian Victor Hanescu snapped a 12-match losing streak by defeating Dutchman Martin Verkerk 6-4, 6-4 to record his first ATP-level victory in more than a year.

Three-time Houston champion Andy Roddick withdrew from the field on Monday after aggravating a hamstring injury while leading the US past Spain in the Davis Cup over the weekend.

Monday’s results (prefix number denotes seedings):

First round: 8-Juan Monaco (Argentina) beat Jan-Michael Gambill (US) 7-5, 6-4; Victor Hanescu (Romania) beat Martin Verkerk (Netherlands) 6-4, 6-4 Nicolas Devilder (France) beat Justin Gimelstob (US) 6-2, 6-3; Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) beat 6-Benjamin Becker (Germany) 7-5, 7-6 (7-3).

ZVONAREVA WINS

CHARLESTON (South Carolina): Ninth seed Vera Zvonareva beat doubles partner Nathalie Dechy of France 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the Family Circle Cup on Monday.

Dutch player Michaella Krajicek set up a meeting with top-seeded Czech Nicole Vaidisova after a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Russian Alina Jidkova.

Monday’s results:

First round: Anastassia Rodionova (Russia) beat Eva Birnerova (Czech Republic) 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5; Aravane Rezai (France) beat Vera Dushevina (Russia) 6-1, 7-5; Michaella Krajicek (Netherlands) beat Alina Jidkova (Russia) 6-4, 6-0; Peng Shuai (China) beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (Czech Republic) 7-5, 6-1; Zheng Jie (China) beat Yuliana Fedak (Ukraine) 6-4, 6-1; Ashley Harkleroad (US) beat Laura Granville (US) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2; Nicole Pratt (Australia) beat Varvara Lepchenko (Uzbekistan) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2; Jill Craybas (US) beat Jelena Kostanic Tosic (Croatia) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2; 9-Vera Zvonareva (Russia) beat Nathalie Dechy (France) 6-4, 6-4; Chan Yung-Jan (Taiwan) beat Severine Bremond (France) 6-2, 6-3; 13-Marion Bartoli (France) beat Shenay Perry (US) 5-7, 6-4, 6-1;

Vasilisa Bardina (Russia) beat Elena Vesnina (Russia) 1-6, 6-3, 6-1; Meilen Tu (US) beat Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 7-5, 6-4; Lourdes Dominguez (Spain) beat Vania King (US) 6-1, 6-4.—Reuters