Top-seeded Andy Roddick, coming off a title in San Jose, defeating Lee Hyung-taik 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships on Tuesday night.
Roddick, who won here in 2002, took less than an hour to defeat Lee. The South Korean had pushed Roddick to three sets in San Jose.
PHOTO: AFP
This time Roddick lost only five points during his service games and registered 11 aces, his fastest serve reaching 238kph.
Earlier in the day, fourth-seeded Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic lost in straight sets to American Jan-Michael Gambill 6-0, 6-4. Meanwhile, Vincent Spadea of the US, the third seed, and Belgian Xavier Malisse, No. 5, won their matches in straight sets.
Spadea, ranked 21st, defeated Swede Thomas Enqvist 7-5, 6-2, while Malisse won a pair of 6-3 sets over Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany.
In the Cellular South Cup, the women's side of the tournament, top-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia advanced with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Michaela Pastikova of the Czech Republic. Zvonareva, the winner of last year's tournament, will face Severine Beltrame of France in the second round.
Fourth-seeded David Nalbandian was upset by Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 in the ABN Amro
Eighth-seeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain also lost, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to Olivier Rochus of Belgium. Rochus won his fourth tiebreak in the tournament having come through qualifying.
No. 3 Tim Henman defeated Nicolas Kiefer of Germany 7-5, 6-4 for the fifth consecutive time.
Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters beat Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3 in the Diamond Games in her first match in four months.
Sixth-seeded Nathalie Dechy was ousted by Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7), 6-4.
Mary Pierce of France beat Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-1 and will face Amelie Mauresmo. In last week's Open Gaz de France, Mauresmo beat Pierce in straight sets.
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