James Blake wins in opening round

MEMPHIS, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- James Blake, the third seed, required just 39 minutes to dispense with Czech qualifier Jiri Vanek, 6-3, 6-0, in the opening round Wednesday night at the Kroger St. Jude.

On the women's side, No. 3 Amanda Coetzer of South Africa fought her way into the quarterfinals, but No. 4 Alexandra Stevenson of the United States and No. 5 Vera Zvonareva of Russia suffered second-round exits.

The runner-up here a year ago to Andy Roddick, Blake defeated Vanek for the second time in 2003. He also won their first-round meeting at the Australian Open.

The 23-year-old Blake is coming off a semifinal loss to countryman and eventual champion Andre Agassi in San Jose.

Blake took just 16 minutes to put away the first set, losing just four points on his serve. In the American's opening service game, his opponent never even made contact with the ball.

"I've never started off with four aces before, so I was rolling," Blake said. "It's what you like to see in the first round. I came out and played well and maybe caught him on the hop because he's just come off clay and it's hard to get used to."

Blake dropped just 10 points overall in the second.

"Reaching the final last year made me feel like I belong up there with those guys at the top," he said. "Hopefully, I can get there again this year. But I don't have any expectations."

American Jan-Michael Gambill also moved into the second round. The fifth seed fired 13 aces and rallied from one set and one break down for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Croatia's Zeljko Krajan.

"I came out against a tough opponent today," Gambill said. "He runs very well and hit some good shots from the baseline. He also returns serve better than a lot of guys, so I'm happy to get through alive."

In a battle of past finalists, Davide Sanguinetti of Italy outdueled two-time champion and sixth seed Todd Martin of the United States, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3.

The runner-up to Mark Philippoussis here in 2001, Sanguinetti avenged his second-round loss to Martin a year ago.

Two other Americans fell in the first round Wednesday. Belarus' Vladimir Voltchkov defeated wild card Bob Bryan, 6-3, 6-3, and Sydney champion Hyung-Taik Lee of Korea beat Justin Gimelstob, 6-3, 6-4.

In women's second-round action, Coetzer converted eight of 13 break-point chances and rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over American Sarah Taylor.

Coetzer is an eight-time winner on the WTA Tour, but captured her last title at Acapulco in 2001.

Japan's Saori Obata converted all three break-point opportunities and knocked off Stevenson, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, and Korea's Yoon Jeong Cho saved four of five break points en route to a 6-2, 6-4 upset of Vera Zvonareva.