HOUSTON, April 12 (UPI) -- Defending champion Andy Roddick lost just five games in beating Chile's Paul Capdeville and advancing in the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston.
Roddick, the top seed in the $380,000 tournament, took a relatively easy 6-3, 6-2 win Tuesday over Capdeville despite a start in which he lost his first service game. But he rebounded with breaks in games 2 and 4 and won easily.
No. 2 seeded James Blake, however, was ousted, dropping a 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-1 decision to France's Antony Dupuis. Eight-seeded Juan Monaco, from Argentine, also was upset, losing 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5) to unranked American Mardy Fish.
Additional opening-round wins were posted by Americans Vincent Spadea and Scoville Jenkins, Spaniard Fernando Vicente and Germans Alexander Waske and Rainer Schuettler.
The winner of the clay court title will receive $52,000.
