Roddick reaches second round in Memphis

MELBOURNE, Tenn., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Andy Roddick breezed past the opening round at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships Wednesday with a straight-sets victory.

Roddick eliminated defending champion Steve Darcis 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.

James Blake, meanwhile, suffered a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 loss to Lleyton Hewitt. Blake came into this event seeded third.

Radek Stepanek, winner of last week's tournament in San Jose, continued on his hot streak with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Kevin Kim. Mardy Fish, who fell to Stepanek in last week's final, defeated Yen-Hsun Lu 6-1, 7-5.

Three-time Memphis champion Tommy Haas fell to Sam Querrey 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 and Robby Ginepri won his first-round match over Simon Gruel 6-4, 6-4.