Ginepri, Amritraj win; Becker loses

NEWPORT, R.I., July 6 (UPI) -- Former champion Robby Ginepri and 2008 runner-up Prakash Amritraj were opening round winners Monday at the Hall of Fame Championships in Newport, R.I.

American Ginepri, the 2003 Newport champion, defeated Spaniard Santiago Ventura 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 and Indian wild card Amritraj beat Thai Danai Udomchoke 6-1, 6-4. Amritraj is the son of former ATP star Vijay Amritraj, who lost to Frenchman Fabrice Santoro in last year's Newport finale.

Santoro is this week's highest seed, at No. 2. Top-seeded American Mardy Fish pulled out to join the United States for its Davis Cup quarterfinal at Croatia this weekend.

Fourth-seeded German Benjamin Becker lost to American Brendan Evans 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-5.

Two other Americans reached the second round, as Taylor Dent beat Brazilian Marcos Daniel 6-2, 6-1 and Jesse Levine beat Australian Chris Guccione 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-2). Dent was the Newport champion in 2002.

German Daniel Brands beat American Vincent Spadea, the 2005 Newport runner-up, 6-0, 6-4.