Soderling advances with straight-set win

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Robin Soderling won in straight sets but No. 3-seeded Fernando Verdasco lost Tuesday at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Australia.

Soderling easily moved by Ryan Harrison 6-2, 6-4 in 66 minutes. Soderling won 60 percent of the points in the match, including 75 percent on serve. He saved the only break point he faced.

Verdasco fell to Benjamin Becker 6-1, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 with Becker finishing off four of the five break-point chances he had. Verdasco managed just one break in the match.

Fourth-seeded Mardy Fish, fueled by an 11-ace attack, claimed a 6-1, 6-4 win over Adrian Mannarino and No. 5-seeded Marcos Baghdatis rallied for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Florent Serra. Each player won 97 points but Baghdatis broke Serra's serve four times while suffering three breaks.

Matthew Ebden pounded out 12 aces in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 decision over John Millman and Radek Stepanek was a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 winner over Tobias Kamke. Also advancing were Ricardas Berankis, who topped Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-3, and Kevin Anderson, who stopped Peter Luczak 6-4, 6-4.