Becker falls, Nishikori wins in Houston

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HOUSTON, April 6 (UPI) -- Fifth-seeded Benjamin Becker fell victim to an upset but No. 6 Kei Nishikori advanced Tuesday in the first round of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship.

Becker, of Germany, was upended by 6-foot-10 Croatian qualifier Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Japan's Nishikori easily bested Croatian qualifier Franco Skugor 6-3, 6-2, advancing to the second round on the green clay courts of the River Oaks Country Club in Houston.

American James Blake, the 2008 Houston runner-up, was a winner after fighting back from a first-set loss to triumph over Argentina's Carlos Berlocq 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-4.

U.S. wild card Ryan Sweeting downed fellow American qualifier Tim Smyczek 6-2, 6-2; Somdev Devvarman of India defeated American Robert Kendrick 6-2, 6-1; and Argentine Horacio Zeballos handled Ryan Harrison of the United States 6-4, 6-3.