Russell advances on upset in California

• Tweet

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Michael Russell knocked off No. 7-seeded Donald Young in a first-round match Tuesday at the SAP Open tennis tournament in California.

Russell defeated Young 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) by piling up five service breaks in nine games. Each player lost serve three times in the second set before Russell advanced by taking the tiebreaker.

Russell took 52 percent of the points off Young's serve.

Qualifiers Dimitar Kutrovsky and Denis Kudla also earned second-round slots, each winning in three sets. Kutrovsky was a 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) winner over Dennis Lajola while Kudla beat wild-card entrant Jack Sock 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, losing his serve just once in the match.

Also Tuesday, Robby Ginepri routed Xavier Malisse 6-1, 6-2; Gilles Muller got past Tim Smyczek 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3; and Steve Darcis edged past Steve Johnson 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5).