Top seed Andy Roddick launched his defence of the San Jose ATP title with a straight-set victory over US qualifier Paul Goldstein on Wednesday. Making his first appearance since a disappointing loss to Lleyton Hewitt in the Australian Open quarter-finals, Roddick beat Goldstein 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the 380,000-dollar tournament. "I felt like I hit the ball pretty well tonight, especially from the forehand," Roddick said. "I just went for it."
"His backhand has improved by leaps and bounds the last four years," Goldstein said. "He gets his body all the way and gets some space to make that shot."
The 22-year-old Roddick next faces South Korean Lee Hyung-Taik, who beat American Jan-Michael Gambill in straight sets Tuesday.
Goldstein, 28, was playing his first ATP Tour match of the year.
"I feel really good right now," Goldstein said. "I played aggressively and was assertive on his shots. He wasn't missing too much."
Roddick defeated fellow American Mardy Fish in the final here last year.
But Fish, the sixth seed, was bounced Wednesday by Sweden's Thomas Enqvist 7-6 (8/6), 6-1.
In other first-round matches, France's Cyril Saulnier upset fifth seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2, and eighth seed Max Mirnyi of Belarus got past Peter Wessels of the Netherlands, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
Belgium's Xavier Malisse, fresh from claiming his first career title at Delray Beach, Florida, on Sunday, defeated Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun 6-2, 6-3.
Two second-round clashes were on the programme Wednesday.
Third seed Tommy Haas of Germany reached the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevik.
And fourth seed Vincent Spadea, who reached the semi-finals last week in Delray Beach, routed fellow American James Blake 6-3, 6-0 in a second-round clash.
COLLATED RESULTS (x denotes seeding):
(FIRST REOUND): Cyril Saulnier (FRA) bt Jiri Novak (CZE x5) 6-2, 6-2; Max Mirnyi (BLR x8) bt Peter Wessels (NED) 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3; Xavier Malisse (BEL) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) 6-2, 6-3; Andy Roddick (USA x1) bt Paul Goldstein (USA) 6-3, 6-4; Thomas Enqvist (SWE) bt Mardy Fish (USA x6) 7-6 (8/6), 6-1
(SECOND ROUND): Tommy Haas (GER x3) bt Frank Dancevik (CAN) 6-1, 6-3. Vincent Spadea (US x4) bt James Blake (USA) 6-3, 6-0.
MARSEILLE: Marseille ATP results on Wednesday:
(FIRST ROUND): Arnaud Clement (FRA) bt Radek Stepanek (CZE) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1; David Nalbandian (ARG x2) bt Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-7 (7/2), 6-4, 7-5; Igor Andreev (RUS) bt Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-3, 6-2;Ivan Ljubicic (CRO x8) bt Victor Hanescu (ROM) 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4; Sebastien de Chaunac (FRA) bt Guillermo Coria (ARG x1) 6-4, 7-5; Ivo Karlovic (CRO) bt Yeu-Tuoo Wang (TPE) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) Taylor Dent (USA) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-2, 6-2.
(SECOND ROUND): Sjeng Schalken (NED) bt Jerome Haehnel (FRA) 6-4, 6-2.
BUENOS AIRES OPEN:
BUENOS AIRES: Results in the 380,000 dollar Buenos Open ATP tennis tournament on Wednesday (x denotes seeding):
(SECOND ROUNS): Felix Mantilla (SPA) bt Marc Lopez (SPA) 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4).
BUENOS AIRES OPEN:
BUENOS AIRES: Results in the 380,000 dollar Buenos Open ATP tennis tournament on Wednesday (x denotes seeding):
(SECOND ROUNS): Felix Mantilla (SPA) bt Marc Lopez (SPA) 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4).
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