Controver-sial Americans Wayne Odesnik and Donald Young moved into the spotlight Monday at the ATP Washington Classic as World No 8 Mardy Fish joined No 12 Andy Roddick in withdrawing due to injury. Former World No 4 James Blake advanced past Japan's Tatsuma Ito 6-3, 6-3 in 56 minutes in the feature match at the $1.4 million hardcourt event, which will be Odesnik's first ATP appearance since a doping ban imposed in May of 2010.
Young, who beat New Zealand qualifier Artem Sitak 6-0, 6-3, issued a profane tirade on Twitter last April against the US Tennis Association after feeling slighted for a French Open wild card. Young apologised and no longer tweets. Odesnik was banned for two years last May after pleading guilty to importing human growth hormone (HGH) into Australia. He lost all ranking points after reaching a career-high 77th and his ban was backdated to the prior December.