The Hindu : Roddick starts off with a win, Philippoussis loses

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 20, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Roddick starts off with a win, Philippoussis loses

MEMPHIS Feb.19 Top-seeded Andy Roddick kicked off his defense of the Kroger St. Jude title on Tuesday with a first round victory over U.S. qualifier Cecil Mamiit 6-4, 6-4.

Roddick, the world's sixth-ranked player, contested his first match since injuring his right wrist at last month's Australian Open.

Roddick joined second-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand in the second round. Srichaphan beat former world No. 2 Michael Chang 6-4, 6-2 in 56 minutes.

Chang, playing his final year on the ATP Tour, was no match for Srichaphan's power. Srichaphan repeatedly blasted winners from both his forehand and backhand sides, in addition to serving 11 aces.

Former top-10 player and two-time Memphis champion Mark Philippoussis was ousted America's Taylor Dent 7-6 (15), 6-1.

Philippoussis has been slowed by a succession of knee injuries since 1999.

Philippoussis, whose ranking in the world has slipped to No. 91, appeared to be in control of his match against Dent and took a 6-3 lead in the opening-set tiebreaker. But Dent recovered and forced the longest tiebreaker on tour this year.

Despite serving six aces in the tiebreaker, Philippoussis lost when Dent ended the marathon with a forehand return winner. Dent then easily won the second set, breaking Philippoussis in the second and sixth games.

It was Dent's first win on tour this season.

``That was nice, it's been a little while since I've won,'' he said. ``And it was nice to beat a player like Mark. No one likes playing him because it's no fun when you're not getting a chance to touch the ball (against his strong serves).''

In women's play, top-seeded Silvia Farina Elia of Italy and U.S. No. 2 Lisa Raymond advanced.

Farina Elia claimed a 6-2, 7-5 win over Adrianna Serra Zanetti of Italy, while defending champion Raymond beat countrywoman Tanner Snyder 6-3, 6-2.

Fifth-seeded Laura Granville joined the top seeds with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 win over fellow American Sandra Cacic.

Also advancing was U.S. No. 4 Alexandra Stevenson. Last year's losing finalist defeated Australian qualifier Samantha Stosur 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (10-8).

Bhupathi-Eagle duo moves up

India's Mahesh Bhupathi and his Australian partner Joshua Eagle have moved into the doubles second round . Bhupathi, the reigning US Open doubles champion, and Eagle defeated John-Laffnie De Jager of South Africa and Hyung-Taik Lee of South Korea 6-4, 6-3 in the first round.

The results:

Men's singles: Paradorn Srichaphan bt Michael Chang 6-4, 6-2; Andy Roddick bt Cecil Mamiit 6-4, 6-4; Vincent Spadea bt Brian Baker 6-2, 6-0; Taylor Dent bt Mark Philippoussis 7-6 (15), 6-1.

Women's singles: Second round:Silvia Farinia Elia bt Antonella Serra Zanetti 6-2, 7-5; Lisa Raymond bt Tara Snyder, United States, 6-3, 6-3 ; Laura Granville bt Sandra Cacic 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

First round: Alexandra Stevenson bt Samantha Stosur 3-6, 7-6 (7-6), 7-6 (8); Maria Goloviznina bt Diana Ospina 6-2, 6-3; Saori Obata bt Vanessa Webb 6-4, 6-0.

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