Roddick Begins Title Bid; Del Potro Extends Winning Streak

2008 Getty ImagesWASHINGTON - AUGUST 12: Andy Roddick returns a shot to Ramon Delgado of Paraguay during the Legg Mason Tennis Classic at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on August 12, 2008 in Washington, DC. Roddick defeated Delgado 6-3,7-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Top-seeded American Andy Roddick opened his title defense, Tuesday at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Paraguayan qualifier Ramon Delgado. Roddick failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the third set before seizing his opportunity to secure the win in the tie-break.

Roddick is a three-time Washington champion, and improves to an impressive 24-3 event record. In addition to last year's triumph (d. Isner), he won titles in 2001 (d. Schalken) and '05 (d. Blake). He is attempting to join compatriot Andre Agassi as the only players to win four titles at this event.

The World No. 9, a finalist last week in Los Angeles, next faces Argentine Eduardo Schwank, a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 winner over Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean. Roddick said: "It was a tough first round. Ramon played a solid match and made me work hard for the win. I feel a bit tired from Los Angeles but tomorrow I have the day off so I hope to play better on Wednesday against Schwank."

Argentine teenager Juan Martin del Potro won his 15th straight match as he defeated American wild card Jesse Levine, 6-2, 6-3. His streak is the second-longest on the ATP circuit this season, trailing only Rafael Nadal's 32.

The 19-year-old has won titles in his last three tournament appearances; he clinched his first two career ATP titles in back-to-back weeks on clay at Stuttgart (d. Gasquet) and Kitzbuhel (d. Melzer) and then won his first hard court title on Sunday in Los Angeles (d. Roddick).

"I think I'm serving well and being very aggressive. This is helping a lot on hard courts," said del Potro, who plays his second round match against Israeli Dudi Sela.

Colombian Alejandro Falla brought disappointment to home fans as he converted five of seven break points to end the hopes of fifth seed Mardy Fish (pictured right), 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. In doing so, he avenged his first round loss to the Tampa resident last week in Los Angeles.

World No. 122 Falla had not beaten an American opponent in five previous attempts this season. The 24-year-old has now compiled a 7-10 season match record after suffering six first round exits. He goes on to face Florent Serra in the second round and will look to reach his first ATP quarterfinal since Lyon last year (l. to Gicquel).

Third-seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez bowed out in the opening round for the second straight week, falling to American Robert Kendrick 6-3, 7-5. It was Lopez’s first loss to Kendrick in three career meetings.

World No. 114 Kendrick, who fired 13 aces and converted three of four break points in the encounter, is through to the second round in Washington for the first time, having fallen first round on his previous two visits. It is the 28-year-old’s first victory on the ATP circuit this season; however, on the ATP Challenger circuit he has reached three finals at Lexington, Tallahassee and Bradenton.

Serbian Viktor Troicki enjoyed smooth passage into the second round, converting all three break point chances he had to defeat German Denis Gremelmayr 6-4, 6-2. The 22-year-old, who is making his Washington debut, improves to 9-12 for the season. The Belgrade native has reached one ATP quarterfinal this season, falling to Guillermo Canas in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.