Top seed Andy Roddick launched his defence of the San Jose ATP title with a straight-set victory over United States qualifier Paul Goldstein on Wednesday.
Making his first appearance since a disappointing loss to Lleyton Hewitt in the Australian Open quarterfinals, Roddick beat Goldstein 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the $380 000 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 on 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 in San Jose last year.
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 on Wednesday.
Third seed Tommy Haas of Germany reached the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevik.
And fourth seed Vincent Spadea, who reached the semifinals last week in Delray Beach, routed fellow American James Blake 6-3, 6-0 in a second-round clash. — Sapa-AFP