Sweeting, Russell advance in Houston
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Defending champion Ryan Sweeting and Houston resident Michael Russell advanced to the second round at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship on Tuesday.
Sweeting was a surprise winner here a year ago when he beat Japan's Kei Nishikori in the finale, in his debut appearance in an ATP World Tour final. On Tuesday, the American completed a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) victory over Brazilian Ricardo Mello, using six aces and saving 7-of-9 break point opportunities to complete the victory in 108 minutes at River Oaks Country Club.
American qualifier Russell dropped the first set to Spaniard Daniel Gimeno- Traver before taking the final two for a 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 decision in just under two hours. Russell fought off six aces from his Spanish opponent and advances to face top seed and World No. 9 Mardy Fish, who won this tournament back in 2006, on Thursday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fish and American John Isner are this week's top-seeded players.
In other first round action, Russian Igor Kunitsyn dropped Belgian Xavier Malisse 6-4, 6-2, while Italian Paolo Lorenzi came from behind to beat American wild card Wayne Odesnik 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-3. The 26-year-old South African native Odesnik was the Houston runner-up in 2009, which marks his only career ATP World Tour final.
Argentine qualifier Horacio Zeballos made his third straight Houston appearance, defeating Romanian Adrian Ungur 6-3, 6-3 in 90 minutes for the victory. Zeballos advanced to the semi-finals here two years ago.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Both ranked in the World's top 100, Japanese compatriots Tatsuma Ito, ranked No. 98, and qualifier Go Soeda, ranked No. 77, battled in the first round, with Ito taking a 6-4, 7-5 decision in 1 hour, 51 minutes.
The winner of this $442,500 event will take home $79,880.