Roddick progresses in Lyon

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:06

The American top seed, who won his third title of the year last month in Beijing and followed that up by reaching the semi-finals in Tokyo, fell to Gael Monfils in the third round in the Madrid Masters, which included all of the world’s top 10 players.

But Roddick, the 2005 champion of this carpet court tournament, turned to his powerful service game against Mahut, blasting 18 aces in a 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 triumph.

The 26-year-old will face compatriot Robby Ginepri in the second round. Ginepri claimed a 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 6-4 victory over French veteran Sebastian Grosjean, the defending champion.

There are no shortage of former champions here as the main draw started with nine past winners in the field.

Second-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet, the 2006 winner, booked his place in the second round, but needed to come from behind for a 5-7 6-3 7-6 (7/3) defeat of Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo.

Gasquet’s compatriot, Fabrice Santoro, the champion here back in 1997, also moved through as did 1999 winner Nicolas Lapentti.

Lapentti posted a mild 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 upset of sixth-seeded Croat Ivo Karlovic.

The partisan crowd was treated to an all-French battle as Australian Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – the three seed – picked up a 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over Marc Gicquel, a finalist here in each of the past two years.

Tsonga will have to deal with another countryman in the second round as the 35-year-old Santoro awaits.

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