Delray Beach, FL (Sports Network) - American Sam Querrey and two-time champion
Xavier Malisse were each opening-round winners Monday at the Delray Beach
International Tennis Championships.
Querrey, seeded third in this hardcourt event, earned a 6-2, 2-2 decision over
Houston resident Michael Russell when the 34-year-old retired due to a leg
injury in the nightcap at Delray Beach Tennis Center.
The eighth-seeded Malisse, meanwhile, blew past Colombian Alejandro Falla 6-3,
6-3 in just 75 minutes.
Malisse owns three career titles on the ATP World Tour, with two of them
coming at this event, in 2005 and 2007. The five-time Delray Beach finalist
was also a runner-up here in 1999, 2001 and 2006.
Fifth-seeded Alexander Dolgopolov was an upset victim in his first-round bout,
however, with Croat Ivan Dodig breaking the Ukranian four times en route to a
swift 6-3, 6-3 triumph that took under an hour.
Also on Monday, Russian Evgeny Donskoy beat Belgian Steve Darcis 7-6 (7-5),
6-3.
The top seeds this week are towering American John Isner and oft-injured
German Tommy Haas, who titled here back in 2006.
South African Kevin Anderson beat Aussie Marinko Matosevic in last year's
Delray Beach final.
The 2013 champion will pocket $78,000.
The Sports Network