CINCINNATI - Former US Open tennis champion Andy Roddick recovered from his disappointing defeat last week to beat Austrian Juergen Melzer 6-3 6-4 to reach the second round of the Cincinnati Masters.
The American lost to unseeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round of the Montreal Masters but overpowered Melzer to romp to victory in one hour 17 minutes in dull, cool conditions.
Melzer could not get back in the match after being broken in the first game of the second set.
Fifth seed Roddick, who won the US Open in 2003, now plays Austrian Stefan Koubek or Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Twelfth seed Tim Henman produced an improved performance to crush Nicolas Massu of Chile 6-2 6-1.
The Briton, who had lost both matches since his second-round defeat at Wimbledon in June, took advantage of a lacklustre display by Massu to set up a second-round tussle with Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina.
"It was much better today, in terms of the result," Henman said.
"I've been playing as well in practice as I have in years and I know that if I just remain patient, then the hard work will pay off. I just have to keep building."
World No 1 Roger Federer will make his first appearance since Wimbledon when he plays American James Blake in the night session.
Andre Agassi, the defending champion, pulled out of the event to protect his troublesome back injury.
- REUTERS
Tennis: Roddick bounces back with Cincinnati win
Andy Roddick
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