Roddick Breezes; Henman, Agassi also Win at Indian Wells

Five Top 10 players navigated the 30- to 40-mph wind gusts and blowing sand Monday at the ATP stop in Indian Wells to post third round wins in (3) Andy Roddick (d. (26) Novak), (5) Guillermo Coria (d. (31) Srichaphan), (6) Tim Henman (d. (32) Melzer), (9) Andre Agassi (d. (21) Pavel), and (10) David Nalbandian (d. Bjorkman 6-1 in the third).

"It was a real struggle today," Henman said after dispatching a frustrated Melzer 7-5, 6-4. "It was a question as to who would get frustrated first. In those types of conditions it's very difficult to play without mistakes or without your opponent having opportunities. You have to accept that it will be ugly at times and find a way though it."

Roddick appeared to take a bit off his serve and groundstrokes in tailoring his game to the gusty conditions, dropping only three games against the Czech Novak.

"It was easier than I expected out there today," Roddick said. "I think with the conditions, it was pretty tough for everybody. I was lucky that I was able to play in the stadium. I don't think the wind was as bad in there. You know, I'm pretty happy with the way I hit 'em today."

ATP media manager Greg "The Remorseless Eating Machine" Sharko said the winds would have to kick up a little higher before play would be stopped.

"They would have to be 50 mph before play would be interrupted," Sharko said.

Other winners on the day were (12) Tommy Robredo (d. Enqvist 7-6 in the third), (17) Fernando Gonzalez (d. (WC) Blake, who blew a break in the first and won the second set at love en route to the loss), and (29) Nicolas Kiefer with the upset (d. (8) Gaudio, dropping only four games).

All five seeds in doubles first-round action Monday advanced in (1) Knowles/Nestor (d. Croatians Ancic/Ljubicic), Zimbabwe's (2) Black/Ullyett (d. Spadea/Volandri), Americans (4) Bryan/Bryan (d. Aspelin/Perry), Aussies (7) Arthurs/Hanley (d. Schuettler/Youzhny), and Frenchmen (8) Llodra/Santoro (d. Argentines Canas/Chela in three).

On tap Tuesday in IW are Llodra vs. (2) Hewitt, (1) Federer vs. Muller, (4) Safin vs. (30) Dent, (24) Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez vs. Fabrice "The Original Wizard" Santoro, (7) Moya vs. Ferrer in an all-Spanish, (22) Juan Ignacio "The Sprinkler" Chela vs. (14) Canas in an all-Argentine, Mathieu vs. Hernych, and Berdych vs. (13) Ljubicic.