Jenkins, Gimelstob Lead Americans at ATP New Haven

The "C"-level American contingent provided the excitement on a seedless-orange day one at the ATP stop in New Haven Monday, with both Scoville Jenkins and Justin Gimelstob posting come-from-behind three-set wins to move into the second round.

"This is big," said Jenkins, firing 19 aces en route to his first tour win. "I'm excited but I can't be too excited because I have another match to go tomorrow."

Jenkins started nervously but got a foothold in the match after breaking in the second set before overcoming more nerves in the end.

"I feel comfortable because I've been waiting for this," Jenkins said. "I wasn't relaxed in those final games, but I have to get used to this. I have to realize now that I'm on a stage."

Americans on the losing end Monday were Bobby Reynolds, straight-setted by Austria's Stefan Koubek, and Kevin Kim, edged by David Sanguinetti of Italy.

"I haven't won too many matches so far (this year)," said Koubek who was suspended three months for a drug infraction and had a knee injury earlier this year, "but I qualified last week in Cincinnati and now in New Haven. Being in the main draw is great for me."

Other un-seeds into the second round were Romanian Victor Hanescu (d. Horna in three tiebreaks), Russian Igor Andreev (d. Monaco), France's Cyril Saulnier (d. Wawrinka), Czech Tomas Zib (d. Muller in three), Italy's Andrea Seppi (d. Tursunov from a set down), and Spain's Fernando Verdasco (d. Hernych, bagel in the first).

On court Tuesday in New Haven are Carlsen vs. Fabrice "The Original Magician" Santoro, Kohlschreiber vs. Fish, Llodra vs. (WC) Blake, (15) Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan vs. Saulnier, (9) "Grinning" Greg Rusedski vs. Hanescu, (4) Robredo vs. Jenkins, A.Martin vs. Christophe "The Roach" Rochus, Marcos "Bombs Over" Baghdatis vs. Juan Ignacio "The Spitting Snake" Chela, (14) Soderling vs. Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco, Ram vs. Ricardo Mello "Yello," (5) Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez vs. Sanguinetti, and in doubles the Chilean baseline-huggers Gonzalez/Massu get out the bug spray vs. "Team Roach" Rochus/Rochus.