Nadal Wins, Roddick Another Early Loss at ATP Madrid

"My knee functioned well enough, and while other people were fearful, the injury did not hurt me at any time," Nadal said. "I think I played quite well. Despite the beginning, where I had a few nerves and a lack of rhythm after three weeks without playing a single set, I am very pleased."

No. 2 seed Andy Roddick served 14 aces and didn't lose serve during his match, but it wasn't enough as the American squandered a match point to lose his third consecutive ATP contest 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(3) to big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic.

"For two sets, I don't think I could have played better," said Roddick, who had a match point at 6-5 in the second-set breaker. "It was the highest quality match we've played. You're going to have two or three points per tiebreaker that's either going to go your way or it's not. It didn't go my way tonight. In the second tiebreaker, I don't think I played a bad point."

Other seeded winners Wednesday were (3) Nikolay Davydenko (d. Beck), (4) Guillermo Coria (d. C.Rochus), (6) Mariano Puerta (d. Mirnyi in two breakers), (8) Ivan Ljubicic (d. A.Martin), (9) Thomas Johansson (d. Chela), (10) Radek Stepanek (d. Henman in three), (13) Tommy Robredo (d. Moya 6-1 in the third), and (14) Dominik Hrbaty (d. Haas).

"In terms of the way that I'm moving, the way that I'm feeling on the court, there is certainly a lot to be positive about," said Henman, looking on the bright side of life after the loss to the seeded Stepanek. "In the context of this year, it's not the most important result of my career. I do feel a lot more enthusiastic and a lot more excited about my game because I'm out there playing pain-free. I've been able to play the way that I want to."

Un-seeds orchestrating upsets to advance into the third round were Argentina's Jose Acasuso (d. (7) Gaudio), and Belgian Olivier Rochus (d. (12) Ancic in a third-set breaker).

On tap for Thursday at the Masters Series-Madrid are (5) Nalbandian vs. (9) Thomas "Tojo" Johansson, (3) Davydenko vs. (16) Ginepri, (11) Ferrer vs. (6) Puerta, (1) Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal vs. (13) Robredo in an all-Spanish, (15) Gonzalez vs. (4) Coria, (10) Stepanek vs. Acasuso, (14) Hrbaty vs. (Q) "Dr." Ivo Karlovic, (8) Ljubicic vs. Olivier "The Roach" Rochus, and in doubles highlights, T.Johansson/Mirnyi vs. (WC)Blake/Roddick.