Defending Champ Youzhny Wins Opener at ATP St. Petersburg

All four seeds in play advanced safely into the second round Tuesday at the ATP stop in St. Petersburg in (2) Thomas Johansson (d. Kohlschreiber), (4) Mikhail Youzhny (d. Beck who retired with a knee injury), (5) Nicolas Kiefer (d. Garcia-Lopez in three), and (8) Fernando Verdasco (d. (WC) Philippoussis in three).

"We met in last year's final here so I pretty much knew what to expect from him this time," Youzhny said after overcoming Beck.

Johansson delivered eight aces and did not face a break point against the German Kohlschreiber.

"This was a good match," Johansson said. "I was serving and returning very well, which gives me confidence for the next round. I'm happy. I feel like I'm back at pretty much the same level as in 2002 when I won the Australian Open."

Unseeded winners on the day were American Kevin Kim (d. Minar in three), Argentine Juan Monaco (d. (Q) Gabashvili), and Ukraine qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky (d. Popp in three).

On tap for Wednesday are (Q) Stakhovsky vs. Carlsen, Melzer vs. (5) Kiefer, (1) Davydenko vs. Dlouhy, (7) Rusedski vs. Tursunov, Goldstein vs. Burgsmuller, and Serra vs. Vik.