Blake Stuns Moya, Federer and Nadal Pull at Hamburg

Blake's backhand is the usual target for foes looking to create opportunities and avoid the American's whip-crack forehand, but against Moya the American hit out heavily on the backhand side while keeping the Spaniard off-kilter with a mix of net approaches and drop shots. Blake rebounded from a break down early in the third set and a treatment for cramps.

"I think the cramps helped me a little at the end because I have had trouble closing matches out in the past and as I was just thinking about getting through the match rather than how to finish it," Blake told reporters. "I'm really excited about the prospect of adapting to claycourts, because in my opinion I've just beaten one of the best claycourt players in the world and feel pretty good about it."

The win was Blake's first in three Hamburg appearances, and broke a five-match losing streak.

World No. 1 Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the top two seeds in the event, pulled out on Monday citing fatigue.

Other seeded winners Monday were (3) Ivan Ljubicic (d. (Q) Kohlschreiber from a set down), (8) Tommy Robredo (d. Novak), (12) Mario Ancic (d. (Q) Waske), (13) Jarkko Nieminen (d. Sanguinetti from a set down), (15) Radek Stepanek (d. Baghdatis who retired with breathing difficulties), and (16) David Ferrer (d. F.Lopez).

"I was sick in Rome but was feeling better lately," Baghdatis told reporters after retiring. "Today, though, I wasn't feeling well. I started to feel better after four or five games, but then there was a long rally and I felt I couldn't breathe, my heart was pumping really fast."

Unseeded winners of note were Spanish former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero who outlasted the hot-handed Belgian Olivier Rochus in three sets, Serb qualifier Novak Djokovic who bested the struggling No. 10 seed Guillermo Coria in three, Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu who ousted No. 11 Thomas Johansson in straights, Brazilian qualifier Flavio Saretta who showed former No. 1 Marat Safin the door from a set down (bagel in the second), and Belgian Kristof Vliegen who defeated last year's runner-up Richard Gasquet in straights.

Highlights Tuesday in Hamburg are (9) Kiefer vs. (Q) Melzer, (7) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez vs. Tursunov, Haas vs. Soderling, Gael "Force" Monfils vs. Brit Andy Murray, (4) Davydenko vs. Massu, (6) Gaudio vs. A.Martin, and (14) Ginepri vs. Grosjean.