Newport Finalists Flipper, Gimel-blog Out 1st Rd at Indy

Newport finalists Mark Philippoussis and Justin Gimelstob made a difficult transition from grass to hard court Tuesday, losing their first matches of the US Open Series at the RCA Championships in Indianapolis.

Philippoussis, who on Sunday snapped a three-year title drought by winning the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships without dropping serve, suffered a 6-4, 7-6(3) loss to South Korean Hyung-Taik Lee. The Australian fired 12 aces but also nine double faults and won just 38 percent of points on his second serve. Lee broke serve twice. Philippoussis won just 14 of 60 return points during the 90 minute match.

Gimelstob, the 29-year-old veteran who reached his first ATP final last week in Newport, fell 6-3, 7-5 to South African qualifier Wesley Whitehouse, who converted four of five break point opportunities. Whitehouse, who won his first ATP-level match of the season and just the second ATP-level match of his career, avenged a three-set loss to Gimelstob last week in Newport.

Second seed and two-time champion Andy Roddick breezed into the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ramon Delgado. Despite serving at just 61 percent, Roddick faced just one break point (which he saved) while converting three of four break point opportunities.

Defending champion Robby Ginepri, in need of confidence after a 6-16 start to the season, rallied from a set down to defeat Alejandro Falla 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. Extreme heat saw Ginepri dip his head in ice water in a courtside cooler late in the third set.

Third seed Fernando Gonzalez stopped 18-year-old American wild card Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-4.
-- ATP