Andy Roddick opened his 2006 US Open campaign with a comfortable 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 win over Frenchman Florent Serra Monday at the New York's Flushing Meadows.
The American, who is riding a seven-match winning streak after claiming the ATP Masters Series Cincinnati title, fired 10 aces and committed only nine unforced errors in his first career meeting with Serra.
Third seed Ivan Ljubicic saw his disappointing US Open record continue when beaten 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 by Spaniard Feliciano Lopez. The World No. 3 has only once reached the third round in eight visits to Flushing Meadows.
Lopez's left-handed serve was lethal. He lost just three points on his first serve and a total of just 12 points on his first and second serves throughout the match.
Mardy Fish recorded a 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win over Simon Greul to also advance to the second round.
Fish, who is making his seventh straight appearance at the US Open, will next battle Novak Djokovic looking to win back-to-back matches for the first time in his home Grand Slam event.
Djokovic was the first player to advance to the second round at the 2006 US Open, as the No.20 seed dismissed 19-year-old wild card Donald Young 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-1.
The Serbian teen, who is making his second US Open appearance , is currently No.23 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings (a career-high). Djokovic won his career first ATP title at Amersfoort earlier this season defeating Olympic gold medalist Nicolas Massu in the final.
Sixth-seeded Tommy Robredo needed one hour and 53 minutes to beat Flavio Saretta 6-2, 6-1, 6-2. The No.2 Spaniard currently lies at a career-high ranking of No.5 after a strong performance at the ATP Masters Series Cincinnati, where fell in the semifinals to countryman Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Russia's Mikhail Youzhny posted the first upset of the American Grand Slam, defeating No.19 seed Dominik Hrbaty 7-5, 6-1, 6-3.
Also advancing to the second round were Jiri Novak and Nicolas Massu. The Czech defeated Arnaud Clement 7-5, 6-2, 7-5 while Massu overcame Davide Sanguinetti 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
Thai Paradorn Srichaphan withstood 29 aces from Jose Acasuso to defeat the 24th-seeded Argentine 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 in 3 hrs., 27 mins. Srichaphan, who served 23 aces of his own, dropped serve just once in the match, saving five of six break points he faced.
Eighth-seeded shotmaker and Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis clipped 35 winners and made just eight unforced errors in a 7-6(1), 7-6(7), 6-3 win over German Alexander Waske. The Cypriot is at a career-high No. 8 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings after beginning the year at No. 56 with a total of just 13 career victories to his name.
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