Mon Aug 18 16:06:55 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Isner reaches second round in New Haven

---

New Haven, CT (Sports Network) - Towering American John Isner was among the Day-2 first-round winners at the $708,000 Pilot Pen Tennis event, a final U.S. Open tune-up.

The 6-foot-9 Isner got past Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-4, 6-4 on the hardcourts at the Connecticut Tennis Center.

In other opening-round action, Belgian Steve Darcis beat American Vincent Spadea 7-5, 5-0, retired; German Denis Gremelmayr overcame Brazilian Marcos Daniel 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Belgian Olivier Rochus handled Russian Evgeny Korolev 6-4, 6-4; Italian Potito Starace stopped Czech Jiri Vanek 6-2, 7-6 (9-7); Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez bested Aussie Chris Guccione 7-5, 6-3; and Italian Fabio Fognini erased Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 6-4, 4-4, retired.

American James Blake beat compatriot Mardy Fish in last year's hardcourt final here. Blake, who also titled here in 2005, is not defending his title this week.

The 2008 U.S. Open will commence next Monday in New York.