Roddick Starts With a Win

Top-ranked Andy Roddick opened his 2004 season by defeating Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, 6-3, 6-4, Tuesday to reach the second round of the Qatar Open.

Roddick served nine aces and broke Davydenko twice.

“It was a good workout for me,” Roddick said. “It is always difficult to start playing matches after a break, so I am happy that it turned out to be a comfortable win for me.”

Roddick broke in the sixth game of the first set, when Davydenko sent two shots wide and missed a passing shot. Roddick then held serve to win the set.

“I knew I was serving well. I was looking good on my serves and that is why I wasn’t broken by Nikolay throughout the match,” Roddick said.

There were two upsets Tuesday: Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis and fifth-seeded Nicolas Massu lost.

Philippoussis lost to defending champion Stefan Koubek, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, and Massu lost to Ivan Ljubicic, 6-3, 6-3.

In other matches, Wimbledon semifinalist Sebastien Grosjean beat Markus Hantschk, 6-1, 7-5, and 2001 Qatar Open champion Younes El Aynaoui lost to Nicolas Escude, 6-3, 6-0.