Reynolds Makes Himself Known

These are the American names you expect to see in the second round of a Grand Slam event, right?

Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish, Taylor Dent and Bobby Reynolds.

Bobby Reynolds?

OK, maybe not. But Reynolds’ story is the type often played out at Slams, an unexpected slice of surprise.

Reynolds, who played at Vanderbilt, traveled to the Australian Open with no assurances, no promises. His place in the qualifying draw was far from secure.

“It’s just the second time I’ve ever been outside the country,” said the 22-year-old Reynolds, who is from Marietta, Ga.

He said he was 16th on the list to get in the qualifying draw. Slowly but surely, players started dropping out and he got in. Reynolds won three rounds, and today, out on Court 10, he won his first main-draw match at a Grand Slam, beating Nicolas Almagro of Spain, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5), at Melbourne Park.

Previously, he had received a wild card two years ago at U.S. Open qualifying but did not advance to the main draw. Last year, he got a main-draw wild card but lost in the first round in New York.

For Reynolds, it’s a bit different being around the likes of Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt.

“It’s weird,” he said. “Since I’ve been young, these are the guys you see on TV.”

Reynolds will next play 17th-seeded Andrei Pavel of Romania, who defeated Olivier Mutis of France, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0.

No. 2 Andy Roddick had little trouble after a tight first set, beating Irakli Labadze of Georgia, 7-5, 6-2, 6-1.

It was Roddick’s first Grand Slam match since he parted ways with coach Brad Gilbert last year.

The first question in Roddick’s news conference was about Gilbert, who is here working for ESPN and commentating on Roddick, of course.

“I just felt that the relationship had run its course,” said Roddick, who dismissed Gilbert in December, shortly after the Davis Cup final in Seville, Spain. “I had plateaued a little bit at the end of last year and definitely needed to try to get something, to get a fresh start.

“I think Brad and I did a great job, and we worked very well together for a year and half. You know, just decided to go in a new direction.”

Roddick jammed his ankle last week during an exhibition. He survived his first test, though Labadze seemed spent after a tough opening set.

“It feels fine,” Roddick said of the ankle. “It’s just a little uncomfortable. I just jammed it a little bit. But it’s nothing that’s going to stop me from playing.”

On the women’s side, Angela Haynes of Compton had the shot to equal Reynolds’ success, a qualifier making the second round. But Aiko Nakamura beat Haynes, 6-3, 6-4. After a close first set, Haynes broke in the opening game, then lost the next five. She saved a match point in the eighth game but could not pull even, losing her serve at 5-4.

Two other American women moved on to the second round. No. 25 Lisa Raymond defeated Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus, 6-0, 6-1, and Mashona Washington beat Catalina Castano of Colombia, 6-2, 6-3. Also, Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic defeated Meilen Tu, 6-3, 6-3.