Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Sam Querrey advanced after Marinko
Matosevic’s retirement, and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt fell to Go Soeda
as the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship commenced Monday at River Oaks
Country Club.
Querrey, the No. 8 seed, was leading 4-1 in the first set when a foot injury
caused Matosevic to retire after 18 minutes. Querrey was the runner-up in
Houston in 2010.
Soeda defeated Hewitt, the winner of this event in 2009, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.
Also on Day 1, Argentine Federico Delbonis beat Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis
6-2, 7-6 (7-5) and Aussie Sam Groth stopped Dominican Victor Estrella Burgos
7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
This week’s top seeds are Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Lopez will open up against the aforementioned Groth.
Fernando Verdasco beat back-to-back runner-up Nicolas Almagro in last year’s
all-Spanish finale.
The winner of this tournament will receive $88,800.
