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Tommy Haas reaches 2nd round at Memphis

Memphis, Feb 21: Germany's Tommy Haas advanced to the second round of the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory over Russia's Evgeny Donskoy on Wednesday.The 34-year-old Haas was a finalist

tommy haas reaches 2nd round at memphis tommy haas reaches 2nd round at memphis
Memphis, Feb 21: Germany's Tommy Haas advanced to the second round of the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory over Russia's Evgeny Donskoy on Wednesday.



The 34-year-old Haas was a finalist at last week's SAP Open in San Jose. He is a three-time Memphis champion. He won the first ATP Tour title of his career in Memphis 14 years ago.

SAP Open-winner Milos Raonic was later bundled out with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 loss to America's Jack Sock.

No. 2. Raonic finished as runner-up to Andy Roddick in 2011 and to Jurgen Melzer in 2012.

"It's always nice to get the highest-ranked win of my career," Sock said. "I hope to carry the momentum on this week."

Sock broke Raonic to go ahead 6-5 in the final set and closed the match with an ace, his 11th of the match.

In other first-round matches, former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia survived two match points in the second set and defeated Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Hewitt, who turns 32 Sunday, is seeking his first Tour title since 2010.

"I just hung in there," Hewitt said. "He played extremely well the first set and hit the ball extremely clean. I just tried to hang in there and hold my serve. I kept fighting."

The win by Hewitt was the 571st of his career, tying him for 25th place in tour history with Mats Wilander. Wilander won seven Grand Slam titles in the 1980s.

In women's second-round matches, top seed Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium advanced with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine and No. 3 Sabine Lisicki of Germany beat Melinda Czink of Hungary 7-6 (0), 4-6, 6-2.

No. 2 seed and defending champion Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden was eliminated by Marina Erakovic of New Zealand 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Arvidsson defeated Erakovic in last year's final.

"I came out a bit flat and didn't move well," Arvidsson said. "I tried to work my way into the match, but Marina played a great match. She was on fire, she was really aggressive."

Fourth seed Heather Watson of Britain and eighth seed Kristina Mladenovic moved into the quarterfinals. Watson beat Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 and Mladenovic defeated Victoria Duval 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

In other first-round play, former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia survived two match points in the second set before beating Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Hewitt, who turns 32 Sunday, is seeking his first title since 2010.

The win by Hewitt was the 571st of his career, giving him a share of 25th place in tour history with Mats Wilander. Wilander won seven Grand Slam titles in the 1980s.

In women's second-round matches, top seed Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium advanced with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.

No. 3 Sabine Lisicki of Germany beat Melinda Czink of Hungary, 7-6 (0), 4-6, 6-2, but No. 2 seed and defending champion Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden was eliminated by Marina Erakovic of New Zealand 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Arvidsson defeated Erakovic in last year's final.

No. 4 seed Heather Watson of Britain and eighth seed Kristina Mladenovic moved into the quarterfinals. Watson beat Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 and Mladenovic defeated Victoria Duval 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.