Roddick survives scare to go through

Top seed Andy Roddick survived a tight second set for a straight sets win over Spaniard Alberto Martin in the first round of the Internationaler Raiffeisen Grand Prix in St Polten.

Roddick was up a set and a break under bright sun and a light breeze at the Austrian event, before letting Martin back in the match with two double faults and a service break midway through the second set.

Down 5-2 in the second set tie-break, Roddick reeled off five straight points for the 6-1 7-6 (7-5) win – his third consecutive over Martin and first one on clay.

Roddick’s fellow American seeds Taylor Dent, the number four, and fifth-ranked Jan-Michael Gambill, were not as lucky.

In control of the match after winning the first set 6-2, Dent relinquished the advantage to young Croat Mario Ancic, who took the next two sets 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.

Gambill lost to veteran Dutchman Richard Krajicek in three sets. Krajicek was not expected to play on clay this season but took a wild card into the tournament at the last minute from tournament organisers and won.

He now finds himself in the second round against young American Brian Vahaly, a 7-5 5-7 6-3 winner over Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark.