Last year’s runner-up John Isner made a winning start to his bid to go one better at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston.
Despite dropping his usually fearsome serve twice in the second set, including while serving for the match at 5-3, Isner closed the match out with a break to win 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 against fellow American Ryan Harrison.
The fifth seed faces another home player in the next round after youngster Jack Sock overcame qualifier Bradley Klahn 7-6 (7/3) 6-3.
Sixth seed Fernando Verdasco claimed his first win since the Australian Open, beating wild card Steve Johnson 7-6 (7/5) 6-2.
Qualifier Robby Ginepri beat 2012 semi-finalist Michael Russell 6-2 6-2 for his first main-draw tour-level win in over a year
Paolo Lorenzi and Flavio Cipolla set up an all-Italian last-16 clash courtesy of wins over qualifiers Gerald Melzer and Facundo Arguello respectively.
Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis beat Jesse Levine of Canada 6-7 (3/7) 7-5 6-4 in almost two-and-a-half hours.
