This evening’s two matches can be summed up in two sets.  The doubles team of Bobby Reynolds and Andy Roddick beat Stephen Huss and Tripp Phillips 6-4, 6-3.  James Blake, top seed in the singles category, put Danai Udomchoke out of the tournament after a match tie break in the first set (7-6) and a score of 6-4 for the second set. 

Though Roddick and Reynolds had the fans rallying for them during Round 2 of Doubles play, Roddick let his emotions take over a couple of times.  He intermittently yelled “Freak!” and tossed his racquet more than once.  But, after losing one too many point opportunities, he turned to talking to his racquet which seemed to do the trick.  After “three overturns in the set,” he appeared to warn himself and the racquet that they needed to get in the game.

In the end, Roddick admitted that the match was still “fun.” 

Blake’s fun will continue to Round 3 where he will challenge Wesley Whitehouse tomorrow afternoon.  Whitehouse, who is ranked No. 512, showed fans what it takes to climb the ladder of success when he defeated No. 97, Marat Safin this afternoon with a score of 6-1, 6-4. 

Safin, who was once ranked No. 1 in the world, still has a fan base.  Youngster, Nicolas Kiger, wants to be a professional like Safin when he grows up. 

“He’s so fun to watch cause he’s [his game] pretty up and down,” Kiger said.

Unfortunately for Safin and Kiger, he was “down” and out tonight.

This afternoon, Hyung-Taik Lee also found himself out of the tournament after being defeated by Gilles Muller with a score of 2-6, 3-6.  Kenneth Carlsen beat Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 6-2.  Paradorn Srichaphan and Wayne Arthurs battled until the very end.  Srichaphan will open center court tomorrow with challenger, Paul Goldstein after defeating Arthurs 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 6-4. 

For more scores and a schedule of play for tomorrow, visit www.rcatennis.com. 

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