Mutua Madrid Open: Americans out in Madrid, with the Exception of John Isner

Lauren Lynch

May 3, 2011

On a day people have been chanting "USA," it did not seem to help the Americans on the clay courts of the Madrid Masters. The only American through on Monday was John Isner, who ousted the US's No. 1 and 11th seed Mardy Fish in three close sets, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(3).

Isner shot thirteen aces at his countryman yet did not manage to convert a single break point to a win with six opportunities to do so. Isner will play Sergiy Stakhovsky in the next round. Stakhovsky, who defeated Spaniard Albert Montanes 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(5), has only played Isner once and Isner prevailed on the hard courts of Miami in 2009.

The first American man to fall was 23-year-old Sam Querrey, the only US native with a European clay court title in the past five years. World No. 18 Querrey was taken out by No. 27 Michael Llodra of France 6-2, 6-3, despite 30-year-old Llodra's six double faults. Soon to follow was Fish, who recently lost to retired Pete Sampras in an exhibition match in Argentina last Wednesday 4-6, 7-5, 10-8.

The last of the US men to fall was Andy Roddick, who was seeded 12th at the Mutua Madrid Open. For his third first-round loss for the season, he was upset by qualifier and world No. 160 Flavio Cipolla of Italy 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3. Roddick's return game was his weakness on Monday—only being able to win 40 of 114 return points. This was Cipolla's first top 20 win—the last high-ranked player he beat was when Dmitry Tursunov was world No. 30 in 2009 at the Australian Open. Cipolla faces Llodra next.

The other victors of today were ninth seed Gael Monfils, Marcos Baghdatis, Marin Cilic,Xavier Malisse, qualifier Pere Riba, qualifier Adrian Mannarino and qualifier Thiemo De Bakker.