Tennis: Roddick, Raonic advance, Monfils pulls out

SAN JOSE, California: Second seed Andy Roddick saved 12 of 13 break points en route to a 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory over fellow American Denis Kudla at the ATP Tour San Jose Open on Wednesday.

Roddick hammered 14 aces and won 74 percent of his first serve points against Kudla in the two hour, 42 minute second round match.

He advances to the quarter-finals where he will face the winner of Michael Russell against Denis Istomin. Istomin beat Sam Querrey 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 in a first round match on Wednesday.

In the night match, defending champ and third seeded Milos Raonic of Canada beat Germany's Tobias Kamke 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) to reach the quarters.

In other first-round matches on Wednesday, up and coming Australian star Matthew Ebden outlasted Israel's Duda Sela 6-7 (7/9), 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) and American Ryan Harrison beat eighth seeded Olivier Rochus 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Fifth seeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau defeated Ryan Sweeting of the US in straight sets 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5).

Top seed Gael Monfils of France withdrew Wednesday with a right knee injury.

Monfils, who is ranked 13th in the world, pulled out after playing in a doubles match on Tuesday. He was schedule to play in his first singles match on Thursday.

He will be replaced in the San Jose singles draw by lucky loser Blake Strode of the USA. (AFP)