Washington: Qualifier Somdev Devvarman of India recorded the biggest win of his career Tuesday, upsetting No. 6 seed Marin Cilic of Croatia 7-5, 6-4 to advance to the third round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
Tenth-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany avoided another upset with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 second-round victory over Canada's Frank Dancevic.
Asked if his first career win over a top-20 player was his most significant victory, Devvarman said, "Definitely, definitely."
The 2007 and 2008 NCAA men's singles champion at Virginia and surprise quarter-finalist in this event last year, Devvarman broke serve twice in each set and was able extend rallies against Cilic despite having played matches in four consecutive days.
"When I'm playing well, I like hitting the ball deep," Devvarman said. "I felt like today I did that very well."
Cilic, who defeated Devvarman in the finals at a tournament in Chennai, India in January, unofficially had 35 unforced errors in his opening match of the tournament after receiving a first-round bye.
"It was the final of a tour event, I wasn't as nervous coming out," Devvarman said of the difference between the two matches. "I also knew that it was the first match he was playing this week and I already had three under my belt. That's always a good feeling to bring to the match."
Germany's Benjamin Becker beat American Robby Ginepri 7-6 (3), 6-7 (1), 7-6 (4) to advance to the second round, where he will face top-seeded Andy Roddick. Roddick, a three-time Washington champion who hasn't played since his loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, said Monday he's recovered from the right hip flexor he sustained in the July 5 match.
"It's going to be the first match for him of the hard court season," said Becker, who lost both previous matches against Roddick. "It's going to be a fun match for me. I am just going to try to do some damage."
In a matchup of former top-10 ranked players, former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain beat Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-0, crediting the win to his ability to thwart eight break points.
"I saved a lot of break points with the serve and it was one of the keys to (stay) alive," said Ferrero, who will face countryman and No. 7 seed Tommy Robredo in the second round.
In other first-round matches, qualifier Sebastien De Chaunac of France defeated Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-3, 7-6 (7); and Germany's Rainer Schuettler beat Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5).
Other seeded players scheduled for play Tuesday include defending champion and No. 2 seeded Juan Martin del Potro and No. 8 Tomas Berdych.
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