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Roddick crashes out in Madrid

Andy Roddick was defeated in Madrid © Getty Images

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Madrid Open seedings

Andy Roddick was the first major casualty at the Madrid Masters as the No. 12 seed was sent crashing out at the first-round stage by Italian qualifier Flavio Cipolla.

Making his season debut on the clay, Roddick struggled to adjust to the dirt as the world No. 160 claimed a thrilling 6-4 7-6(7) 6-3 victory in the Caja Magica.

It was a fearless performance by the Italian, who stunned the former US Open champion as he took the opening set. But when Roddick snatched a break midway through the second set, it looked like the American would scrape his way back into the match.

However, Cipolla refused to be beaten and he dug deep to break back and force the second set to a tiebreak. Roddick found himself facing match point, but hung on to take the tiebreak and the match to a decider.

It looked like Cipolla's opportunity had passed, but the Italian showed impressive composure, bouncing back immediately to take a 3-0 lead before hanging on for the victory, claiming the knockout blow; Roddick was unable to get out of the way of Cipolla's winning shot as both players approached the net.

"This is the best victory of my career to beat a player like [Roddick] who has been No. 1," Cipolla told Sky Sports. "Clay is not his best surface and this is the first match of the season so he has probably not got used to the clay yet but I am very happy with this win."

Cipolla will now meet Michael Llodra in the second round after the Frenchman enjoyed a 6-2 6-3 victory over Sam Querrey. It was not a good day for the Americans as US No. 1 Mardy Fish also suffered defeat, albeit at the hands of John Isner in an all-American grudge match. Fish didn't drop his serve, but two tiebreaks proved decisive as Isner fired 13 aces as he powered to a 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(3).

Marcos Baghdatis earned himself a second-round clash against top seed Rafael Nadal after outlasting Colombian qualifier Alejandro Falla in a gruelling three-set encounter. Baghdatis fired seven aces as he marched through the opening set, but was pegged back by the world No. 123 who forced the match to a decider. There was nothing to split the pair, and the Baghdatis' experience proved key as he held his nerve to claim victory in the third set tiebreak.

Gael Monfils moved into the second round with a 6-3 7-6(6) win over Ivo Karlovic, and qualifier Adrian Mannarino underlined the strength in depth of French tennis as he fought from behind to beat Juan Ignacio Chela 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Thiemo de Bakker also had to produce a comeback to beat former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 2-6 7-5 6-4.

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