Memphis, TN -- No. 4 seed Radek Stepanek made a successful Memphis debut with a 6-1, 6-4 victory in 57 minutes over American qualifier Jesse Levine.

Stepanek, who lost to Andy Roddick in the San Jose final on Sunday, never faced a break point while he converted three of four break point chances. The 29-year-old Czech Republic native only lost five points (26 of 31) in nine service games.

The Czech Republic No. 2 jumped off to a quick start by breaking Levine in the second and sixth games of the opening set. In the second set, he broke in the third game to take a 2-1 lead and he only lost two points on serve the rest of the way.

No. 5 seed and last year's quarterfinalist Sam Querrey rallied to defeat countryman Michael Russell 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the first round, improving his record to 7-5 on the season.

Russell served for the match at 5-3 and was two points away from the victory twice but Querrey broke and then held for 5-5. He then broke again in the 11th game when Russell double-faulted. Querrey closed out the match, hitting his 16th and 17th aces.

"I was playing a little tentative when he went up a break but then I picked it up," said Querrey, who will face Swede Jonas Bjorkman in the second round. "I hope to be a little more aggressive in my next match and this is good to get through a match like this."

Querrey converted three of eight break points while Russell was successful on two of five break points in the one hour and 51 minute match.

No. 6 Thomas Johansson fired 18 aces and edged out wild card Marat Safin 7-6(5), 7-6(2) in one hour and 41 minutes. Both players were broken once in the match, both coming in the second set. Safin went up 2-1 but then lost serve in the eighth game. The Swede then dominated the tie-break, grabbing a 2-1 lead and never looking back.

Johansson is now tied 3-3 with Safin in their career meetings with each player alternating wins. Johansson won his lone Grand Slam title six years ago at the Australian Open, defeating the Russian before Safin won their last meeting in the Davis Cup quarterfinals that year.

Unseeded Mardy Fish fired 16 aces and came back to defeat qualifier Bobby Reynolds 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 59 minutes. Fish never faced a break point while converting three of seven break points in the final two sets. He will play the winner of top seed Andy Roddick and qualifier Gilles Muller in the second round on Thursday.

American teenager Donald Young won his first ATP match of the season (1-3) with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over lucky loser Sam Warburg. The 18-year-old Georgia resident saved all four break points he faced while converting two of seven break point chances in the one hour and 20 minute match. Young will face fellow left-hander Alejandro Falla in the second round.

Belgian Steve Darcis outlasted Vincent Spadea 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4) in his Memphis debut and Benjamin Becker defeated another Belgian, Kristof Vliegen 7-5, 7-6(1), to even his match record at 4-4 on the season.

Monday: Haas, Melzer Advance on Opening Day