Top seed Andy Roddick survived a three-set battle against two-time Memphis champion Todd Martin to reach the second round of the Kroger St. Jude. Roddick, the 2002 winner who arrived in Memphis following his victory in San Jose last week, served 17 aces en route to a 7-6(2), 1-6, 7-5 in 2 hours, 20 minutes.

"I was definitely trying to get used to the new conditions," said Roddick. "I thought Todd definitely played better in the first two sets. I was just trying to hang on there in the first set. I thought I did play a lot better in the third set but still bailed myself out a couple of times and was able to pull it out somehow."

Roddick came into the match leading their head-to-head series 2-1, although it was Martin who won their last encounter at the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami last year. As the first set seemed to be heading into the tie-break, Roddick's run of 51 consecutive service holds dating back to the seventh game of his first round in San Jose came to an abrupt end at 5-5 as he made three forehand errors to hand Martin the break.

But Martin, 12 years Roddick's senior at 33, failed to capitalize on his opportunity as he served for the set, double faulting on the first point before a casual forehand volley gave Roddick just enough time to make a forehand pass. It was just the opening Roddick needed as he immediately broke back to force a tie-break, where he won six of the first seven points before taking it 7-2 with an ace.

The second set was all Martin, who fired seven of his 20 aces and broke Roddick for the second and third time to open up a 5-0 lead. He also had two set points to take the set 6-0 before Roddick prevented the bagel. It was only a temporary delay however as Martin eventually closed it out on his fifth set point and had more break points in the opening game of the final set.

Roddick saved those and the set went with serve until Martin came out at 5-6 to force another tie-break. At 30-30, a forehand by Martin sailed long to give Roddick match point, which he converted as Martin made another forehand error.

Physically Strong

After the grueling match, Roddick promised he would be back to full fitness against Sebastien de Chaunac in the second round. "I felt physically strong at the end of it, I feel fine now, there won't be any ill effects for tomorrow," said Roddick. "It might be good to get my feet wet here in Memphis, and now I've totally forgotten about last week [in San Jose] and I'm just excited to be through."

Always gracious in defeat, the four-time finalist Martin said: "I think I was a bit fortunate to play Andy tonight and not later in the week, minus the fact I don't have much to show for it. It was a tough adjustment, it's a different court, a different ball from last week, and I think that, coupled with some good play by me, rattled him a little bit. But when it comes down to it, there's a fella on the other side of the net that's pretty confident when the going gets tough.

"I feel like I returned his serve okay. I didn't return it too well on the clay courts when we played the first two times, but on the indoor courts I felt I returned it really well. I think once we get into a ground stroke rally and keep enough balls away from his forehand then I've at least got a shot. I broke him three times and had a number of games I lost when having break point and that's with winning 38 percent of his service points, so I can only imagine what would have happened if I'd have won a few more here and there. I gave myself more chances against Andy than I have against anyone else I've played this year."