Blake Loses and Querrey Advances at Clay Court Championship
April 10, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Sixth-seeded Carlos Berlocq of Argentina defeated American James Blake, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, in opening round action at the 2012 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas. Berlocq, hampered by an injured left calf muscle, left the court briefly before the final set to get medical treatment. Berlocq, who is third on the ATP World Tour for clay court wins with an 11-4 record on the surface, earned his first-ever win in Houston. Berlocq will advance to play Germany’s Bjorn Phau.
Another American, Sam Querrey, was a 6-1, 6-4 winner over France’s Eric Prodon in the first round. Querrey, the 2010 runner-up in Houston, needed just 58 min. to defeat Prodon. He lost just seven points on his serve in the match. Querrey awaits the winner of the match between South African Kevin Anderson and Brazil’s Joao Souza.
Getting byes into the second round are Americans Mardy Fish, seeded number one, and second-seeded John Isner.
