Mardy Fish enters second round
of Atlanta Tennis Championships

Mardy Fish eased into the second round of the Atlanta Tennis Championships by making short work of Britains James Ward.On a day which marked the ATP's return to Atlanta after a nine-year absence, sixth-seeded Fish was one of three Americans to post straight-sets first-round wins as he swept aside the outclassed Ward 6-1 6-2.

Texan Michael Russell caused the upset of the opening day as he dispatched eighth-seeded German Benjamin Becker 6-3 6-3, while Denver native Rajeev Ram also progressed with a 6-4 7-6 (7/4) victory over Slovakia's Karol Beck.

Ram will meet top seed Andy Roddick in round two while Russell goes on to play Germany's veteran Rainer Schuettler, a 6-1 6-4 victor over Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia.

Ukraine's Illya Marchenko also moved into the second round as he saw off Belgium's Kristof Vliegen 6-4 7-6 (7/4).