Andy Roddick defeats James Blake 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3) in Memphis, a highly-anticipated first-round encounter that lived up to expectation.
"That definitely could have been a semi or a final. It felt like one," said Blake.
Blake and Roddick did in fact face off in the 2002 Memphis final, part of Blake's seven-match losing streak against his compatriot before he won three straight coming into Wednesday's encounter.
"He played well tonight. It was a battle," said Roddick, who arrived in Memphis after reaching the final in San Jose last week and then went home to Austin, Texas to have a nagging shoulder problem examined.
"I expected him to play well. He normally plays pretty well in an atmosphere like that. There was certainly a buzz, about as much as in any match I can remember playing here."