Cuevas starts Clay Court with easy victory

Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay downed Brazilian Ricardo Mello in 53 minutes with a 6-2, 6-0 victory Monday in the first round of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship.

Cuevas, the seventh seed who beat Andy Roddick in Miami last week, conceded just six points on his serve and won 70 percent of all points in the match.

Eighth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria was almost as quick in beating Rainer Schuettler of Germany, 6-0, 6-2. That match took 63 minutes.

Top-seeded Mardy Fish, and fellow-American and second-seeded Sam Querry drew first round byes.

Igor Andreev of Russia defeated American Michael Russell 6-2 6-3.