Rusedski rallies for victory

Rusedski came from a set down

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Greg Rusedski came back from a set down to beat Franco Squillari in the first round of the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic in Arizona.

His 4-6 6-1 7-5 win set up a potential second round clash with Andre Agassi.

But Britain's other representative in the Scottsdale tournament, Martin Lee, was narrowly beaten by Felix Mantilla.

Lee lost in three sets 6-2 6-7 (7/2) 7-5.

I wouldn't call it a pretty match, but I'm pleased to get through it

Greg Rusedski

Rusedski got off to a shaky start as the Argentine left-hander came out of the blocks firing and broke the Rusedski serve early in the first set to take a 4-2 lead.

It was an advantage the Canadian-born British number two could not recover, eventually losing the opening set 6-4.

But it was a different tale in the second as Rusedski's game finally came together.

The first two games went with serve but then the British left-hander won five games without reply to take the second set 6-1 and level the match.

Severe cold

The decisive set was a much tighter affair as it went with serve for the first 10 games.

But a late breakthrough for Rusedski ensured him a place in the second round where he will face either Andre Agassi or Francisco Clavet.

In other first-round games, seventh seed Xavier Malisse of Belgium showed little sign of a severe cold to ease past qualifier Michael Joyce of the US 6-1 6-2.

Spanish sixth seed Alberto Portas of Spain defeated Brazil's Flavio Saretta 6-3 7-5.

Meanwhile, 1996 champion, Wayne Ferreira of South Africa, rallied past unseeded American Cecil Mamiit 2-6 6-3 6-2.

Spain's Felix Mantilla dismissed Britain's Martin Lee 6-2 6-7 7-5, and Juan Balcells defeated fellow Spanaird Galo Blanco 7-6 6-3.

Spanish fifth seed Alex Corretja ended a five-month ATP tour winless streak with a 6-3 7-5 first-round victory over Michael Kohlmann of Germany.

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Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic first round results:

W Ferreira (SA) bt C Mamiit (US) 2-6 6-3 6-2
G Rusedski (GB) bt F Squillari (Arg) 4-6 6-1 7-5
J Balcells (Spa) bt G Blanco (Spa) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3
F Mantilla (Spa) bt M Lee (GB) 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 7-5
X Malisse (Bel, 7) bt M Joyce (US) 6-1 6-2
A Corretja (Spa, 5) bt M Kohlmann 6-3 7-5

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