San Jose, CA – Two-time defending champion and top-seeded Milos Raonic rolled to second-round victory over American Michael Russell on Thursday at the SAP Open.
The Canadian Raonic needed just over an hour to dispose of Russell in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, at HP Pavilion.
Third-seeded American Sam Querrey earned a hard-fought 7-6 (8-6), 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Australian Lleyton Hewitt to advance, while eighth-seeded Belgian Xavier Malisse defeated Matthew Ebden of Australia 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1).
In other Day-4 action involving seeds, No. 6 Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan outlasted German Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 and Colombian Alejandro Falla took out No. 7 Marinko Matosevic of Australia 6-4, 6-4. Istomin was last year's San Jose runner-up to Raonic.
Also on Thursday, American wild card Steve Johnson cruised past compatriot Tim Smyczek 6-3, 6-3.
The 2013 San Jose titlist will collect $98,700.
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