Murray saves five match points to rally past Mello

NEW YORK, July 12 (Reuters) Top seed Andy Murray of Britain survived five match points before seeing off Brazil's Ricardo Mello 6-1 1-6 7-6 to reach the second round of the Hall of Fame championship in Newport, Rhode Island.

Second-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia and American third seed Paul Goldstein were not as fortunate, however, both suffering first round defeats.

Karlovic was trailing Switzerland's George Bastl 6-7 6-4 4-2 when he retired with a knee injury while Goldstein was brushed aside 6-4 6-2 by Australian Mark Philippoussis.

Murray, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, had looked poised for an easy passage after racing through the opening set but Mello turned the tables, rebounding impressively in the second to level the contest.

The Brazilian had Murray on the ropes in the third, leading 5-2, but could not finish off the 19-year-old Scot who fought off five match points in the 12th game.

''I should have played more carefully in the beginning of the second set, but I won the first set so easily, in like 20 minutes,'' Murray said on the ATP Web site. ''But then lost the second set in 25 minutes.

''I had a bad game to get broken, then he started to play better.

CONFIDENCE BACK ''I started to play better but he came up with some drop volleys that I really wasn't expecting from a Brazilian.'' Murray will next meet American wildcard Sam Querrey, who booked his place in the second round with a 6-4 6-3 win over Thailand's Danai Udomchoke.

Philippoussis showed no signs of the knee problems which have bedevilled his career, as he disposed of Goldstein in just 69 minutes.

The big-serving Australian was back to his dominating best, blasting 14 aces and did not face a break the entire match.

''I am happy with the way I played, my concentration on serve,'' said Philippoussis, assessing his performance. ''Goldstein is a tough player, no matter what surface, he's a scrambler.

''I just wanted to be aggressive. My confidence is back, I'm healthy, relaxed and enjoying tennis.

''The knee feels good. I felt solid today. I didn't even think about that I had three surgeries.

''I'll play a bunch of tournaments, my confidence will grow, my fitness will improve.'' In other action, seventh-seeded American Mardy Fish advanced with a 6-3 6-1 win over Frenchman Cyril Saulnier while eighth-seeded American Justin Gimelstob rallied past South African qualifier Wesley Whitehouse 4-6 6-3 6-4.

Australia's Wayne Arthurs stopped Denmark's Kenneth Carlson 7-6 7-6 and Britain's Alex Bogdanovic eased past American qualifier Jesse Levine 6-4 7-5.

REUTERS DH KP1020