American teenager Querrey advances in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, July 18 (Reuters) American teenager Sam Querrey battled to a 6-4 6-7 6-4 win over Serb Janko Tipsarevic in the first round of the Indianapolis RCA Championships.

The 18-year-old Querrey, winner of two entry-level Challenger titles on cement in 2006, continued his steady improvement after reaching the second round on grass in Newport, Rhode Island last week.

Querrey, ranked 200th in the world, said yesterday he was struggling to adjust to the searing heat at an event where his compatriots James Blake and Andy Roddick are the top two seeds.

''I'm getting wild cards and I hope to make the most of them'' he told reporters. ''I'm doing what I can to help American tennis.'' Americans are hoping to show their hardcourt form after none of them reached the second week of Wimbledon.

With all 16 seeds given first-round byes, other winners on opening day included American Jeff Morrison, who defeated Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico 6-2 6-2.

Chile's Paul Capdeville crushed German Tomas Behrend 6-2 6-0 and Alejandro Falla of Colombia ousted Frenchman Jean-Christophe Faurel 6-4 6-2.

Thailand's Danai Udomchoke, entered along with compatriot Paradorn Srichaphan, started with victory over Czech Tomas Cakl 6-2 6-2.

Reuters DKS GC0707