Johansson edges past Grosjean
Johansson edges past Grosjean 
From correspondents in Washington, USA
Former Australian Captain July 31, 2007
THOMAS Johansson and Russian Igor Kunitsyn took the long way into the second round of the ATP Washington Classic with marathon three-set triumphs today (AEST).
Sweden’s Johansson booked a second-round date with defending champion and No.4 seed Arnaud Clement of France by defeating Colombian Santiago Giraldo 7-6 6-7 6-4 in two hours and 40 minutes.
Clement,
like the 16 top-ranked players, received a first-round bye at the $US600,000 ($A700,000) US Open warm-up event.
Kunitsyn followed Johansson onto stadium court and booked a second-round date by rallying past Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 6-7 6-4 6-3 in two hours and 47 minutes.
Kunitsyn’s reward was a meeting with Korea Republic’s Lee Hyung-Taik, the No.5 seed.
No.1 seed Andy Roddick opens his bid for a third Washington title tomorrow (AEST) against Czech Tomas Zib, a player he has never faced.
Germany’s Tommy Haas, ranked No.12 and seeded No.2, will on Thursday (AEST) face Colombia’s Alejandro Falla, who beat American Robert Kendrick 3-6 6-2 7-5.
The No.3 seed, Russia’s Marat Safin, a No.22-ranked former US Open champion, opens tomorrow (AEST) against Czech Jan Hernych, who advanced 6-3 1-1 when Australian Nathan Healey retired with a left rib injury.
Agence France-Presse