Andy Roddick loses to Philipp Kohlschreiber in Cincinnati

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An unhappy Andy Roddick in Cincinnati
Image caption,

Roddick was unhappy to be docked a point for hitting the ball into the crowd

Philipp Kohlschreiber fought back from a set and a break down to defeat a seething Andy Roddick in the first round of the Western & Southern Open.

Roddick was docked a point, giving his opponent a 2-0 lead in the third set, as Kohlschreiber won 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-1.

Roddick, who had already been warned for slamming his racquet to the ground, was docked the point for hitting a ball into the stands in Cincinnati.

Britain's Andy Murray faces David Nalbandian in his opener on Wednesday.

Roddick admitted he had lost his cool but insisted the umpire had over-reacted.

"Obviously it's a split second thing, as soon as I did it I wanted it back," said the American, who is battling back to full fitness after injury.

"It was a judgment call for the umpire. I am pretty sure I saw an eight-year-old girl catch it on the way down. He was telling me I hit it as hard as I could.

"It just sucks. I can't blame him, but I'm sitting here turning a six-week injury into a three-week injury, rehabbing eight hours a day, and a split second decision he interjects himself and it's done.

"I understand where the umpire is coming from but at a certain point, you know, you hit a tennis ball into a stadium, someone goes home with a souvenir, and it pretty much ruins the match from there. Seems counterproductive."

Murray suffered a surprise loss to Kevin Anderson in Montreal last week and Cincinnati is his only remaining tournament before the US Open, which begins in New York on 29 August.

Murray is in the same half of the draw as world number two Rafael Nadal, while world number one Novak Djokovic is seeded to meet Roger Federer in the semi-finals - although the Swiss has a tough opening match against 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro.

Meanwhile, rising US talent Ryan Harrison defeated Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3 6-3 to book a second-round match against top seed Djokovic.

Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, a former French Open champion who is seeded 15th, advanced with ease, defeating American Alexa Glatch 6-0, 6-2.

US wildcard Christina McHale defeated Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 7-5 4-6 6-1 to earn a shot at women's top seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

Australian qualifier Anastasia Rodionova, ranked 139th in the world, crushed 42nd-ranked Polona Hercog 6-0 6-0 to set up a meeting with fourth-seeded Maria Sharapova.

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