WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina — Top-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga launched his campaign at the ATP's Winston-Salem hardcourt tournament with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Thomaz Bellucci Tuesday. Tsonga, ranked sixth in the world, converted just one of his nine break point opportunities, but saved all five that he faced to beat the Brazilian in a match lasting one hour 49 minutes. Tsonga was one of 16 seeded players to enjoy a first-round bye. In the third round he'll face Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Spain's Pablo Andujar. Second-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych, who like Tsonga is appearing for the first time at this US Open tune-up event, needed just 95 minutes to oust Russian Alex Bogomolov 6-3, 7-5. Berdych will next play Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, who beat German qualifier Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-3. Defending champion and third seed John Isner of the US beat 50th-ranked Slovakian Martin Klizan 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Fourth-seeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov beat Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun 6-1, 6-3. Poland's Lukasz Kubot withstood 15 aces from eighth seed Julien Benneteau in a 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over the Frenchman. Another seeded casualty was No. 11 Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, who fell to Belgian Steve Darcis 6-2, 6-2. Jankovic in quarters In Texas, second-seeded Jelena Jankovic and No. 3 Roberta Vinci advanced to the quarterfinals Tuesday at the WTA Texas Open. Jankovic defeated Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 to line up a quarterfinal clash against eighth-seeded Sorana Cirstea of Romania, a 6-1, 7-5 winner over France's Alize Cornet. Italy's Vinci encountered little resistance in a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Polona Hercog. She'll face seventh-seeded Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa, who beat New Zealand's Marina Erakovic 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). Fourth-seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer was a second-round casualty, falling to Australian Casey Dellacqua 6-4, 6-3. Dellacqua, a qualifier, will face unseeded Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak who beat compatriot Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 6-2. Sixth-seeded Peng Shuai of China moved safely through with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over France's Pauline Parmentier. Federer top seed for US Open Five-time champion and world No. 1 Roger Federer was confirmed Tuesday as the top men's seed at the US Open, the last Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year that starts Monday at Flushing Meadows. Defending champion Novak Djokovic is seeded second and world No. 4 Andy Murray of Britain is seeded third. Spain's David Ferrer is seeded fourth. — Agencies
