Somdev sets up 2nd round clash with World No 26

In a wayward display of tennis Somdev Devvvarman began his clay court season with a 6-2, 6-1 win over America's Robert Kendrick in the first round of the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston.

It was Somdev's second win over Kendrick in as many meetings, as he had beaten the American at Legg Mason Classic in 2008. Kendrick is ranked nine places below the top-ranked Indian at 80.

The scoreline in the match suggests an easy win but Somdev was a little patchy in the contest against Kendrick.

He squandered nine break chances, including six in the second set alone, apart from dropping his own serve once in the first set.

With this win, Somdev has set up a second round clash with Spanish third seed and World No 26 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who got a bye in his first round of the $442,500 event.