ATLANTA -- Eighth-seeded Go Soeda of Japan overcame a nearly three-hour rain delay to beat Belgium's Xavier Malisse 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the first round of the Atlanta Open on Tuesday night.<br />
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Matthew Ebden of Australia held off qualifier Sergei Bubka of Ukraine 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, and Michael Russell rallied to beat Alex Kuznetsov 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4)<br />
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No. 6 seed Ryan Harrison and James Blake began their match 2 1/2 hours late.<br />
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Third-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan and No. 4 seed Andy Roddick will play their first-round matches on Wednesday.<br />
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John Isner, the No. 1 seed, and two-time defending champion Mardy Fish, the second seed, will play their first-round matches on Thursday.<br />
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Russell advanced to play No. 5 seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa on Wednesday. Soeda will face Russia's Igor Kunitsyn.
