NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, 23 August 2007 — American rookie John Isner waited through nine hours of rain, then beat Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4 in 57 minutes Tuesday in the first round of the Pilot Pen.

Fan favorite James Blake also won his first match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, over Arnaud Clement of France in front of a rowdy group of fans known as the “J-Block” who showed up for the late match, despite the poor weather.

There were nine service breaks in the match, six by the third-seeded Blake, who broke Clement in the final game of each set. Clement was visibly upset by the numerous shouts from the pro-Blake crowd of 6,785, many coming as he was about to serve.

“(It was) maybe a little much tonight,” Blake said. “He’s a player that takes a little while in between points, and I don’t know if he realized that they might not be the best idea against them, to give them that much time to get ramped up and get excited between every point.”

Blake, who lost in the finals Sunday in Cincinnati to Roger Federer, said he likes the way he’s playing heading into the US Open next week.

“I feel like I’m playing better than in 2005, when I won here,” he said.

The 6-foot-9 (2.06-meter) Isner had 14 aces, and was seldom in danger of being broken by the much smaller (5-10; 1.78-meter) German.

Isner had only two breaks of his own, going up 3-1 in the first set and 2-1 in the second, and seemed content after those to rely on his service game.

“That’s something I’ve always done actually when I get a break, I kind of ease up and it’s not good,” Isner said. “Maybe I could afford to do that in college, but definitely not at this level.”

His serve, which topped out at 132 mph (212 kph) on a damp night with temperatures in the mid 50s F (mid teens C), drew several “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd. So did a volley in the final game, when Isner stretched his entire length at the net to reach what appeared to be a clear passing shot.

“Whenever it’s colder like that, I’m not going to be able to pop the ball as much,” he said. “I usually hit it a bit faster than that.”

Isner and Becker were originally scheduled to play Monday night, but that match was rescheduled to Tuesday morning, and then rescheduled again when rain wiped out the entire day session.

That included Lindsay Davenport’s return to professional tennis. Her doubles match was bumped to Wednesday.

Davenport gave birth to her first child in June and has not played since last September.

“I had to go Lindsay and the doubles match and say, ‘Your match is not essential,”’ tournament director Anne Worcester said. “We have to get the first-round matches played.”

Davenport and doubles partner Lisa Raymond were rescheduled to play Cara Black and Liezel Huber on Wednesday afternoon, and the match was moved to the grandstand court, so that Isner could play at the same time on stadium court against David Ferrer.

Isner, who made it to the finals in Washington earlier this month, is playing in just his fourth ATP tournament.

“I’ve been playing a lot of matches on stadium courts these last couple tournaments,” he said. “I guess it is just kind of the Washington effect. But I definitely didn’t think they would boot Davenport to the grandstand court. That’s pretty cool though.”

In women’s action, Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska outlasted Ai Sugiyama of Japan 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-4, while Indian Sania Mirza downed Anabel Madinah Garrigues 6-3, 6-3. Mirza and Madinah Garrigues started their match Monday evening with the Spaniard leading 1-0 and 30-30 before rain intervened. When play resumed late Tuesday, the Indian star played with authority, unleashing a barrage of winners and ravaging returns.

“My return is my favorite shot,” said the 28th-ranked Indian. She’s not one of the biggest servers. So you want to put pressure right away.”

Mirza had a hectic schedule since Wimbledon, but finally took some time off ahead of the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year, which starts next Monday in Flushing Meadows.

“I took a week off last week. I felt I needed it. I feel fresh again and ready for the US Open.”

Hewitt confirmed for last

Adelaide International

In Adelaide, Australia’s former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt has confirmed he will play in the last Adelaide International ATP tennis tournament here in January, organizers said yesterday

The two-time Grand Slam singles champion said the Adelaide event holds a special significance.

“I am pleased to be returning to my home town for the Adelaide tournament, which will be important for my Australian Open preparation, especially with the change of playing surface,” Hewitt said in a statement.

“It will be the last time the event will be held in Adelaide, an event that’s has given me many memories over the years.”

The Adelaide International is one of the oldest tournaments on the circuit. It was first held in 1890 and was where Hewitt won his first ATP title in 1998, making him the lowest-ranked winner — he had a placing of 550 — and one of the youngest tour winners at the time.

The Adelaide International, which runs from Dec. 31 to Jan. 6 at Memorial Drive, will move to Brisbane in 2009.