Fish nets first round win

Defending champion Mardy Fish booked his place in the second round of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.

Rochus quits to hand defending champion early success

Defending champion Mardy Fish booked his place in the second round of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships after opponent Christophe Rochus was forced to quit in the third set. Fish had dropped the first set against the diminutive Belgian but clawed his way back to level the match and the pair were locked in battle when Rochus retired with back injury, handing Fish a 5-7 6-3 3-3 win. Fish is the only former champion left in the draw after Xavier Malisse and Kei Nishikori - in his first tournament since elbow surgery in August - were both eliminated. Two-time champion Malisse was beaten 6-3 7-6 (7/5) by fourth seed Jeremy Chardy while Nishikori faded badly to lose 6-3 1-6 6-0 against third seed Benjamin Becker. "I just tried to stay calm after I got down in the second set, and refocused for the third set," Becker said. "I think I did well. "I came out right after the changeover in the third set and I felt good. I was a little bit more aggressive, attacked the ball, and it helped me at the end." Sixth-seeded German Florian Mayer also went through after beating Australian qualifier Nick Lindahl 6-4 6-1. However, eighth seed Michael Russell suffered a 6-4 3-6 7-5 defeat to Germany's Mischa Zverev who will now play Fish in the second round. Seventh-seeded James Blake had fellow American Taylor Dent in his sights, but rain stopped play in their match with Blake leading 6-1 3-6 5-3. The pair will have to return in the morning to conclude their match.