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Gonzales loses to Stepanek at Pilot Pen tennis

This is just the fourth tournament of the season for Stepanek who lost in the opening round in the first three.

Gonzalez is battling back from knee issues of his own that kept him out of the French Open.

“After such a long time off, you have to find your game,” Stepanek said.

Top-seeded Marcos Baghdatis fashioned a 6-2, 6-4 win over Igor Andreev in his opening match which was delayed 30 minutes because of rain.

Baghdatis said he is pleased with his game of late, making the finals earlier this month in Washington and the semis of last week’s tournament in Cincinnati.

“It’s been a good summer for me, but I came to play here and I came to win the tournament,” he said.

“I’m not looking to win a Grand Slam or play well in a Grand Slam. I’m looking to improve my tennis.”

American Donald Young lost his second-round match to Argentinian Juan Ignacio Chela, 5-7, 6-4 6-0.

In the women’s draw, Elena Vesnina lost to Russian compatriot Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 in the first round. Vesnina was runner-up last year.

France’s Marion Bartoli needed three sets to beat Alona Bondarenko 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 on the grandstand court.

American James Blake had a 1-0 lead on Alexandr Dolgopolov in the night match when play was suspended by rain.