New Haven, August 22:

American rookie John Isner waited through nine hours of rain, then beat Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4 in 57 minutes in the first round of the Pilot Pen on Tuesday.

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 who showed up for the late match, despite the poor weather.

Isner had 14 aces, and was never in danger of being broken by the 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. 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.

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 Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-3.