Andy Roddick outlasted Max Mirnyi 6-1, 6-7 (9), 7-5 Wednesday at the Madrid Masters, opening his bid for a third straight Tennis Masters Series title.

Andy Roddick of the US returns a backhand to Belorussian Max Mirnyi during their Masters Series match in Madrid. [AFP]

The U.S. Open champion, ranked No. 2 in the world, didn't lose serve in his 20th consecutive victory in tournament play.

Top-ranked Juan Carlos Ferrero also was extended to three sets in his opener. The Spaniard staved off two match points and rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the final set to defeat Wayne Ferreira 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (4).

Ferreira held two match points while serving at 5-3, 40-15 in the third set. But he netted a shot to erase the first, then double-faulted.

Roddick broke Mirnyi's serve in the very first game, converting a fifth break point. Roddick broke Mirnyi twice more en route to wrapping up the first set in just 26 minutes.

"I thought I played a great first set," Roddick said. "I don't know if I could have played a better one."

But Roddick wasted two match points in the second-set tiebreaker, at 7-6 and 9-8.

"I felt like I was playing better than he was, but then he just snuck out the tiebreaker," Roddick said. "He made a lot of serves in the tiebreaker. I don't think I had an unforced error in the breaker, but I still lost it. That's definitely a credit to him."

Roddick earned the only break of the third set to lead 5-4 after Mirnyi missed two straight volleys. Serving for the match, Roddick led 40-15, then missed another match point when his forehand passing attempt sailed wide. He finally ended it with a second serve that Mirnyi couldn't return.

The second-ranked Roddick won consecutive Masters Series titles in Montreal and Cincinnati in August before winning his first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.

Also reaching the third-round Wednesday was Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, who beat Alex Corretja 6-4, 6-3.

Three unseeded Americans produced minor upsets. Robby Ginepri knocked off fourth-seeded Rainer Schuettler 6-2, 6-4, Jan-Michael Gambill eliminated No. 10 Sjeng Schalken 7-6 (6), 6-2, and Mardy Fish ousted No. 14 Tommy Robredo 7-6 (14), 6-2.

Ginepri closed out his victory with three straight aces.

In other action, sixth-seeded Sebastien Grosjean beat David Ferrer 6-4, 6-2.

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