Sock beats Karlovic at US Clay Court Championship

HOUSTON (AP) Jack Sock made short work of former champion Ivo Karlovic, winning 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the U.S. men's Clay Court Championship on Monday at River Oaks Country Club.

The 21-year-old American had lost both previous meetings with the 6-foot-10 Karlovic, who won the only U.S. men's tournament played on clay in 2007 at a different Houston venue.

In this one Sock broke the Croatian's huge serve twice in the first set and wound up spending less than an hour on the court.

German-born Dustin Brown also easily moved on, beating American Rhyne Williams 6-1, 6-2. Williams had reached the tournament's semifinals last year. The 29-year-old Brown, who began his pro career playing out of Jamaica, is ranked 101st.