Former Newport champion Taylor Dent put up a brave showing in his first ATP-level match in more than two years Tuesday at the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. Dent served for the match in the second set before bowing out to seventh seed Frank Dancevic in the first round 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.

The 27-year-old American, who won the Newport title in 2002, had not played an ATP-level match since February 2006 in Rotterdam. He underwent minor back surgery in May 2006, missed the entire 2007 season due to injury and, before this week, had played just one Challenger match in 2008 - at Carson, Ca., in late May.

Dent and Dancevic exchanged breaks early in the second set and Dancevic later fought off a break point in the seventh game. The Canadian lost his serve in the ninth game, giving the American a chance to serve for the match in the 10th game.

However, Dent opened and closed that game with double faults and hit two more double faults in the 12th game to give the set to the Dancevic. The Canadian then raced to a 5-0 lead in the third as Dent managed just two points in his first two service games of the set.

“It’s to be expected, honestly," Dent said. "I haven’t played any matches. I was playing decent tennis to get up a set and an early break, and the nerves got the better of me. There’s no other way to put it.”

Jesse Levine won the all-American showdown with John Isner, restricting the 6' 9" giant to just one ace while not facing a break point on his own serve.

Eighth-seeded South African Kevin Anderson fired 11 aces and claimed four service breaks to defeat Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3.

Monday: Young Leads Americans Through

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