Using crisp, accurate shots from the baseline, Sweeting rallied from a nervous start to knock Blake out of the tournament, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, on Monday at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park.

“I haven’t played a lot of matches this year,” said Blake, 30, hobbled this season by a knee injury. “I would have loved to have got a lot more here. But it wasn’t to be.”

Five qualifiers played Monday and three advanced. Slovenia’s Grega Zemlja dominated Germany’s Benjamin Becker, 6-2, 6-3, while 2008 Legg Mason semifinalist Igor Kunitsyn of Russia handled fellow qualifier Kei Nishikori of Japan, 6-2, 6-3.

The most significant result came from Sweeting, a 23-year-old who entered the match with as many career wins (10) as Blake had titles. But the 6-foot-5 American appeared more savvy on the Stadium Court as he saved five of seven break points, while Blake went 0 for 3. Sweeting also had fewer unforced errors, though no official count was available.

“I think it is my biggest win,” said Sweeting, who is ranked No. 119 and has qualified for six tournaments this season. “I tried to keep the ball away from his forehand as much as possible. I know his forehand is very dangerous.”

After succumbing to Blake’s power in the opening set, Sweeting turned the match around in the second, breaking Blake early, then surrendering just four points in his four service games.

Sweeting broke again early in the third set, but had to battle hard to win his final three service games. Facing two break points in the eighth game, Sweeting, after failing all night to hit triple digits on the radar gun, fired a 125 mph winner that stunned Blake and paved the way.

“That game, in particular, he seemed to be sitting on the kick serve,” Sweeting said. “I just said, ‘Go for it.'”

[email protected]