New York ? Once you reach a certain age, birthdays tend to make you reflect on your own mortality. They also, in the case of a professional athlete such as Andy Roddick, tend to prompt questions about the state of your career.

Birthday boy Andy Roddick returns a shot to Stephane Robert during the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday in New York.

Roddick turned 28 on Monday, Day 1 of this year’s U.S. Open, and after beating Stephane Robert of France 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, the ninth-seeded American was asked what significance he attributes to his age.

In typical Roddick fashion, he injected his reply with some humor.

“Obviously, I know I’m probably closer to the finish than I am to the start,” he said. “But … it’s a number. I’m barely older than I was yesterday.”

Well, yes, that’s true. He also, however, is seven years older than he was when he won his lone Grand Slam title at the 2003 U.S. Open. There’s a reminder of that accomplishment every time Roddick returns to Flushing Meadows: His spot in the locker room bears a special plate with his name and the year he was the champion, a bit of recognition he referred to as “the little deal on your locker that says you’re special.”

Other past U.S. Open champions Roger Federer, Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters also won on Day 1.

Federer hit a back-to-the-net, between-the-legs winner and smacked 18 aces while eliminating Argentina’s Brian Dabul, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

Playing for the first time in two months after spraining her left kneecap, Williams beat Roberta Vinci of Italy, 6-4, 6-1.

Lleyton Hewitt, who won the tournament in 2001, hit 12 double-faults and was upset by 109th-ranked Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1.

Other winners included No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko, No. 11 Marin Cilic, No. 13 Jurgen Melzer, No. 17 Gael Monfils and No. 22 Juan Carlos Ferrero, while No. 27 Fernando Gonzalez quit in the third set of his match against Ivan Dodig because of a knee injury.

Women moving into the second round included surprise 2009 U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin, French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, French Open runner-up Sam Stosur, two-time major finalist Elena Dementieva, No. 10 Victoria Azarenka, No. 13 Marion Bartoli, No. 16 Shahar Peer, and No. 24 Daniela Hantuchova, who beat former No. 1 Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-4.

College athletics

WAC demands $5M from schools

Denver — The Western Athletic Conference is demanding a $5 million exit fee by Oct. 25 from Fresno State and Nevada, which are bolting to the Mountain West Conference.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson said the league would sue the universities if they don’t pay up. He also said the league won’t let the schools leave until after the 2011-12 season.

Baseball

Clemens pleads not guilty

Washington — Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of lying to Congress about whether he used steroids or human growth hormone.

When asked for a plea by U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, the retired Major League Baseball pitcher said in a clear voice: “Not guilty, your honor.”

Manny Ramirez joins White Sox

Cleveland — Back to frighten pitchers who haven’t seen him regularly in a few years, Manny Ramirez will try to get the Chicago White Sox back to the playoffs.

As expected, the White Sox claimed the unpredictable but productive 12-time All-Star slugger on waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, hoping his powerful bat, full of so many October swings and homers, can help them make a postseason push.

Football

Suh penalty expected to be reviewed

Berea, Ohio — The Browns expect the NFL to review the play in which Detroit Lions rookie Ndamukong Suh grabbed quarterback Jake Delhomme’s facemask and violently flung him to the ground.

In the second quarter of Saturday’s exhibition game, Suh grabbed Delhomme by the face mask, twisted it, threw both arms around the QB’s head and spun him to the ground. Suh was assessed a 15-yard penalty for the infraction, which seemed severe enough to warrant an ejection.

Del Rio: RB didn’t have surgery

Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew has not had knee surgery, Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said Monday. Del Rio squelched the surgery rumors put out by an Internet blog report, which said Jones-Drew had the surgery.

Bengals WR Purify suspended

Cincinnati — Receiver Maurice Purify has been suspended for the Cincinnati Bengals’ season opener because of his offseason arrest at a local night spot.

Clarett signs with Omaha in UFL

Omaha, Neb. — Former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett has signed a one-year contract with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.

NBA

Miami signs Butler

Miami — Former West Virginia star Da’Sean Butler has signed with the Miami Heat, becoming the team’s 18th player under contract going into training camp.

Soccer

U.S. signs Bradley to extension

Chicago — Bob Bradley will remain coach of the U.S. men’s soccer team through the 2014 World Cup. U.S. Soccer announced late Monday it had agreed to a four-year contract extension with Bradley.