The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Monaco eliminates Srichaphan

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Wednesday, May 03, 2006

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Sport - Tennis

Monaco eliminates Srichaphan

MUNICH: Juan Monaco of Argentina knocked out sixth-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the BMW Open on Monday.

Monaco ended a four-match losing streak since February, when he reached the semifinals at Costa do Sauipe, Brazil. Srichaphan is yet to win on clay this season following first-round defeats in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

It was also a first win on clay for Robin Vik of the Czech Republic, who downed Rainer Schuettler 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3 when the German ran out of energy.

Schuettler, a former World No. 5 and tournament finalist, was coming back from retiring in Houston three weeks ago with food poisoning. The first-round loss was his fifth in nine events this year.

Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic beat German wild card Andreas Beck 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4, rallying from 4-0 down in the final set.

Hingis begins well

At Warsaw, five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis beat Maria Kirilenko of Russia 7-5, 7-6(1) on Monday in the first round of the J&S Cup.

The 25-year-old Swiss star, playing in the clay-court event for the first time, overcame a rain delay and an inconsistent serve to top the 19-year-old Kirilenko.

Both struggled on serve in the first set — Kirilenko broke Hingis to go up 5-4, but couldn't serve it out.

Serving at 5-5, Hingis fell to 0-40 before winning five straight points to go up 6-5. She won the set in the following game when Kirilenko netted a backhand.

Rain interrupted the match for an hour with Kirilenko leading 2-1 in the second set. Kirilenko, who was treated for cramps in the first set, led throughout most of the second set — but Hingis broke at 6-5 down to force the tiebreaker.

Davydenko advances

At Oeiras, Portugal, former champion Nikolay Davydenko beat American Vince Spadea 7-6(3), 6-3 for the first time in four meetings in the opening round of the Estoril Open. Also, women's top seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy saved a match point before advancing.

The results:

At Munich (ATP BMW Open): Robin Vik bt Rainer Schuttler 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3; Kristof Vliegen bt Janko Tipsarevic 5-7, 6-2, 6-4; Jan Hernych bt Andreas Beck 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4; Juan Monaco bt Paradorn Srichaphan 6-4, 6-4.

At Warsaw (WTA J&S Cup): Klara Koukalova bt Iveta Benesova 7-6(3), 6-4; Anna Chakvetadze bt Jelena Jankovic 7-5, 6-3; Martina Hingis bt Maria Kirilenko 7-5, 7-6(1).

At Oeiras (ATP & WTA Estoril Open): Women: Maria Diaz-Oliva bt Virginie Razzano 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; Flavia Pennetta bt Elena Vesnina 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(2); Antonella Serra Zanetti bt Vera Douchevina 6-4, 6-4; Paola Suarez bt Maria Sanchez Lorenzo 7-5, 6-3.

Men: Justin Gimelstob bt Lukas Dlouhy 3-6, 7-5, 6-3; Nikolay Davydenko bt Vince Spadea 7-6(3), 6-3; Gilles Muller bt Christophe Rochus 6-2, 6-0. — Agencies

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