A sluggish Lleyton Hewitt lost his composure and his first-round match in the Cincinnati Masters, falling to Xavier Malisse 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
The Australian grew angry at himself and swiped his racket in frustration as Malisse took control early in the third set Tuesday and held on for his first victory over a top-10 player this year.
"I just didn't feel great out there today," said Hewitt, who has slipped to No. 6 in the world after being ranked No. 1 all last year. "I don't really know why."
Four seeded players lost their first-round matches Tuesday in the US$2.45 million tournament. Top-ranked Andre Agassi withdrew two days before it opened.
In the most dramatic match of the day, Wimbledon champion Roger Federer narrowly avoided a first-round upset, saving seven match points before beating Scott Draper in three sets.
Federer, ranked No. 2 behind Agassi, rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10) victory over a qualifier who has never been ranked higher than No. 42 in his career.
"I've improved coming from behind this year," Federer said.
Also advancing were second-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero, No. 7 Andy Roddick and No. 8 Rainer Schuettler. Among the losers were No. 9 Paradorn Srichaphan, No. 10 Sebastien Grosjean and No. 14 Gustavo Kuerten.
Roddick, who won his first Masters Series title in Montreal on Sunday, had little trouble beating qualifier Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-2. He's 25-2 since he lost in the first round at the French Open and hired Brad Gilbert as his coach.
Gilbert previously helped to turn Agassi into a consistent winner.
"Andre was in kind of the same position I am right now when they got together," said Roddick, 20. "People were saying, `Well, is he just going to go by the wayside, or is he going to step it up and become a great player?'"
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
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