Argentina's Diego Hartfield surprised second-seeded German Tommy Haas 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 on Monday in the opening round of the ATP Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.
Hartfield, playing here for the first time, converted five of his 17 break point opportunities to hand Haas a defeat in the German's first outing of the year.
He needed just one hour and 55 minutes to send the 2006 Delray Beach champion packing.
"I'm very happy," said Hartfield, who claimed the first hardcourt match of his career in five attempts. "I always knew I could play good on hard courts. I was practicing in Buenos Aires on hard courts before Australia and I was playing good."
Haas, who had shoulder surgery in November, has seen his ranking fall from a year-end No. 12 to No. 27 after missing the first six weeks of the year.
He spent 22 weeks inside the top 10 last year as he won the title in Memphis and reached the Australian Open semi-finals and US Open quarter-finals.
"Overall [the shoulder] feels good," Haas said. "It's my first test. Unfortunately the shoulder went away a bit at the end of the second set. I didn't have the pop anymore. I didn't really have any pain, just no power."
Hartfield will play American Bobby Reynolds, who beat defending champion Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
BRASIL OPEN
AP, COSTA DO SAUIPE, BRAZIL
Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten began his professional tennis farewell tour with a first-round doubles loss at the Brasil Open.
Kuerten and countryman Andre Baran went down 6-3, 6-3 to Italy's Fabio Fognini and Filippo Volandri on Monday in this seaside resort in northeastern Brazil.
Kuerten announced last month he will retire from professional tennis after the next French Open, which starts on May 26 at Roland Garros.
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
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and