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Rejuvenated Kiefer mows down Naso

Rejuvenated German Nicolas Kiefer made the switch from grass back to clay, mowing down Italian qualifier Gianluca Naso 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday to reach the second round of the Gstaad Open.

German qualifier Dominik Meffert, a career-best number 162, joined his more celebrated compatriot with a win, upending last year’s finalist Andreas Seppi of Italy, the fifth seed, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

France’s Jeremy Chardy, who reached the Roland Garros fourth round, put out Peruvian Luis Horna 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (8/10), 7-5 to line up against Meffert.

Romanian Victor Hanescu, who won a match in his only other Gstaad appearance in 2004, reached the second round over Frenchman Olivier Patience 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.

The 31-year-old sixth-seeded Kiefer is looking ahead with hopes that fellow veteran and good friend Rainer Schuettler will be given a late place on the German Olympic team for Beijing after last week’s Wimbledon semi-final surprise.

Kiefer and Schuettler, 32, won Athens silver in 2004 and would love nothing more than to be given a second lease of life for Games glory.

Kiefer, playing in Gstaad for the first time in eight years, put in a plea for his friend’s inclusion onto the squad, whose selection deadline passed a week ago as Schuettler was in the thick of his run to grass glory.

“For Rainer, it was a week too late, but I hope the federation can reconsider and let him come to Beijing,” said Kiefer, who takes a 2-0 record into a match with Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. “At least bring him to Beijing and then let’s see if we should play doubles.”

Kiefer first played Gstaad a decade ago on one of the first wild cards of his career.

“I’d love to play with Rainer again, we would be ready to have another try at the gold,” he said.

Kiefer said he never doubted his friend’s chances to do well again after a run of injury and illness. Kiefer knows that scenario well, having missed a year with a wrist injury from summer, 2006, at the French Open.

The No. 32 improved to 15-12 this season at this resort event, which he loves.

“The atmosphere is just great, nice hotel, nice view, nice facilities. I hope to have a day off tomorrow as I want to ride the gondola to the top of the [Col du Pillon] glacier.”
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