James Blake's attempt to win his third Sydney International in a row ended yesterday after just one match.
France's Fabrice Santoro beat the American No. 3 seed 7-6 (4), 6-2, taking a 5-0 lead in the second set before Blake came back to win a pair of games. Blake broke Santoro with the Frenchman serving for the match, but then lost it on his own service two games later.
Blake won the Sydney International in 2006 and last year. He was trying to become the first man since Australian John Bromwich in 1940 to win the title three times in a row.
PHOTO: AFP
Blake, who helped the US win the Davis Cup in November over Russia, said he had some problems adjusting to the new plexicushion surface -- the same surface that will be used in Melbourne at the Australian Open.
"Maybe it was him, maybe it was the court, but it seemed so slow it was tough for me to put balls away," Blake said. "I think I got a bit ahead of myself."
Top seed Richard Gasquet of France beat Igor Andreev of Russia 6-3, 7-6 (6), saving two sets points in the tiebreaker and winning the last four points of the match.
In women's play, Daniela Hantuchova's career revival continued and Russian Ana Chakvetadze, the No. 5 seed, was the first upset loser on the women's side.
Chakvetadze lost 7-5, 6-1 to Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia while the No. 6 seed Hantuchova recovered from a set and service break down to beat compatriot Dinara Safina 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
In other first round results, Tatiana Golovin of France advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Tzipora Obziler of Israel, 2006 runner-up Francesca Schiavone of Italy beat American Jill Craybas 6-4, 6-4 and Shahar Peer of Israel beat Ukrainian qualifier Yuliana Fedak 6-3, 6-2.
HOBART INTERNATIONAL
AP,HOBART, AUSTRALIA
Australian Jelena Dokic, coming off a two-year injury layoff, beat Germany's Martina Mueller 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 at the Hobart International yesterday.
Formerly ranked No. 4, Dokic, 24, had to win three rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw. And she now has a potential problem -- whether to continue playing in the Hobart event or contest qualifying for next week's Australian Open in Melbourne.
Tennis Australia officials declined to offer Dokic a wild card into the main draw at Melbourne and women's qualifying will start at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
Pennetta advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 win over No. 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.
Top-seeded Alona Bondarenko of the Ukraine won her first-round match, beating Australian Jessica Moore 7-5, 6-2 and No. 2 seed Vera Zvonareva defeated fellow Russian Olga Poutchkova 6-3, 6-0.
AUCKLAND OPEN
AFP, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Second seed Juan Ignacio Chela staged a deciding set fightback against the low ranking New Zealander Dan King-Turner yesterday to narrowly avoid an ignominious first round exit at the Auckland Open.
The world No. 20 battled to a 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 victory after King-Turner -- who has a world ranking of 345 -- squandered a chance for an upset while serving at 3-1 up in the third set.
Eighth seed Spaniard Albert Montanes beat the other New Zealand wildcard Rubin Statham 6-4, 6-4 to ensure his passage to the second round, while sixth seed Nicolas Almagro beat Argentine Jose Acasuso 6-3, 6-4.
Most of the seeded players play their opening first round matches today.
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