July 11, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1423

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GSTAAD, Switzerland, July 10: Argentina’s David Nalbandian stumbled in the starting blocks three days after playing the Wimbledon final, going out on clay to Romanian Andre Pavel 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday at the US$ 600,000 Swiss Open.

The 20-year-old Nalbanadian still had his head somewhat in the clouds following his Sunday showing on the grass against world number one Lleyton Hewitt.

The player who finished last year’s points race on 70th, now stands 11th after his unexpected success on the grass. But stepping back onto the fastest clay in tennis was just too big of an ask so soon after the Grand Slam.

“It’s the altitude, not the change from grass,” he said. “The ball flys away and it’s hard to control. Also, Pavel is a top player and the played a good match. I only got here Monday and had to change everything. “

The last of the first-round matches began a day late due to rain and was also delayed for several hours as a morning storm passed through this elite alpine village.

Fourth seed Pavel wasted no time in seizing on the South American’s lapse, winning comfortably into the second round against Swiss veteran Marc Rosset.

Third seed Roger Federer, who cracked an embarrassing run of four first-round defeats at the home event by reaching the second round, was aiming for the quarterfinals against Czech qualifier Radek Stepanek.

French Open finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero, seeded second, is the top seeded contender remaining in action after Paris champion Alberto Costa was beaten Tuesday in the opening round by French qualifier Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Nalbandian said that he’s still trying to come to grips with his career-shaping achievement at the All England club. “Two days ago, I was nobody, now, everyone knows me.

Second round:

Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) beat 3-Roger Federer (Switzerland) 3-6 6-3 6-2; Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) beat Stefan Koubek (Austria) 6-4 6-4; Attila Savolt (Hungary) beat Karol Kucera (Slovakia) 6-3 3-6 7-5.

First round: 4-Andrei Pavel (Romania) beat David Nalbandian (Argentina) 7-5 6-3—Reuters