February 26, 2003	Wednesday	Zul Hijjah 24, 1423

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DUBAI, Feb 25: Russia’s Yevgeny Kafelnikov defeated John van Lottum of the Netherlands 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, in the first round of $ one million ATP Dubai Open tennis tournament on Tuesday.

Results: (1st round): Yevgeny Kafelnikov bt John van Lottum 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, Ivan Ljubicic bt Wayne Black 7-5, 6-3, Attila Savolt bt Tim Henman 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, Sjeng Schalken bt Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 6-0.

CLAVET UPSET BY MELLO

ACAPULCO (Mexico): Brazil’s Ricardo Mello produced the upset of the day when knocked fourth-seed and former champion Francisco Clavet out of the Mexican Open on Monday.

Mello, taking part as a lucky loser following the withdrawal of Argentina’s Guillermo Coria, took just over two hours to win 6-4 4-6 6-1 and will face either top seed Carlos Moya or fellow Brazilian Flavio Saretta in the second round.

The 22-year-old won the first set despite falling 4-1 behind. In the second, Mello appeared to be feeling the pressure as he broke serve early on but allowed Clavet to win the set 6-4.

Results:

Men’s (first round):

Ricardo Mello bt Francisco Clavet 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, Mariano Zabaleta bt Filippo Volandri 6-1, 6-2, David Ferrer bt Albert Portas 6-1, 6-4.

Women’s (first round):

Alena Vaskova bt Conchita Martinez 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, Cristina Torrens bt a Rossana Neffa 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-2, Ivana Abramovic bt Arantxa Parra 7-5, 6-1, Emmanuelle Gagliardi bt Maria Emilia Salemi 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, Klara Koukalova bt Melissa Torres 6-0, 6-2, Shinobu Asagoe bt Adriana Serra 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 7-6 (7/1), Paula Garcia bt Anastassia Rodionova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, Emilie Loit bt Joannette Kruger 6-3, 6-0, Patricia Wartusch bt Tina Pisnik 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.— AFP