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MUNICH, May 1: Nicolas Kiefer of Germany crashed out of the 381,000-dollar Munich Open here Wednesday in a second-round defeat to qualifier Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.
Stepanek breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Kiefer who had Tuesday caused a major upset by ousting top seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia in a 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-3 first-round tussle.
Kiefer has been unable to win two matches in succession for the last seven months in an extended dip in form which has seen him slip to 97th in the Champions Race.
Tuesday’s surprise victory over Kafelnikov was only his third victory in 14 matches this year.
Wednesday’s results (prefix number denotes seeding):
Wednesday’s results (prefix number denotes seeding):
Second round: Rainer Schuettler (Germany) beat Alexander Popp (Germany) 6-3, 6-2; Francisco Clavet (Spain) beat Juan Ignacio Chela (Argentina) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3; Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) beat Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) 6-2, 6-2.
VENUS ENJOYS EASY START
HAMBURG (Germany): World number one Venus Williams made a successful start to the defence of her Hamburg Cup title by beating Italy’s Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-3 Wednesday.
The top seeded American’s big forehand proved to be the decisive factor, together with her willingness to approach the net.
Sixth seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova overwhelmed Marta Marrero of Spain 6-1 6-1, but seventh seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland failed to build on her recent victories over Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati and was beaten 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Germany’s Anca Barna.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS:
Second round: 1-Venus Williams (US) beat Francesca Schivone (Italy) 6-2, 6-3.
First round: Nicole Pratt (Australia) beat Andrea Glass (Germany) 6-2, 6-3; 8-Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Spain) beat Adriana Serra Zanetti (Italy) 6-1, 6-3; Barbara Rittner (Germany) beat Elena Likhovtseva (Russia) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1; Anca Barna (Germany) beat 7-Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; 6-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) beat Marta Marrero (Spain) 6-1, 6-1; Martina Muller (Germany) beat Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand) 3-6, 6-0, 6-0; Cristina Torrens Valero (Spain) beat Angelika Bachman (Germany) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
TUESDAY’S REMAINING RESULT:
First round: Conchita Martinez (Spain) beat Marlene Weingaertner (Germany) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
KUERTEN BACK IN ACTION
PALMA DE MALLORCA (Spain): Gustavo Kuerten returned to singles action with a dazzling performance Tuesday to beat Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 6-3 and reach the second round of the Mallorca Open.
Kuerten, who underwent surgery on his right hip in February, had eased back into competition on Monday with a doubles victory at the $400,000 clay-court event.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS:
Second round: 1-Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) beat Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 6-2, 6-3; Mariano Zabaleta (Argentina) beat 2-Albert Portas (Spain) 6-1, 6-4; 7-Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia) beat Guillermo Coria (Argentina) 6-0 1-0 — retired; David Sanchez (Spain) beat Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) 6-2, 6-4; 8-Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) beat Fernando Vicente (Spain) 0-6, 6-3, 6-2; Magnus Norman (Sweden) beat Mariano Albert (Spain) 6-3, 6-4; 4-Jarkko Nieminen beat Andre Sa (Brazil) 6-1, 6-2; Christophe Rochus (Belgium) beat Kristian Pless (Denmark) 7-6 (9-7), 2-6, 6-2.
DEMENTIEVA THROUGH
BOL (Croatia): Top seed Elena Dementieva of Russia waltzed into the third round of the $140,000 Bol Open Wednesday beating Indonesia’s Angelique Widjaja 6-2, 6-1, but last year’s champion Angeles Montolio skidded out in the first round.
Montolio, seeded fifth this time, was ousted 6-2, 6-2 by a qualifier, fellow Spaniard Maria Sanchez Lorenzo.
On Tuesday, top draw Anna Kournikova gave Bol tournament organisers a fright before fighting back from a set down to beat fellow Russian Julia Vakulenko 6-7, 6-2, 6-2.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS:
Second round: 1-Elena Dementieva (Russia) beat Angelique Widjaja (Indonesia) 6-2, 6-1.
First round: Asa Svensson (Sweden) beat Elena Bovina (Russia) 6-4, 7-5; Maria Sanchez Lorenzo (Spain) beat 5-Angeles Montolio (Spain) 6-2, 6-2.
Tuesday’s results:
First round: Anna Kournikova (Russia) beat Julia Vakulenko (Russia) 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-2; Widjaja beat Seda Noorlander (Netherlands) 6-2, 6-0; 6-Henrieta Nagyova (Slovakia) beat Maja Matevzic (Slovenia) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2; 7-Tina Pisnik (Slovenia) beat Zuzana Hejdova (Czech Republic) 6-2, 7-5; Vera Zvonareva (Russia) beat Jana Kandarr (Germany) 6-3, 6-2; Jelena Kostanic (Croatia) beat Tatiana Poutchek (Belarus) 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, 6-4; Libuse Prusova (Czech Republic) beat Karolina Prem (Croatia) 6-3, 6-0.—Agencies
