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SYDNEY, Jan 6: Spain’s world number four Juan Carlos Ferrero dropped a set before beating Australia’s world ranked 217 Jaymon Crabb in the Sydney International on Monday.
Ferrero, the second seed, won their first round match 5-7 7-5 6-3 in an uneven start to his preparations for the Australian Open which begins in Melbourne next week.
South Africa’s Wayne Ferreira beat former Australian Open runner-up, Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist, 6-2 6-4 and Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen defeated Australia’s Peter Luczak 6-0 3-6 7-5 in other men’s singles first round matches.
In the women’s event, Elina Bovina won the battle of the Russians against world number 11 Anastasia Myskina 6-3 7-5 to oust the tournament’s fifth seed.
Russia have eight players in the women’s top 50 and won the men’s Davis Cup final for the first time last month against France.
Myskina, world number 11, said: “When it was the Soviet Union, just two players from the country could travel. But now anyone who has the money can travel.
Eighth seed Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria beat Italy’s Silvia Farina Elia 3-6 7-5 6-0 and Olga Barabanschikova of Belarus beat Spain’s former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez 2-6 6-2 6-4.
Results (prefix denotes seeding:
Men: Wayne Ferreira bt Thomas Enqvist 6-2 6-4; Juan Carlos Ferrero bt Jaymon Crabb 5-7 7-5 6-3; Jarkko Nieminen bt Peter Luczak 6-0 3-6 7-5.
Women: Magdalena Maleeva bt Silvia Farina Elia 3-6 7-5 6-0; Elina Bovina bt Anastasia Myskina 6-3 7-5; Olga Barabanschikova bt Conchita Martinez 2-6 6-2 6-4; Tamarine Tanasugarn bt Klara Koukalova 6-2 3-6 6-2.
MANTILLA DUMPS ACASUSO
AUCKLAND: Evergreen Spaniard Felix Mantilla eliminated fifth-seeded Argentine Jose Acasuso in the first round of the Auckland Open on Monday.
Mantilla, world number 51, beat his 20-year-old opponent 6-3 7-5. Acasuso, one of the new brigade of South Americans set to make their mark on the world stage, was the only seed in action on the first day.
David Ferrer had the better of fellow Spaniard Alberto Martin, ranked 26 places above him at 60th, with an easy 6-3 6-2 victory.
The best clash of the day was Spaniard Fernando Vicente’s come-from-behind victory over Peru’s Luis Horna 4-6 7-6 6-2.
Tuesday’s matches feature fourth seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil against Dutchman Martin Verkerk, first seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic meeting qualifier Robert Kendrick of the United States and 2002 Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian up against fellow Argentine Mariano Zabaleta.
First round results
Fernando Vicente bt Luis Horna 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2; Felix Mantilla bt Jose Acasuso 6-3 7-5; Kenneth Carlsen bt Andre Sa 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 6-4; David Ferrer bt Alberto Martin 6-3 6-2; Vincent Spadea bt Anthony Dupuis 6-3 6-4; Dominik Hrbaty bt Simon Rea 6-4 6-2
CANBERRA RESULTS
CANBERRA: Results of first round matches in the Canberra Classic women’s tennis tournament on Monday:
Emilie Loit bt Bryanne Stewart 6-4 6-2; Adriana Serra-Zanetti bt Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian (Switzerland) 7-5 6-4; Clarisa Fernandez bt Silvija Talaja 6-3 6-3; Marion Bartoli bt Meilen Tu 6-2 6-2; Saori Obata bt Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-1 6-1; Flavia Pennetta bt Maja Matevzic 6-3 6-4; Magui Serna bt Evgenia Koulikovskaya 6-2 7-6 (7-1); Angelique Widjaja bt Daja Bedanova 6-3 6-3; Conchita Martinez Granados bt Iroda Tulyaganova 5-7 6-4 6-3.—Agencies
