Former No. 1 Hewitt Out at ATP Rome, Rips Scheduling

The seeds fell in droves Thursday at the rain-plagued Masters Series-Rome, with two rounds contested due to rain the previous day. Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt was among the victims in the first round of matches (l. to Pavel in three), joined by (10)Paradorn Srichaphan (l. to Safin) and (11)Sjeng Schalken (l. to homecountry favorite Volandi).

After Hewitt's loss the former No. 1 ripped into tournament officials, complaining he did not have as much time between matches as his opponent, and was put on an outside court without a full team of linesmen.

"One of the worst scheduling things I've ever seen," Hewitt said. Welcome to not being No. 1 anymore.

Other winners were (5)David Nalbandian (d. Saretta), (6)Carlos Moya (d. Ljubicic), and (12)Jiri Novak (d. Mirnyi 1-and-1), and among the un-seeds qualifier Dave Ferrer (d. (7)Grosjean in three), qualifier "Dr." Ivo Karlovic (d. Barcelona winner Robredo), and Dave Sanchez (d. Canas).

The third round followed later in the day, with (4)Tim Henman exiting to clay veteran Mariano Zabaleta in three sets, with other winners including (5)Nalbandian (d. Volandri in three), (8)Nicolas Massu (d. Safin), (12)Novak (d. (Q)Ferrer), and un-seeds Al Costa (d. Horna) and Vincenzo Spadea (d. Munich winner Davydenko in three). One other match was unfinished on the day, with Pavel leading Sanchez 7-6, 2-1.

"In the second and third sets, he raised his level and started to play so aggressively and consistently," Henman said after gaining a one-set advantage then collapsing in the British tradition against Zabaleta. "I felt like I hit a lot of good shots and they were nullified a little bit. I think in the conditions I lost to the better player."

Friday's rain-backed-up line-up reads as (6)Moya vs. (Q)"Dr." Ivo, Costa vs. (12)Novak, Spadea vs. (5)Nalbandian in an all-rally match-up, (8)Massu vs. Zabaleta in another money's-worth grinder, then starting at 8:30 p.m. local time, (6)Moya or (Q)"Dr." Ivo vs. Pavel or Sanchez. There will also be some hot doubles two-on-two action Friday in (4)Knowles/Nestor vs. Aussies (6)Arthurs/Hanley, Frenchmen (5)Llodra/Santoro vs. (3)Bhupathi/Mirnyi, (8)Black/Ullyett or Cermak/Friedl vs. (2)Bjorkman/Woodbridge, (1)Bryan/Bryan vs. Philippoussis/Safin to finish (Bryans lead 2-1), and then (1)Bryan/Bryan or Philippoussis/Safin vs. Argentines Canas/Chela. That's a lot of tennis for the ticket. Bring an umbrella.