Rain Washes Out Newport in Post Wimbledon Hangover

Posted on July 6, 2004

No. 7 seed David Sanchez was the only seed to go out on day one at Gstaad, losing in three to Italian comer and qualifier "You Say" Potito Starace. Not quite Roger Federer defeating Andy Roddick, eh? The two other seeds in action plowed through on the dirt in defending champ (4)Jiri Novak (d. Acasuso) and (8)Al Costa (d. Ulihrach).

"I'm happy that my good run here continues," Novak said. "I just came here as defending champion and played my first match, opening up the tournament. I am always very happy when winning the first round. I think I was playing pretty solid tennis at this altitude, I hope to just keep going."

Un-seeds into the second round were Romania's Victor Hanescu (d. Burgsmuller), Spaniards Al Montanes (d. (Q)Chiudinelli in three) and Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (d. (Q)Wawrinka), another Italian qualifier in Andreas Seppi (d. Andreev in three), and Czech Radek Stepanek (d. (WC)Heuberger in three).

On court today in Gstaad are Koubek vs. (2)Ferrero, (WC)Kratochvil vs. (3)Schuettler, (WC)Rosset vs. Pavel, (1)Federer vs. Behrend, (6)Ferrer vs. Berdych, C.Rochus vs. Mantilla, Mayer vs. Portas, and Hernandez vs. Karlovic.

After top-seeded Carlos Moya pulled from Bastad at the last minute Sunday, Mikhail Youzhny was stuck in the top slot as the No. 9 seed, and the top slot proved to be cursed with the Russian getting dumped in the first round in straight sets by Spaniard Al Martin. No. 3 seed Nicolas Massu suffered a similar fate, outlasted in three sets by future Argentine star and wildcard Juan Monaco.

Other winners on the day were (4)Juan Ignacio Chela (d. M.Lopez), Swede Robin Soderling (d. (Q)Pashanski), Spaniard Fernando Verdasco (d. (WC)T.Johansson), Fin Jarkko Nieminen (d. (WC)Eleskovic), Irakli "Freak Show" Labadze (d. (Q)Hellstrom), and France's Olivier "All We Need is Just a Little" Patience (d. (Q)Gabashvili 7-6 in the third).

On court Tuesday at Bastad are (5)Robredo vs. Calleri, Davydenko vs. (2)Gaudio, J.Johansson vs. (8)Zabaleta, (7)Bjorkman vs. (Q)Ventura, Vliegen vs. Di Pasquale, Volandri vs. Canas, Horna vs. (6)Gonzalez, and Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal in his return from injury vs. (LL)Vanek.

Rain forced the postponement of all four opening-round matches at the Newport Hall of Fame Tennis Championships Monday. On court Tuesday are Kendrick vs. Baker (final round qualifying), D.Norman vs. (2)Blake, (1)Spadea vs. Salzenstein, (6)Gambill vs. Morrison, Ram vs. Hippensteel (final round qualifying), Levy vs. Bogomolov Jr., (8)Dupuis vs. Vacek, Rusedski vs. Carraz, Rettenmaier vs. Mertinak (final round qualifying), (3)Melzer vs. Hernych, (WC)Gimelstob vs. (5)Saulnier, Carlsen vs. Reid, Weiner vs. Dancevic (final round qualifying), Mahut vs. Golmard, and (WC)Delic vs. (7)Popp.

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