Kuerten, Monfils Exit at ATP Stuttgart

Though both unseeded, Kuerten was the odds-on favorite against American qualifier Hugo Armando before being blown out 6-4, 6-1. Monfils is also quite comfortable on the clay but was overwhelmed 6-2, 6-3 by the talented Italian comer Potito Starace.

Still battling in his return from hip surgery, Guga has won only three matches this year.

"It's not easy, but this match does not make me sad," Kuerten said. "This year I am only trying to get myself into shape, to play a few tournaments, to keep up my motivation and get ready for next year. I believe I still have a chance to play well and be successful at any tournament. That is the goal that keeps me going day-by-day."

Both seeds in action came out on the losing end, with No. 8 Filippo Volandri outlasted by Frenchman Gilles Simon in three, and No. 9 Olivier Rochus wasting a set lead against Argentine Mariano Zabaleta.

Other unseeded winners were Spaniards Fernando Verdasco (d. countryman Almagro, bagel in the second) and Al Costa (d. countryman (Q) Blanco), Germans Rainer Schuettler (d. (Q) Vicente) and (WC) Alexander Waske (d. Haehnel), Czech Tomas Zib (d. (Q) Greul, saving a match point), Fin Jarkko Nieminen (d. Burgsmuller from a set down), and Romanian Razvan Sabau (d. (Q) Berlocq).

Scheduled for Wednesday on the dirt are (13) Acasuso vs. (WC) Waske, Kohlschreiber vs. (11) Berdych, (7) Youzhny vs. Schuettler, (1) Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal vs. (Q) Armando, (WC) A.Beck vs. (3) Gaudio, (10) Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer vs. Nieminen, Ramirez Hidalgo vs. (2) Davydenko, (4) Robredo vs. "You Say" Potito Starace, Juan "The Principality" Monaco vs. (5) Ferrer, (16) Paul-Henri "The Human Heimlich Manuever" Mathieu vs. Costa, Sabau vs. (6) Novak, Seppi vs. (15) A.Martin, (12) Pavel vs. Zib, and in doubles highlights, (1) Bhupathi/Damm vs. Germans (WC) Burgsmuller/Mayer.