Tweet
NALBANDIAN UPSET IN LOS ANGELES
The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune, France
July 17 2007
LOS ANGELES: David Nalbandian lost to Igor Kunitsyn 7-6 (5), 7-5 in
the first round of the Countrywide Classic on Tuesday.
Nalbandian, the No. 4 seed, lost to the Russian who is ranked 99th.
After winning the first-set tiebreaker, Kunitsyn won the first three
games of the second set and had break point for a 4-0 lead. But he
missed a volley, and that enabled Nalbandian to regroup. The Argentine,
a Wimbledon finalist in 2002, won that game and the next four to go
ahead, 5-3.
Kunitsyn then won the final four games.
"He's one of the toughest players. He never gives up," Kunitsyn said.
"I was prepared that he would always be there and that helped me
so much."
Americans Mardy Fish and Vince Spadea advanced to the second round
with straight-set victories. Fish beat doubles partner Sam Querrey
and Spadea eliminated Thiago Alves of Brazil, 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the
UCLA Tennis Center.
Fish won 12 of his first 16 matches this year, before losing eight
straight matches and 10 of 11. He slipped to No. 40 in the rankings
and made this tournament as a wild card.
Querrey has been struggling as well, and lost his seventh straight
match.
Querrey said he played tentatively "the whole time, especially on
my backhand. It's getting frustrating. You start second-guessing
yourself."
Also, Ricardo Mello of Brazil beat Phillip King of the United States
6-4, 6-2; Wesley Moodie of South Africa spoiled the tour debut of
Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3, 6-2; and Radek Stepanek of the Czech
Republic advanced when Britain's Alex Bogdanovic retired because of
a back problem after losing the opening set 6-1.
The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune, France
July 17 2007
LOS ANGELES: David Nalbandian lost to Igor Kunitsyn 7-6 (5), 7-5 in
the first round of the Countrywide Classic on Tuesday.
Nalbandian, the No. 4 seed, lost to the Russian who is ranked 99th.
After winning the first-set tiebreaker, Kunitsyn won the first three
games of the second set and had break point for a 4-0 lead. But he
missed a volley, and that enabled Nalbandian to regroup. The Argentine,
a Wimbledon finalist in 2002, won that game and the next four to go
ahead, 5-3.
Kunitsyn then won the final four games.
"He's one of the toughest players. He never gives up," Kunitsyn said.
"I was prepared that he would always be there and that helped me
so much."
Americans Mardy Fish and Vince Spadea advanced to the second round
with straight-set victories. Fish beat doubles partner Sam Querrey
and Spadea eliminated Thiago Alves of Brazil, 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the
UCLA Tennis Center.
Fish won 12 of his first 16 matches this year, before losing eight
straight matches and 10 of 11. He slipped to No. 40 in the rankings
and made this tournament as a wild card.
Querrey has been struggling as well, and lost his seventh straight
match.
Querrey said he played tentatively "the whole time, especially on
my backhand. It's getting frustrating. You start second-guessing
yourself."
Also, Ricardo Mello of Brazil beat Phillip King of the United States
6-4, 6-2; Wesley Moodie of South Africa spoiled the tour debut of
Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3, 6-2; and Radek Stepanek of the Czech
Republic advanced when Britain's Alex Bogdanovic retired because of
a back problem after losing the opening set 6-1.