Top seed Carlos Moya produced the biggest upset of the China Open yesterday as he was stunned by Jo-Wilfred Tsonga of France 6-3, 6-3 at the Beijing Tennis Center.
Moya, who is chasing his fourth title of the 2004 here following his wins in Chennai, Acapulco and Rome, could not find his winning rhythm against the 19-year-old 2003 USA Open Junior champion with 10 double faults and a handful of unforced errors.
"I was really disappointed. It is my first time to be here and I really want to play well. But I just could not control the game. My opponent was playing really well," he said.
The 28-year-old Spaniard was 0-3 behind the Frenchman immediately in his first set and was broken three times in the second set before finishing his lacklustre show.
"My serve is my best but it did not work today. Besides, my forehand also did not work. But I tell you I have tried my best," said Moya, who apologized to Chinese fans and promised to come back next time with a better performance.
It was a different story for Moya's fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero, who led other seeded players to open his match in a winning style with victories amid cheers from enthusiastic Chinese fans and periodic rain. Ferrero, the second seed, overpowered American Justin Gimelstob 6-4, 6-1 in an earlier match, which was interrupted three times by the rain.
Ferrero, who has been troubled by injuries in his left leg and groin, was given some early scares and struggled to level at 3-3 in the first set.
"He (Gimelstob) had very good serves, but I think I am solid and very concentrated. I also started very well in the second set," said Ferrero, who left for his sudden short trip to Japan two days ago.
The Australian Open semi-finalist left for Japan secretly for some commercial promotions on Monday and came back on Tuesday afternoon, eight hours before the originally-scheduled first round match which was delayed until yesterday for the rain.
"I had to go to Tokyo for some business. But I am pretty good right now physically. I am playing well today."
"I am happy to come to play normally. I should say I am 90 per cent physically fit. I feel comfortable right now," said Ferrero.
Seeds advance
Sixth seed Paradorn Srichaphan denied an upset from Jean-Rene Lisnard of France with a 6-4, 7-5 win.
The Thai sensation and the crowd's favourite, struggled in a gusty wind but soon recovered with his traditional battling qualities.
Eighth-seeded Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia met little challenge from China's wild card Wang Yu with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Elsewhere, Mikhail Youzhny of Russia had to try hard before winning a tough match 7-5, 7-6 against Ivo Heuberger of Switzerland.
Kevin Kim of the United States eased into the second round after beating German's Lars Burgsmuller 6-2, 6-2, while Italian Davide Sanguinetti edged past Nathan Healey of Australia 7-5, 5-7, 6-2.
Another Asian player Lee Hyung-taik of South Korea joined Srichaphan in the second round with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Devin Bowen of the United States.
But the annoying rain once again delayed the remaining three first-round matches as fans have to wait another day to watch the matches of big names like Marat Safin and David Nalbandian.
With two out of the three wild card Chinese players knocked out of the first round of the ATP event, women's player Zheng Jie was the only consolation for local fans at the ITF circuit as she powered into the third round with a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing of Leanne Baker of New Zealand.
The 21-year-old, who made history by advancing into the fourth round of French Open this year, is shouldering hope of winning the title of the ITF event and is expected to shine again at the WTA next week.
(China Daily September 16, 2004)
