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Prakash Amritraj loses

NEWPORT (USA) July 7. American Justin Gimelstob survived a thrilling tiebreaker to beat fellow-American Jeff Morrison, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (13) in the opening round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

Fourth-seeded American Robby Ginepri ousted Prakash Amritraj of India, 6-1, 6-4; eighth seed Jurgen Melzer of Austria defeated Nicolas Thomann from France, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4.

In other first-round action, Australian Julian Knowle beat American Cecil Mamiit, 6-4, 6-2; Andrei Stoliarov from Russia defeated American Robert Kendrick, 6-2, 6-4.

Dennis Van Scheppingen of the Netherlands advanced when Germany's Alexander Waske forfeited in the second set due to illness. Van Scheppingen won the first set, 6-2.

Gimelstob failed in six match points before Morrison hit a backhand long to end the 2-hour, 26-minute match.

``Obviously it was an evenly played match,'' Gimelstob said.

Morrison, who missed the last 10 weeks due to a torn stomach muscle, trailed 0-2 in the second set before breaking serve and making it a match.

After losing the first point of the tiebreaker, Gimelstob won the next four and pulled to a 6-3 edge. Morrison followed with an ace before Gimelstob hit a backhand long and fumbled a forehand. After Gimelstob's ace tied it at 12, the fans broke into spontaneous applause.

The results: first round: Julian Knowle bt Cecil Mamiit 6-4, 6-2; Andrei Stoliarov bt Robert Kendrick 6-2, 6-4; Dennis van Scheppingen bt Alexander Waske 6-2, retired; Justin Gimelstob bt Jeff Morrison 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (13); Jurgen Melzer bt Nicolas Thomann 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-4; Robby Ginepri bt Prakash Amritraj 6-1, 6-4. — AP

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