Date:19/06/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/19/stories/2003061901811900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Sluiter surprises Srichaphan

ROSMALEN JUNE 18. Second-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand was upset by Dutchman Raemon Sluiter 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday in the second round of the Ordina Open.

Srichaphan, seeded 12th at Wimbledon, has won only one match since the first round of the German Open in April — his first round victory on Monday over Dutchman Paul Logtens.

Sluiter broke first in the fifth game, but Srichaphan immediately broke back. Sluiter broke again in the 11th game to decide the first set.

In the second set, Sluiter ran away with a 5-0 lead before Srichaphan stormed back to take the following four games. Sluiter served out the final game to win the match and advance.

Sixth seed Spaniard Tommy Robredo beat Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 and also secured a quarterfinals spot.

The results:

Men (second round): Raemon Sluiter bt Paradorn Srichaphan 7-5, 6-4; Tommy Robredo bt Kenneth Carlsen 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Earlier results: Jan Vacek bt Anthony Dupuis 7-6 (7-2) 6-3; Jiri Novak bt Jurgen Melzer 6-1, 6-3; Frantisek Cermak bt Nicolas Kiefer 6-3 (retd.); John van Lottum bt Jose Acasuso, Argentina, 6-3, 6-2.

Women (second round): Kim Clijsters bt Cara Black 6-4, 6-4; Elena Dementieva bt Els Callens 6-2, 6-1; Iroda Tulyaganova bt Anca Barna 6-3, 6-3.

Earlier results: Maria Sanchez Lorenzo bt Nicole Pratt 7-5, 6-2; Els Callens bt Cho Yoon-jeong 6-4, 6-1; Nadia Petrova bt Angelique Widjaja 6-4, 3-6, 6-2; Barbara Rittner bt Rita Grande 6-1, 6-3.