Date:17/07/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/17/stories/2003071703072100.htm

Sport - Tennis

Verkerk upset

AMERSFOORT (Netherlands) JULY 16. French Open finalist Martin Verkerk was eliminated in the first round of the Dutch Open, losing 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday to Giorgio Galimberti of Italy.

Since reaching his first Grand Slam final in Paris against Juan Carlos Ferrero, Verkerk has now lost in the first round of three straight tournaments, following early exits in Rosmalen and Wimbledon.

Third-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela beat fellow Argentine Mariano Puerta 6-3, 6-1, and No. 6 Raemon Sluiter downed Germany's Alexander Waske 6-4, 6-3.

The results (First round): Giorgio Galimberti bt Martin Verkerk 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Juan Ignacio Chela bt Mariano Puerta 6-3, 6-1. Oscar Hernandez bt Fred Hemmes 6-1, 6-1. Stanislas Wawrinka bt Hugo Armando 6-4, 6-4. Raemon Sluiter bt Alexander Waske 6-4, 6-3. Jean-Rene Lisnard bt Gaston Gaudio bt 6-0, 7-6 (5). Andre Sa bt Jaroslav Levinsky 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2). Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo Francisco Clavet 6-4, 6-2.