Date:21/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/21/stories/2008042160852200.htm

Sport - Tennis

Amritraj pulls out

NEW DELHI: Second seed Prakash Amritraj retired midway through the second set in the first qualifying round of the $50,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Los Angeles.

Lance Vodicka of the U.S. led 6-2, 3-2 when the Indian Davis Cupper retired.

Amritraj had feared aggravating a wrist injury and had opted to skip the dead rubber in the reverse singles against Japan in the recent Asia-Oceania Davis Cup tie. He had, however, managed to negotiate two tough rounds in the Challenger in Mexico City last week.

Meanwhile, Sunil Kumar went down 3-6, 1-6 to Jeremy Blandin of France in another first round match of the qualifying event.