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30th September, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR: Swede Joachim Johansson edged out former world no. 1 and current world ranked 16th Lieyton Hewitt while another top player world no. 19 David Ferrer tumbled out at the inaugural Proton Malaysian Open held at the Putra Stadium yesterday.
Johansson, ranked 447th, who just recovered from a shoulder injury, clinched a 7-6 (7), 6-3 win to advance to the second round.
“It was a tough match after three weeks off from tennis. The first set tie-break, I failed to get the needed point break after several chances in which it affected my focus in the second set,” Hewitt said, adding his focus now is to compete in Tokyo and Shanghai.
Johansson, who will pair up with top Malaysian player Si Yew Ming in the doubles, said the win was not a surprise.
“Hewitt and myself have practiced and competed together several times. But, today, I played aggressively from the first point till the end. I”m happy with my performance,” he said.
On the partnership with Yew Ming, Johansson who is also a member of Swedish team in Davis Cup, said: “Actually, I have not played doubles since 2005 due to my shoulder injury. Focusing more on the single.s But, I am looking forward to this great partnership.”
Today, Johansson-Yew Ming will take on Brazilian pair Marcelo Melo-Andre Rendeza Sa.
Meanwhile, another top player, Spains David Ferrer, who is seventh seed and world no.19, was booted out from the tournament after he was defeated by unseeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The highlight matches for today are between Gael Monfils (France) and Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan), Robin Soderling (Sweden) and Brendan Evans (United States); Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) and Taylor Dent (United States).
Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych raced away to a fast start but had to re-establish control to post a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 first-round win over Russian Igor Kunitsyn.
Berdych, who led his nation into December’s Davis Cup final against Spain as he clinched a five-set win over Croatia’s Marin Cilic, needed 1 hour, 53 minutes to advance at the Putra stadium.
He broke five times while losing serve twice to the 46th-ranked challenger who beat him five years ago in Moscow and turns 28 on Wednesday.
Victory for 16th-ranked Berdych was his 29th of the season against 20 losses. He has claimed one title in 2009, winning Munich on clay.
Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello dimmed Spanish hope as he defeated Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-3. Indian qualifier Rohan Bopanna put out Argentine Jose Acasuso in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback.
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