Asia's top two male tennis players Paradorn Srichaphan and Lee Hyung-Taik became the first-round sacrifices here on Monday as the US$500,000 2005 China Open kicked off five matches out of the 32 draw.
Srichaphan, the most known Asian to world tennis who reached the semi-finals of initial China Open here 12 months ago, suffered an early exit as he was beaten in straight sets by eighth-seeded Carlos Moya, while the South Korean Lee was outlasted by another Spanish veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero, losing 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours.
The harsh journey did not go to the end for Ferrero, however, as the third seed David Nalbandian, who will open his China Open campaign on Tuesday against Kristian Pless from Denmark, may await him in the second round.
Peter Wessels from the Netherlands, Stefan Koubek of Austria and Russian Dmitry Tursunov all made it through to the second round after each taking straight-set win oN Monday.
In the qualifications played earlier the day, Zeng Shaoxuan from China booked one of the four spots reserved for qualifiers in the main draw after beating Japanese Toshihide Matsui 6-4, 7-6 (10). But the Chinese found himself being left with slim hopes of making the second round as he takes Guillermo Coria from Argentina, the second seed, in Tuesday's first round matchup.
His losing opponent Matsui became the lucky loser, however, after fifth-seeded Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty withdrew due to a back injury and will enter the men's singles main draw to face China's wildcard Sun Peng.
Nathan Healey from Australia, Amir Hadad from Israel and Luka Gregorc from Slovania also qualified with wins on Monday. Healey plays seventh-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny, Gregorc takes wildcard Wang Yu from China, and Hadad meets Belgian Dick Norman in Tuesday's first round.
On the doubles part, the hosting pair Sun Peng and Wang Yu werebeaten 6-2, 6-3 by Swede Thomas Johansson and Robbie Koenig from South Africa, while Thailand's duo Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana won over Huntley Montgomery and Tripp Phillips of the United States.
Super Finn Jarkko Nieminen and his German partner Rainer Schuettler also survived first round test from Justin Gimelstob of the United States and Nathan Healey from Australia, rallying to win 1-6, 6-5, 6-4.
Srichapan fired seven aces while Moya played two, but the Thai failed to hold his nerve in avoiding unforced errors.
"I think I played well today. It's unlucky for me to face Moyain the opening round, but I could do nothing about it. The draw rules," said Srichaphan at a post-match press conference.
"My shoulder had some problems eight months ago, but now my shoulder is almost one hundred percent fit. It's all about the bad draw since my ranking has been much lower and I was not seeded for this year's China Open."
"But it's OK to be ousted by Moya. It's happening, and I'm not caring so much to loses in match."
Commenting on the organization of the China Open comparing to the initial 2004 tournament, Srichaphan said the organizing committee has done a wonderful job.
"Last year is already well-organized, and this year seemed to be better organized. I don't think any player could complain anything. It's great to have this tournament in China," said the Thai.
With the opening victory at the China Open ATP tennis tournament, where 35 ATP 2005 Race points and 69,200 US dollars prize money in total are at stake, Moya improved his career record against the top Asian player Srichaphan to 4-0 and his record in 2005 to 28-17.
"It's a close game against Srichaphan. The result is satisfactory as I kept trusting in myself and played better and better in the match," said the former world number one. "I'm happy to play a wonderful game."
"Srichaphan is strong and had been close to beat me in our last three meetings. He's strong with powerful serve, I'm just more lucky to win in all of our four encounters," he added.
"There are many compatriots of mine entering the main draw here, I wish them good luck and hope that a Spaniard wins the tournament," he added.
Firmly holding their servers, both of the players failed to break and the opening set was pulled into tiebreaker.
After exchanging the leads for several times, Srichaphan saved a set point with a placement shot before Moya broke the Thai to hold on 7-6 and served to win the tiebreak 8-6.
Moya then broke Srichaphan twice to jump out to a 5-3 lead before wrapping up the match with a 6-3 set win.
The eighth seed should have shortened his work of claiming the opener win with breaking first in the second set, but the luck temporarily dumped the Spanish veteran earlier into the game.
Being broken in just the second game of the second set, Srichaphan revenged on the 29-year-old Spaniard though Moya stoke an excellent baseline play in the third game.
Moya, whose ranking in ATP Race has declined from 27 to 33 following a sluggish run in the just finished U.S. Open, will next take the winner between Switzerland's Ivo Heuberger and Stefan Koubek Austria in Tuesday's another first round matchup.
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2005)
