January 6, 2025
by Sandeep Nakai
Associated Press

Dateline: MADRAS, India

Defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand and top-seeded Spaniard Carlos Moya coasted into the second round of the Tata Open tennis tournament Tuesday, but sixth-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain was shocked in the opening round by unheralded French player Thierry Ascione.

Second-seeded Paradorn, who last year became the first Asian player to break into the world top-10, brushed aside Spain's Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-3, while Moya overcame qualifier Noam Okun of Israel 6-3, 6-4.

Nadal, 17, ranked 47th on the Association of Tennis Professionals' roster, became the first seed to fall as the 89th-placed Ascione capitalized on his rival's frayed nerves to clinch a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory.

Third-seeded Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands overcame a rusty start to prevail 6-4, 7-5 against Thai qualifier Danai Udomchoke and fifth-seeded Felix Mantilla of Spain edged past Czech Republic's qualifier Jan Vacek 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

Fourth-seeded Spanish player Tommy Robredo survived a scare against Russia's Dmitry Tursunov to prevail 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-4 after muffing three match points, while Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen advanced as his French opponent Paul-Henri Mathieu retired in the second round.

Carlsen led 6-2, 1-0 when Mathieu conceded the match due to a left-wrist injury.

Australian qualifier Julian handed down a 6-4, 6-1 drubbing to Indian wild-card entry Karan Rastogi.

Ascione was a slow-starter but gradually fought his way back against the left-handed Nadal, who squandered an early lead and then became frustrated as some close line calls went against him.

"I took time to settle down against Nadal's hard-hitting game, but became more relaxed after I got into the rhythm," the 22-year-old Ascione said.

Nadal said the string of line calls that went to Ascione played a "critical role" in upsetting his game.

"I simply lost my way, and allowed Thierry to bounce back," he said.

Paradorn, 24, 11th on ATP rankings, held service throughout his 45-minute encounter with 94th-placed Montanes, who just managed to hold his opening service in the first set.

In the second set, Paradorn broke the Spanish opponent in the second and fourth games. Montanes saved one match point in the ninth game before Paradorn served out the match and expressed his delight at striking form early.

"Playing the first match of a new season is always tricky. It's difficult to get into the rhythm, but I was hitting well and accurately today," said Paradorn, who was declared "Thai of the Year 2003." "One's never too confident going back on to the court before the first game of the season, but this was a good way to start. The way I won the first round makes me confident of retaining this title," he said.

Paradorn said this title meant a lot to him since it was here two years ago that he first advanced to the final of an ATP event and began a remarkable rise in world rankings. In 2003, he returned to clinch the title without dropping a set in the entire tournament.

Moya, ranked seventh in the world, marked his return to the southern Indian metropolis of Madras in four years by surging to a 5-0 lead in the opening set, but dropped a service point in the seventh game.

Okun lifted his game in the second set, but lost it by failing to hold service in the fifth game that Moya clinched on the second break point.

"I guess Noam was a little nervous after I broke him in the opening game. That didn't help him," Moya said.

"He was a little nervous, but I could afford to relax on his service after picking up some easy points to hold service," said Moya, who meets Paul Goldstein of the United States in the second round.