Under-cloud Odesnik marks return with first-round victory
Source: Agencies |
April 7, 2010, Wednesday
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AMERICAN Wayne Odesnik, playing for the first time since pleading guilty to importing human growth hormone into Australia, beat 19-year-old Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-3, 6-4 in the first-round of the US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston, Texas, on Monday.
Odesnik pleaded guilty late last month to taking HGH into Australia. He was fined US$7,200 and could be banned by the ATP.
Although the players shook hands following the match, Janowicz said he didn't like playing against Odesnik.
"I think it is unfair to do something like this," Janowicz said.
"It's a misunderstanding because for me, he shouldn't be playing at this moment. He should be suspended. There are bad feelings right now. He shouldn't play and right now I'm playing with this guy. It's tough to play with that kind of guy."
Odesnik declined comment, citing the ATP investigation into his case. He said he would have a statement later.
"I'm doing the only thing I can do right now and that is focus on my tennis," Odesnik said. "I've worked extremely hard. I'm looking forward to the claycourt season. That's where I usually excel."
Asked if he had support from other players, he said, "I don't know, I'm just trying to play tennis."
Odesnik, a finalist in the tournament last year, was in charge early until late in the second set when Janowicz broke Odesnik's serve in the eighth game.
Janowicz, playing in his third ATP event, fought off two match points before his backhand sailed long in the 10th game to end the match.
Top-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile drew a first-round bye.
In Ponte Vedra, Florida, third-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia beat Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of The MPS Group Championships on Monday.
"The first match is always tough so I didn't know what to expect," Cibulkova said. "I was moving her around and I was playing pretty solid today."
Cibulkova broke Czink four times in four chances and won 69 percent of her first-serve points. She won only 32 percent of her first-return points.
Cibulkova is looking for her first win on the WTA Tour. She is coming off an injury-filled season, in which she retired from three tournaments and withdrew from nine others. The most serious of the injuries was a right groin strain.
Sixth-seeded Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada, the runner-up here last year, defeated 17-year-old American Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-3 in a night match.
(Agencies)
Odesnik pleaded guilty late last month to taking HGH into Australia. He was fined US$7,200 and could be banned by the ATP.
Although the players shook hands following the match, Janowicz said he didn't like playing against Odesnik.
"I think it is unfair to do something like this," Janowicz said.
"It's a misunderstanding because for me, he shouldn't be playing at this moment. He should be suspended. There are bad feelings right now. He shouldn't play and right now I'm playing with this guy. It's tough to play with that kind of guy."
Odesnik declined comment, citing the ATP investigation into his case. He said he would have a statement later.
"I'm doing the only thing I can do right now and that is focus on my tennis," Odesnik said. "I've worked extremely hard. I'm looking forward to the claycourt season. That's where I usually excel."
Asked if he had support from other players, he said, "I don't know, I'm just trying to play tennis."
Odesnik, a finalist in the tournament last year, was in charge early until late in the second set when Janowicz broke Odesnik's serve in the eighth game.
Janowicz, playing in his third ATP event, fought off two match points before his backhand sailed long in the 10th game to end the match.
Top-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile drew a first-round bye.
In Ponte Vedra, Florida, third-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia beat Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of The MPS Group Championships on Monday.
"The first match is always tough so I didn't know what to expect," Cibulkova said. "I was moving her around and I was playing pretty solid today."
Cibulkova broke Czink four times in four chances and won 69 percent of her first-serve points. She won only 32 percent of her first-return points.
Cibulkova is looking for her first win on the WTA Tour. She is coming off an injury-filled season, in which she retired from three tournaments and withdrew from nine others. The most serious of the injuries was a right groin strain.
Sixth-seeded Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada, the runner-up here last year, defeated 17-year-old American Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-3 in a night match.
(Agencies)
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