Muster makes a losing ATP return after 11 years
Source: Agencies |
October 28, 2010, Thursday
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FORMER world No. 1 Thomas Muster lost in straight sets to a fellow Austrian little more than half his age as he returned to the ATP circuit on Tuesday after an 11-year absence.
Andreas Haider-Maurer, 23, won the first-round tie 6-2, 7-6 in front of a crowd of around 8,000 at the Vienna Open and wildcard entry Muster received a standing ovation at the end.
Haider-Maurer, ranked 157th in the world, cruised through the first set after twice breaking serve.
His 43-year-old opponent, who enjoyed an iron-man reputation during his heyday and won the French Open in 1995, then produced a gritty performance as he saved four break points to take the second set to a tiebreak.
"It was a great atmosphere ... it's awesome to be back playing," said Muster. "It's all been worthwhile, all the practice. I probably could have won that second set but the main thing is that there's no pain, I'm fit and I know I can play long matches.
"I also know I could have played a better match today, that comes with playing matches and building confidence and we'll see in the future," added Muster.
Ranked 974th in the world, the Austrian veteran began his comeback earlier this year on the Challenger Tour and has managed one win in seven outings, against Borut Puc in Slovenia last month.
Muster, who first played in Vienna 26 years ago, became the first over-40 player to compete in the main draw of an ATP tournament since Jimmy Connors in 1996.
Earlier on Tuesday, Germany's Michael Berrer upset sixth-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
The 29th-ranked Spaniard, who won in Bangkok and reached the quarterfinals in both Tokyo and Shanghai earlier this month, double-faulted 12 times.
Berrer next plays Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay, who defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-4.
Poland's Lukasz Kubot broke his seven-match losing streak by beating James Blake of the United States 6-4, 6-4 and set up a second-round match against top-seeded defending champion Jurgen Melzer.
Eighth-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina beat Slovakia's Andrej Martin 6-3, 6-3, while Tobias Kamke defeated fellow German Matthias Bachinger 6-4, 6-4.
Also, Santiago Geraldo of Colombia defeated Belgium's Xavier Malisse 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 and Grega Zemlja of Slovenia rallied to beat Marsel Ilhan of Turkey 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.
Andreas Haider-Maurer, 23, won the first-round tie 6-2, 7-6 in front of a crowd of around 8,000 at the Vienna Open and wildcard entry Muster received a standing ovation at the end.
Haider-Maurer, ranked 157th in the world, cruised through the first set after twice breaking serve.
His 43-year-old opponent, who enjoyed an iron-man reputation during his heyday and won the French Open in 1995, then produced a gritty performance as he saved four break points to take the second set to a tiebreak.
"It was a great atmosphere ... it's awesome to be back playing," said Muster. "It's all been worthwhile, all the practice. I probably could have won that second set but the main thing is that there's no pain, I'm fit and I know I can play long matches.
"I also know I could have played a better match today, that comes with playing matches and building confidence and we'll see in the future," added Muster.
Ranked 974th in the world, the Austrian veteran began his comeback earlier this year on the Challenger Tour and has managed one win in seven outings, against Borut Puc in Slovenia last month.
Muster, who first played in Vienna 26 years ago, became the first over-40 player to compete in the main draw of an ATP tournament since Jimmy Connors in 1996.
Earlier on Tuesday, Germany's Michael Berrer upset sixth-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
The 29th-ranked Spaniard, who won in Bangkok and reached the quarterfinals in both Tokyo and Shanghai earlier this month, double-faulted 12 times.
Berrer next plays Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay, who defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-4.
Poland's Lukasz Kubot broke his seven-match losing streak by beating James Blake of the United States 6-4, 6-4 and set up a second-round match against top-seeded defending champion Jurgen Melzer.
Eighth-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina beat Slovakia's Andrej Martin 6-3, 6-3, while Tobias Kamke defeated fellow German Matthias Bachinger 6-4, 6-4.
Also, Santiago Geraldo of Colombia defeated Belgium's Xavier Malisse 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 and Grega Zemlja of Slovenia rallied to beat Marsel Ilhan of Turkey 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.
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