Hewitt ousted in first round in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Wild-card Joachim Johansson eliminated Lleyton Hewitt 7-6 (7), 6-3 Tuesday in the first round of the Malaysian Open.
Need the scores from any match played in today's tournaments? Neither managed a break in the first set, but Johansson opened up a 4-1 lead in the second after Hewitt double-faulted on break point.
The Australian struggled to hold serve in the fourth and sixth games. He forced Johansson to save four break points to maintain his advantage.
"I worked very hard to hold that service game," said Johansson, ranked 446th.
Mikhail Youzhny of Russia also advanced, beating seventh-seeded David Ferrer of Spain 7-6 (3), 6-2.
Ferrer broke his opponent in the second game to take a 2-0 lead but Youzhny won three consecutive games, eventually taking the set to a tiebreaker. The Russian, ranked 52nd, held the serve to take the set.
Youzhny broke serve in the third and eighth games of the second set.
"I have been in Kuala Lumpur a few days, and I think it helps me that I am more used to the conditions," Youzhny said.
Indian qualifier Rohan Bopanna defeated Jose Acasuso of Argentina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic got by Igor Kunitsyn of Russia 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.
Also, Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina defeated Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-3, 6-3, and Karol Beck of Slovakia defeated Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
