Oct 7, 2008 - 4:14 PM
0 shoutsVIENNA, Austria (Ticker) -- A finalist last year, Stanislas Wawrinka could not get out of the first round of the Bank Austria-Tennis Trophy.
German qualifier Philipp Petzschner upset the top-seeded Wawrinka, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), on Tuesday in the opening round of the hardcourt event.
Wawrinka made an impressive run to the final here last season, eventually falling to world No. 3 Novak Djokovic. But the Switzerland native could not put away the pesky Petzschner.
The world No. 125, Petzschner forced 14 break points - winning seven - en route to claiming his first victory over a top-10 player.
Petzschner advanced to face Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic in a half of the draw that lost all four of its seeded players in the opening round.
Fourth-seeded Croat Ivo Karlovic was ousted by Juan Carlos Ferrero on Monday and the trend continued. Seventh-seed Gilles Simon was upset on Tuesday and sixth seed Tommy Robredo withdrew due to a left hip injury.
Simon dropped a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), decision to Argentina's Eduardo Schwank, who will face former No. 1 Carlos Moya next.
Santiago Giraldo was the late replacement for Robredo and the Colombian made the most of the opportunity with a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing of Austria's Stefan Koubek.
With seeded players falling like dominoes, 2005 and 2006 champion Ivan Ljubicic appeared to have a good shot at reclaiming the title, but the Croat was promptly defeated, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, by Austria's Jurgen Melzer in the final match of the day.
In the bottom of the draw, second seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile overcame a slow start to top Italy's Simone Bolelli, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 and set up a clash with Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.
Others advancing Tuesday were Philipp Kohlschreiber and Radek Stepanek.
First prize is just over $187,000.
