Disaster continues for Thailand seeds as Haas also loses
Bangkok - German fourth seed Tommy Haas exited the depleted Thailand Open in a 6-4, 6-4 second-round upset loss to surprising Frenchman Nicolas Mahut on Thursday.
Mahut, ranked 71st, won his first match since July after making a run to the Newport semi-finals on grass. He then spent a month out with a foot injury but regained confidence after winning a European Challenger last week. ‘When it’s working then the rest of my game will be fine. My serve is my best weapon,’ said the 71st-ranked winner who struck nine aces. Haas,
standing ninth in the race for one of the five remaining spots for November’s season-wrapup Masters Cup in Shanghai, will not have helped his chances with the defeat. The German was among a handful of seeds - most now departed - who came to Thailand directly from Davis Cup play in Europe at the weekend. One who has managed survive nicely is Dmitry Tursunov. The Russian made sure he got his beauty sleep during this week’s long flight from Moscow to Asia, ensuring second-round success with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Michael Llodra. With three injured Top five players failing to make it onto court at the Impact arena - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic never arrived in Thailand while Andy Roddick hurt himself on site - Tursunov made sure he encountered no problems. The sixth seed said he held his concentration to reach his first quarter-final spot since winning his second career title at Indianapolis in July. ‘I had a few late nights in Moscow,’ admitted the California-based Russian who played Davis Cup doubles for his nation. ‘The first match this week was more difficult for me. ‘I moved better today. It’s all about staying focused on a goal, even for a short period, (62 minutes).’ Tursunova was joined in the last eight by Spanish eighth seed Fernando Verdasco, who beat Frank Dancevic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The Canadian needed off-court treatment on his back after the first game of the third set. Tursunov will face off on Friday against Taiwan’s Wang Yeu-tzuoo, who beat number 333 Australian teenager Nick Lindahl 6-3, 6-3. The Russian, who won Mumbai during this week a year ago for his first career trophy, has so far come alive on his second trip to Thailand. Prior to this week, he had lost three straight times in the first round, including at the US Open to Tim Henman. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur