Early exit for Becker in LA Open

Los Angeles: Big-serving American John Isner produced the first upset at the LA Open with a 7-6, 7-6 victory over seventh-seeded German Benjamin Becker in the opening round.Isner, who reached his first ATP semi-final of the year in Indianapolis last week, powered down 15 aces before sealing the win in just over two hours on a sun-baked afternoon at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

The 24-year-old, ranked 77th, swept through the tiebreak 7-3 in the second set to extend his career record to 3-0 over Becker, the world number 44. In other matches, Latvian Ernests Gulbis brushed aside Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan 7-5, 6-2 and Australian qualifier Carsten Ball beat Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-2, 7-6. Gulbis will next meet either eighth-seeded Russian Marat Safin or American Robby Ginepri, who were playing later on Tuesday. Top-seeded German Tommy Haas, tournament champion in 2004 and 2006, will make his first appearance on Wednesday when he takes on American wildcard Jesse Levine in the second round. Bureau Report