Halle, Jun 12: A home crowd didn't help Rainer Schuettler yesterday as the Australian Open finalist was beaten 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3 at the Gerry Weber Open by Czech player Radek Stepanek yesterday.
The German didn't come close to breaking Stepanek's serve during the match at the key grass court warmup for Wimbledon, although he was wildly cheered by 6,000 spectators.
"My best stroke is my service return, but today it wasn't my best stroke," said Schuettler, the world no. 8. "You can't win without a return."
Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, still fighting health problems, also reached the quarterfinals of the US$800,000 event with a 6-4, 7-5 win against Jonas Bjorkman.
Youzhny broke the Swede's serve at 5-5 in the second set to take control of the match as he warms up for Wimbledon, where he reached the fourth round the past two years.



"I hope this year I get a better result. Now I play good, I like my game," said Youzhny, who has ongoing wrist problems.



Germany's Nicolas Kiefer, the losing finalist last year, also advanced at the key Wimbledon grass court warmup with 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory against Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.



Stepanek held two match points against Schuettler, blowing the second one with a wild volley that almost hit the retaining wall, but recovered to break the German in the last set to take a 4-2 lead.



"I knew I missed a big opportunity, but I did not get down on myself. I knew he couldn't hit my serves and I had my chances to win," said Stepanek, at a career high 40th ranking.


Bureau Report