Stuttgart (Germany), July 19: Third seed Rainer Schuettler sent Alex Corretja heading home to his newborn daughter in Barcelona with a 6-4 6-4 defeat in the third round of the 765,000 euro ATP event Thursday.
The hilltop clay of the Weissenhof Club is proving perfect for the German's game as the 27-year-old Australian Open finalist tries to improve his sixth standing in the season points race for a sure place at the year-end Masters Cup in Houston. Schuettler has already reached eight quarter-finals this season.
Veteran Spaniard Corretja has recently changed coaches and is now working with Enrique Perez as he tried to break out of a slump.
He has won only ten matches this season while losing 14, with a Barcelona quarter-final his best result.
Corretja saved four match points in the second round against Olivier Rochus as he advanced past the second round for only the third time this season.



But he was unable to go further, with Schuettler dominating play. "I feel really comfortable at German tournaments," said the winner. "There is nothing better for me. I'm dreaming now of participating in the Masters Cup (in November)."



Schuettler had trouble faulting his performance as he earned revenge for a loss he took against Corretja here four years ago.


Bureau Report