Stockholm, Oct 22: Americans Mardy Fish and good friend Robby Ginepri both reached the second round, Fish beating Australian qualifier Paul Buccanello 6-4 7-6 (7/4) and Ginepri stopping another qualifier, Belgian Kristof Vliegen, 6-1 6-3.
"This is a small and intimate stadium - it's not like many others," said Stockholm first-timer Fish. "But I like it. I had to play aggressive tennis to win."
Eighth seed Jarkko Nieminen returned to the scene of his first career final and suffered another opening-round defeat, the third of his last four tournaments.
The 22-year-old Finn made a career breakthrough here in 2001 but has failed to win a match in two subsequent visits.
Nieminen, seeded eighth, took a 7-6 (7/5) 5-7 6-2 defeat to Gregory Carraz of France.



Eighth seed Wayne Ferreira's hopes of successfully playing in pain through the final leg of the season collapsed as the veteran South African was eliminated 6-4 6-2 by Juan Ignacio Chela.



Ferreira, now a 32-year-old warhorse who has not missed a grand slam since 1990, has been troubled all season by a groin injury which forced him to be stretchered off court at the French Open.


Bureau Report