Los Angeles, July 30: The injury comeback hopes of Marat Safin ended early against Indian teenager Prakash Amritraj as the sixth seed quit in pain at the 380,000-dollar Mercedes-Benz Cup.
Safin, the 2000 US Open champion, has been hobbled since January by a wrist problem. It has kept him off court for three months, with his last match a first-round loss on clay in Valencia in late April.
The seed's discomfort in the first round was evident from the start as he faced repeated break points against Amritraj, a member of India's first family of the game and son of former player Vijay, who won 16 titles three decades ago.

Safin spent 45 minutes on court before calling for the trainer after losing serve to trail 3-5 against Amritraj, a 19-year-old who grew up in southern California but who has kept his nationality.
After a quick consultation the Russian was quickly walking off court. Safin saved break points in the third game but went down in the eighth after salvaging three. Amritraj, ranked 351 with only four matches played this season, converted only only one of his eight break points.



Safin's temper flared over the unusual crowd access arrangements on the side court. Fans on the front rows actually have to walk onto the playing surface to reach their seats.



With his game falling apart and his injury frustrating him, Safin complained as changeover dragged on due to stragglers walking in as he waited to serve.



Steady Dutch third seed Sjeng Schalken got off to a winning start easily dispatching Safin's new coach and doubles partner Denis Golovanov 6-4, 6-4.



Seventh seed Wayne Ferreira, the veteran South African, ousted American qualifier Robert Yim 6-4, 6-4.



Nicolas Kiefer avenged last week's quarterfinal loss in Indianapolis as he defeated Frenchman Nicolas Thomann 6-1, 6-3.



Veteran Michael Joyce finished a match interrupted by rain the night before, overcoming fellow American Jan-Michael Gambill 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 7-6 (7-4).


Bureau Report