Gstaad (Switzerland), July 10: Last year's finalist Gaston Gaudio beat German Lars Burgsmuller yesterday to set up a showdown with Austrian Stefan Koubek at the 550,000-euro Swiss Open.
After the hype and excitement 24 hours earlier which marked the first match of Wimbledon winner Roger Federer, the pace at this elite alpine village dropped markedly, with only four low-key second round contests on court.
Argentine fourth seed Gaudio outclassed Burgsmuller 4-6 6-2 6-4. The South American was back on his favourite clay surface after losing in the Wimbledon first round.

He has played three semi-finals this year, on clay in Vina Del Mar, Buenos Aires, and Hamburg and improved to 2-0 over his German opponent.
Austrian number one Koubek ousted Frenchman Anthony Dupuis 6-1 6-2. Koubek is aiming for a second title this season after opening last January by winning Doha.



Czech former champion and third seed Jiri Novak was playing Paul-Henri Mathieu for a quarter-final place on the high-altitude clay where thin air makes the ball fly much like on a hardcourt.


Bureau Report