Marcelo Rios, eliminated from the Olympic tennis tournament in the first round today, said a row over tickets for his family for the opening ceremony had distracted him. The 12th-seeded Rios, a former world number one, was beaten 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 7-5 by Argentina's Mariano Zabaleta. ''It was difficult to concentrate, it was a distraction,'' Rios said about the controversy.
Rios rejected the role of flag-bearer only minutes before last Friday's ceremony after Chilean officials refused to provide tickets to the ceremony for his mother and sister. ''It was a pretty tough moment, that's the reason I didn't carry the flag,'' said Rios, who skipped the ceremony entirely. Doubles partner Nicolas Massu stood in for him.
Rios, 24, said he had given his best out on show court 2 on Wednesday but in the end his lack of conditioning made the difference. ''It was pretty tough to get in a rhythm. I got tired,'' said Rios, who has not entirely regained his fitness since undergoing groin surgery late last year.
''I am not playing that well prepared right now. I need to just practise and get fitter.''
Bureau Report