Ginepri shocks top seed Soderling

Chennai:

America's Robby Ginepri created the biggest upset of the Chennai Open by stunning top seed and world number eight Robin Soderling of Sweden in straight sets in the first round here on Tuesday.

Soderling, who recently defeated Roger Federer in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, was handed a crushing 6-4 7-5 defeat by unheralded Ginepri in the opening round.

Soderling had entered the event as one of favourites but much to his horror Ginepri, who stands exactly at 100 in the ATP ranking chart, forced his early exit.

The match lasted just one hour and 31 minutes.

Meanwhile, qualifier Prakash Amritraj became the first Indian casulaty after suffering 3-6, 1-6 defeat at the hands of American Michael Russell.

In another first round matche, Marcel Granollers of Spain came from behind to beat British James Ward 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 after a two hour and two minutes battle.