Puerta loses in first round

London: French Open runner-up Mariano Puerta of Argentina lost in the first round at Wimbledon, falling to Lars Burgsmuller of Germany 6-1, 6-1, 6-4. It was Puerta's first match since losing to Rafael Nadal in the final at Roland Garros on June 5. He pulled out of the Queen's Club and Nottingham grass-court tournaments with a groin strain but was seeded 16th at Wimbledon. "It was difficult to play a good match, especially in the first and second sets, he didn't make a mistake," Puerta said. "Grass is very different, it's faster. "I only practiced for four days. But I'm happy because I'm No. 11 in the world and 10 months ago, nobody knew me." Puerta returned to Argentina after the French Open and then came to England last Wednesday. "It was crazy, unbelievable, I couldn't go outside my house," Puerta said of the reception he got at home. The Argentine was ranked 440th in the rankings last August. The French Open was his first major event since serving a nine-month doping suspension. Puerta didn't get past the first round at Wimbledon in 1998, '01 and '03, but he'll get more practice on grass when he plays in the Davis Cup quarterfinals against Australia in Sydney on July 15-17. "I think I'll just play doubles," he said. (AP)