Sanguinetti upsets Nalbandian in first round

TORONTO, Aug 7 (Reuters) Third seed Argentine David Nalbandian went out of the Toronto Masters in the first round today when he was beaten 6-1 6-2 by grey-haired Italian Davide Sanguinetti.

The burly Nalbandian, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open and Miami Masters earlier this season, was completely outclassed by the 33-year-old Italian qualifier, who needed just 58 minutes to collect his first win in three attempts on Canadian hard courts.

Sanguinetti had just three career wins over top 10 opponents and the 24-year-old Nalbandian -- currently a career-high number three in the world rankings -- represents the biggest scalp claimed by a man who spent last week playing at Challenger event in Recanati, Italy.

Sanguinetti has two career titles on his resume and both came over two of the tennis's biggest names as he beat Roger Federer in the final in Milan in 2002 and Andy Roddick a month later at Delray Beach - but before both players had yet to crack the top 10.

''I was relaxed,'' the 68th ranked Sanguinetti told reporters.

''If I lose, it's not a shame to lose to number three in the world. I was surprised by the score but I think I made him play my game.

''I love it. I love to see the old man can still win against the young guys.'' Although, Nalbandian reached the final of the Canadian Masters in 2002 losing to Roddick, he has had mixed fortunes in Canada, dropping out in the first round in 2004 and the second round last year.

The Argentine attributed his latest early exit to a fever that he said left him short of energy.

''I had a fever but I wanted to try and play,'' said the South American. ''I said to myself that I would give it a go.

''I had nothing to lose and I couldn't make it any worse. I tried to compete but I didn't have the energy today.'' Sanguinetti, who turns 34 later this month, says he has no intention of retiring, instead setting his sights on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, drawing inspiration from 36-year-old Andre Agassi who will retire after the U.S. Open.

''To me Agassi is the hero because to be 36, to be in the top 10 is unbelievable,'' said Sanguinetti. ''My goal is to try and do like Agassi did in his career.

''I would wish to win all the tournaments he has won but my goal with my age is to keep playing.

''I set my goal to go to the Olympics in 2008. I have to keep working for that date.'' In other first round action, fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia eased passed Spain's Nicolas Almagro 7-5 6-1.

It was the third win in six appearances in Canada for Ljubicic, who is playing his first hard court event since reaching the final of the Miami Masters in April where he lost to Federer.

Britain's Tim Henman received easy passage into the second round breezing past Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman 6-2 6-3.

Henman's former-Davis Cup team mate Greg Rusedski, however, lost 6-4 6-2 to Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

Battling a painful hip injury that had sidelined him since first round loss at Wimbledon, the Canadian-born Rusedski conceded after the match that it was probably his last appearance in Toronto.

REUTERS DH RK0225