Moya ousts Waske for a rousing start, enters round 2

Chennai, Jan 2 (UNI) Fifth seeded Spaniard Carlos Moya lived upto expectations at the Nungambakkam stadium with a fine 7-6(3), 6-3 straight set win over unseeded German Alexander Waske to sail into the second round of the ATP Tour Chennai Open 2007 here today.

The last year's runner up Moya's win today not only gave him a rousing start for the new season in which he was hoping to be among the top 20, but also avenged his earlier defeat in his first meeting with the hard serving German. On the contrary, the defeat was the second consecutive first round loss for Waske, who had bowed out in the opening match here last year also.

The contest got off to a great start promising a tough duel as Waske, serving with Moya preferring to receive first, took the first point with a lovely drop volley which Moya failed to put back.

But Moya broke the German in the second game to level only to be down 1-2 with Waske breaking back. But there were no breaks with Moya in spite of his erratic returning, relying on his 'ace power' to put himself back whenever the pressure was on him and levelling 6-6, forcing a tie break. He wrapped up the tie break dominating throughout. He was up 3-1, dropped two points to allow Waske to level 3-3, but wrapped up the first set scoring points in a row (7-3).

It was more or less the same story in the second set too with each holding serve. But up 3-2, Moya broke the German in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead held serve for a 5-2 lead in the seventh. Waske delayed the ultimate result holding serve in the eighth (3-5) as saving two break points. But Moya romped home holding serve in the ninth and winning on the third match point.

Later Moya said he was very happy to have had a good opening match in the season. ''It took a while for me to settle down'', he said adding ''I know it is very difficult in the new season.

Everytime I come back, there are many new faces.'' In three other first round singles matches, France's Fabrice Santoro, entering round two by default with his David Skoch (Czech) giving a walk over due to a back problem.

Italian Davide Sanguinetti, ranked 107 entered round two with an easy 6-4, 6-3 win over qualifier, Konstantinos Economidis.

The German challenge was not over with the fall of Waske as Bjorn Phau, ranked 77, ousted Frenchman Olivier Patience, another previous visitor to Chennai Open, ranked 100, in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 .

Results (First round): Carlos Moya (Spain) bt Alexander Waske (Ger) 7-6(3), 6-3, Davide Sanguinetti (Italy) bt K Economidis(Greece), 6-4, 6-3, Bjorn Phau (Ger) bt Olivier Patience (France) 6-4, 6-4 UNI