Pless pulls off first big upset, ousts 2nd seeded Nalbandian

Chennai, Jan 3 (UNI) The top seeds may have had it easy but no big tour event is without a big upset as Denmark's Kristian Pless proved ousting second seeded and world number eight David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 to etch his name on the centre court in the ATP tour Chennai Open 2007 here today.

The lanky Argentinian started off well with a 6-2 first set win, found himself wanting at the hands of a rejuvenated Pless, before losing the marathon contest in 140 minutes, the longest match thus far in this year's edition.

Nalbandian thus became the first seeded player to bow out of contention in this edition.

As Nalbandian started firing winners on either flanks, a quick finish seemed to be on the cards. But the Danish star proved otherwise. Slugging it out from the baseline, he engaged Nalbandian in long rallies and made him to sweat a lot by swithing the attack on either flanks.

Pless was equally good at the net as he came up with deft volleys to trouble his illustrious rival and also stretched the contest to the wire.

The third set was nerve-wracking and energy-sapping for the pony tailed Nalbandian. He forced a 3-1 lead but Pless broke back in the prolonged fifth game and equalized at 3-3. The set went on even keel till 5-5 before Nalbandian dropped serve in the crucial 11th game.

Pless held serve in the 12th to complete a memorable win.

Eds, pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI