Gaudio suffers another early exit

MELBOURNE, Jan 8 (Reuters) Former French Open champion Gaston Gaudio's wretched run of form continued when he was hustled out of the Auckland Open in the first round today.

The Argentine's 5-7 6-3 6-2 defeat by third seed David Ferrer means he has now failed to win a match since reaching the third round of the US Open last September.

There was no such worries for top seed Tommy Robredo as he thrashed fellow Spaniard Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-2 6-1 in 66 minutes.

Fourth seed and defending champion Jarkko Nieminen failed to negotiate his first-round opponent in New Zealand.

Still suffering the effects of a stomach virus that ruled him out of Adelaide last week, the Finn was floored 7-6 6-1 by Belgium's Olivier Rochus, the shortest player on the men's tour.

REUTERS AY VV1829