STUTTGART, Germany, 17 July 2003 — Brazilian-born German Tomas Behrend delighted home fans with a surprise 7-6, 7-6 victory over top seed Carlos Moya in the second round of the Mercedes Cup yesterday.

Moya, given a bye in the first round of the claycourt tournament, was the latest Spanish baseliner to fall following Tuesday’s defeats for Albert Costa and Felix Mantilla.

The 28-year-old Behrend held his nerve when it mattered to record his second victory over a former world number one player this year -- he beat Chilean Marcelo Rios at the World Team Cup in May.

“I think this is the first time I beat a (current) top 10 player,” said Behrend, who goes on to play hard-hitting Max Mirnyi of Belarus for a place in the quarterfinals at the 765,000 euro ($852,400) event. My plan was to keep pressure on his backhand, which is his weak point, and it worked beautifully.”

Moya, a former French Open champion, looked a shadow of his brilliant best and made a series of unforced errors, most notably during both tie breaks. Wimbledon semifinalist Sebastien Grosjean also made an early exit yesterday, swept aside 6-2, 6-1 by Italian Filippo Volandri in his opening match.

The fourth-seeded Frenchman struggled to switch back to the slow surface after reaching the last four earlier this month at the All England Club, where he fell to eventual runner-up Mark Philippoussis.

Rainer Schuettler, seeded third, had a comfortable start, beating wildcard Maximilan Abel 6-2, 6-4 in an all-German second-round match.

Australian Open finalist Schuettler, chasing his first title on home soil, goes on to meet Alex Corretja.

The Spaniard, seeded 15th, struggled to beat Belgian Olivier Rochus 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 in a match interrupted by a thunderstorm. Defending champion Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, the 12th seed, also survived a rain break and a challenge to beat Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Massu Eases

Into Last Eight

In Amersfoot, Netherlands, Chilean seventh seed Nicolas Massu eased into the quarterfinals of the 380,000-euro ATP claycourt event here yesterday beating Andre Sa of Brazil 6-2, 6-2.

Massu comes up next against local hope Dennis van Scheppingen, who saw off Argentina’s ninth seed Franco Squillari 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to book his place in the last eight.

Two other second round winners were Peruvian Luis Horna, the 6-4, 6-4 victor over Belgium’s Christophe Rochus, and Oscar Hernandez. The Spaniard made it through with a three sets win over Jean-Rene Lisnard, but the Frenchman pushed him hard.

Hernandez edged the opening set, taking the tiebreak 9 7, then lost his touch completely to lose the second 6-1. The third also went to a tiebreak with Hernandez prevailing 7 4.

He must now overcome Horna for a place in the semis.

Today’s action is headed by the second round clash between the 2002 titleholder, number three seed Juan Ignacio Chela, and Rubem Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain.