GSTAAD, Switzerland — Jiri Novak got a jump-start on another possible showdown with the top man in tennis yesterday, scoring an opening victory at the $669,000 Swiss Open as double Wimbledon winner Roger Federer arrived back home.
Novak, seeded fourth, stunned the top seed a year ago in the final as Federer played on the fast, high-altitude clay of this alpine village at an event which began the day after Wimbledon.
Federer, a four-set winner Sunday over Andy Roddick at the All England Cub, was due in on a private jet from London, touching down at the grass airstrip at nearby Saanen more frequently used by Formula One racing force Bernie Ecccleston for his visits to the town where he owns a hotel.
Novak booked his place in the second round on a day of light showers as he defeated Jose Acasuso of Argentina 6-3, 6-3, facing only one break point and break his South American opponent three times in 56 minutes.
The holder, also owner of the 2001 trophy, improved his record at the venue to 14-4.
Spanish eighth seed Albert Costa, the last man to beat Novak in Gstaad during the 2000 quarterfinals, came up a winner on the day, ousting Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli stumbled against Spain’s Albert Montanes 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, while Romanian Victor Hanescu defeated Germany’s Lars Burgsmuller 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.
Chiudinelli, a tournament debutant, failed to follow on after earning the first ATP match win of his career last month on grass in Halle, Germany, as he put out compatriot Michel Kratochvil.
Johansson Exits Swedish Open in First Round
In Bastad, Sweden, former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson lost 6-1, 6-4 on home ground to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in the first round of the Swedish Open yesterday.
The 20-year-old Spaniard controlled the match from the start as Johansson struggled to find his claycourt game, after competing on grass at Wimbledon and Nottingham.
Chilean third seed Nicolas Massu lost to Argentine wildcard Juan Monaco 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Ninth seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny also lost his first round match 7-5, 6-3 to Spain’s Alberto Martin. French Open quarterfinalist Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina made short work of Spaniard Marc Lopez 6-4, 6-0.
