BERLIN, 9 June 2005 — Newly-crowned French Open champion Rafael Nadal lost in the first round of the Halle Open to Germany’s Alexander Waske yesterday as the Spanish teenager made an unhappy transition from clay to grass.

Nadal, who arrived in Germany on Monday evening and had only one day to prepare for the match, fell to the local favorite 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

It was the 19-year-old’s first defeat in 26 matches and he said the contest had been a vastly different experience to his triumph on the clay at Roland Garros.

The Mallorcan had looked fresh and energetic in winning the first set at the pre-Wimbledon event, mixing powerful drives with delicate volleys, drop shots and lobs against an error-prone Waske.

But the German journeyman, who has played only two ATP tournaments this year, losing both times in his first match, came back strongly to take the next two sets.

In other games, Russia’s Marat Safin, dug himself out of deep trouble against old nemesis Fabrice Santoro of France to win 3-6, 7-6 (9-7) and 3-2 in the decider when his opponent abandoned due to injury to his left thigh.

Roddick Outguns Philippoussis;

Murray Stuns Dent

In London, Andy Roddick began his quest for a hat trick of Stella Artois titles by outclassing Australian wildcard Mark Philippoussis 6-2, 6-4 yesterday to reach the third round.

While the second-seeded American handed Philippoussis a 57-minute masterclass in grasscourt tennis, Greg Rusedski and Andrew Murray gave the British fans plenty to cheer.

Rusedski crafted a 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 win over Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov and US Open junior champion Murray underlined his growing stature by stunning American ninth seed Taylor Dent 6-3, 6-3.

Roddick and Philippoussis’ match was expected to be a fierce battle of wills between the two men who have lost the last two Wimbledon finals to world number one Roger Federer.

Philippoussis kept pace until 2-2 in the first set when Roddick left him flat-footed behind the baseline with a series of scorching serves and stinging returns to win four games on the trot.

The Australian, winner here in 1997 but needing an invite to play this year because his world ranking has slipped to 189th, tried to make it a contest in the second set by toning down his erratic range of shots.

The move only delayed the inevitable. Roddick followed up a break that gave him a 4-3 lead by unleashing a 151 mph delivery, his eighth ace, in the next game.

Philippoussis, clearly lacking match practice after three months on the sidelines with an ankle injury, bowed out when he tamely stroked a backhand wide on the second match point.

Croatian fifth seed Mario Ancic, the last player to beat Federer on grass in the first round of Wimbledon in 2002, put out Czech Jan Hernych 6-4. 6-4.

The 2004 Wimbledon semifinalist now plays Frenchman Richard Gasquet. With three Britons in action yesterday, Jamie Delgado was the only local casualty when he was overwhelmed 6-4, 6-1 by Gasquet.

Molik, Hantuchova Beaten

at Edgbaston

Australian second seed Alicia Molik stumbled to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat by Laura Granville of the United States in the second round of the pre-Wimbledon Edgbaston grasscourt tournament yesterday.

Molik, making her return after eight weeks out following an ear infection, failed to impose herself against an opponent ranked 100th in the world. On a day of surprises Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova, the 2002 Wimbledon quarterfinalist and seventh seed, suffered a marathon 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 defeat by Spain’s Arantxa Parra Santonja in 2-1/2 hours.

Ninth seed Marion Bartoli of France was thrashed 6-3, 6-0 by Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn and Czech 16-year-old Nicole Vaidisova, the 10th seed, lost 6-4, 6-2 to Greece’s Eleni Daniilidou.

The No. 11 seed Virginie Razzano of France was also eliminated, beaten 6-4 3-6, 6-1 by Mashona Washington of the US.

Fifth seed Tatiana Golovin of France remains on course for a semifinal meeting with top seed and defending champion Maria Sharapova after coming through her second round match unscathed. The Moscow-born 17-year-old, who lost in last year’s Edgbaston final to Wimbledon champion Sharapova, fought hard to beat South African qualifier Natalie Grandin 6-4, 7-5.

Sharapova will face Australian 16th seed Samantha Stosur in the third round on Thursday after Stosur overcame compatriot Evie Dominikovic 6-1, 1-6, 7-6.

For Japan, sixth seed Shinobu Asagoe, eighth seed Ai Sugiyama and qualifier Rika Fujiwara all reached the third round.