Japnese qualifier shocks Kirtane

Qualifier Naoki Arimoto of Japan caused a huge upset when he beat third seed and first leg winner Nitin Kirtane 6-3, 6-4 to enter the second round in the ITF men's Satellite tennis tournament in Mumbai on Tuesday.

In another upset, unseeded Igor Levine of Russia overpowered fourth seed Eliran Dooyev of Isreal 7-5, 6-3 in one hour 51 minutes.

Fifth seed Manoj Mahadevan of India was taken to the distance by qualifier and compatriot Anant Sitaram before prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in two hours 35 minutes while unseeded Rishi Sridhar needed just one hour seven minutes to dispose off qualifier Roy Sichel of Isreal 6-0, 6-4.

Left-handed Kirtane, a former Davis Cupper, was off- colour today against the fast-moving Arimoto. Kirtane, who also served poorly, dropped serve in the seventh game of the first set before Arimoto served out the set at 6-3.

In the second set, the Japanese got the vital break in the ninth game and served out the set and match 6-4.

In other first round matches unseeded Vinod Sridhar of India pipped compatriot and qualifier A P Rajagopalan 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours while top seed and Indian Davis Cupper Mustafa Ghouse sidelined Giunior Ghedina of Germany 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 in one hour 32 minutes. Eighth seed Rafael Moreno-Negrin had an easy time while beating Indian qualifier Saurabh Kohli 6-3, 6-0 in just 55 minutes.