Kafelnikov down but not out

Monte Carlo, April 20: Yevgeny Kafelnikov crashed out of the $2.95 million Monte Carlo Masters Series event but immediately issued a warni...

Monte Carlo, April 20: Yevgeny Kafelnikov crashed out of the $2.95 million Monte Carlo Masters Series event but immediately issued a warning not to write him off when the French Open begins next month in Paris. Dominik Hrbaty of the Slovak Republic downed Kafelnikov 6-3 5-7 6-4 in their second-round match — and wrecked the Russian’s chances of replacing Andre Agassi at the top of the ATP Champions race.

Top seeded Kafelnikov’s exit left only three seeds in the last 16 of the tournament but the Russian said the first big clay court event of the year was not a reliable form guide for the first Grand Slam of the year, which starts on May 29 at Roland Garros.

Kafelnikov suffered his fourth loss in five meetings with Hrbaty and the Slovak clearly irked him with comments that he liked playing a gainst the Russian. “He can say anything he wants — but the bottom line is that when I am playing my best, no-one wants to play against me,” he said.

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Hrbaty’s win over Kafelnikov took him one hour, 42 minutes and he came from 3-0 down in the final set.

The 22-year-old Slovak now plays Frenchman Arnaud Clement, who scored a marathon 6-7 (3-7) 6-0 7-5 win over 15th-seeded Argentine Mariano Zabaleta.

Former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek continued his impressive comeback with an upset victory over sixth-seeded Swede Thomas Enqvist. Krajicek, who is playing his first tournament since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his perpetually troublesome left knee in late January, slammed down 19 aces to beat Enqvist 7-5 6-1 and advance to the third round as seeded players continued to fall at a rapid rate.

The powerful Dutchman improved his career record against Enqvist to 4-3 with some impressive pace and placement from the back of the court — particularly on the forehand side — as he followed up his opening-round win over Spaniard Fernando Vicente.

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Krajicek next plays Albert Costa of Spain. The 12th seed beat Jerome Golmard of France 2-6 6-4 6-2.

Karim Alami of Morocco beat third-seeded Swede Magnus Norman 6-3 3-6 6-1 and Argentine qualifier Juan Ignacio Chela defeated No 7 seed Tim Henman (Britain) 6-2 4-6 6-3.

Cedric Pioline of France, a former finalist here and the eighth seed, recovered from a sluggish start to beat Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic 6-4 6-3. He now faces Novak’s Davis Cup team-mate Slava Dosedel, who beat Nicolas Escude of France 6-0 6-2 in the last 16.

Also advancing on Wednesday were ninth-seeded Spaniard Alex Corretja, a finalist here in 1997, and Norwegian qualifier Christian Ruud. Corretja, winner of the Masters Series event in Indian Wells, trounced Fabrice Santoro 6-0 6-4 for his sixth in in seven meetings with the Frenchman and now plays Chela. Ruud beat South African Wayne Ferreira 5-7 6-4 6-3 and now meets Alami.

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Argentina’s Franco Squillari beat Brazilian Fernando Meligeni 6-2 6-4 and now plays Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, a 6-0 6-3 winner over Moroccan Hicham Arazi.

HILTON HEAD: Top seed Mary Pierce of France, returning to the site of her pro debut, was among the winners in the second round of the Family Circle Cup tennis event. Given a first-round bye, Pierce defeated Gala Leon Garcia of Spain 6-1 6-1.

Second seed Conchita Martinez and fourth-seeded compatriot Arantxa Sanchez Vicario both advanced. Martinez, who won this event in 1994 and 1995, defeated Spaniard Magui Serna 7-6 (9-7) 6-1 while Sanchez beat Paola Suarez of Argentina 6-3 7-5.

Canada’s Jana Nejedly posted the biggest upset of the day, ousting big-hitting Austrian Barbara Schett, the fifth seed, 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.