Wawrinka dumped in Round One

There isnt much information available about 138-ranked Italian Flavio Cipolla on the official ATP website...

There isnt much information available about 138-ranked Italian Flavio Cipolla on the official ATP website,but his name should probably ring a bell in the mind of Stanislas Wawrinka. The Swiss,seeded second at the Chennai Open,was taken the distance in their only previous meeting at the 2008 US Open,but while he managed to stage a great escape then coming back to win after being two sets down on Tuesday,he couldnt find an answer for Cipollas crafty strategies.

The Italian qualifier upset Wawrinka 6-4,6-1 in the first round,and will play German Bjorn Phau for a place in the quarter-finals next.

The trip to Chennai,though,happened in a great hurry for Cipolla. I wasnt getting a visa,but finally got it at the very last minute. Im glad I could get the year off to a good start,beating No. 16 in the world gives me a lot of confidence. I have played Wawrinka before,and that was a very tight match,so I knew I could beat him today, said Cipolla,looking exhausted after his win.

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He didnt play very well today. Neither did I,but I played smart. I guess playing the qualifying matches helped me,since I got in a bit of match practice. Those matches were tougher because they were played in the day,when its very hot,but its all good because they made a difference.

Tipsarevic cruises

On another court at the Nungambakkam Stadium,it would have been difficult to believe Janko Tipsarevic was playing the second-last match of the day,given the volume of applause,the packed stands,and those waiting outside to sneak in. A few minutes of watching the Serbian,though,and it was easy to understand why.

His Spanish opponent Pablo Andujar had to withstand bludgeoning forehands as he was whipped into submission,and as his frustration grew,Tipsarevic got better and better. Judging by the loud encouragement,he was clearly the favourite,though by the end of the match there were a few shouts of Come on Pablo! in support of the Spaniard from those hungry for more of the fast-paced action. Tipsarevic won this match 6-3,6-2 and plays Israels Dudi Sela next.

Earlier in the first match on the centre court,top seed Nikolay Davydenko was raising a bit of applause his own way. He ensured a smooth passage to the second round with his 6-2,6-3 win over Austrian opponent Daniel Koellerer,and the Russian had reason to be all smiles after this result. Its always good when you win,especially winning the first match of the season is a big thing.

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In another match,German Andreas Beck beat Croatia’s Roko Karanusic 6-1,6-0. Ivo Karlovic of Croatia knocked out Rajeev Ram of the US 6-4,6-3 and Czech Ivo Minar beat American Wayne Odesnik 6-3,6-0.