Czech Jiri Vesely made short work of fifth-seeded Marinko Matosevic on Monday with a straight-sets win over the Australian in the first round of the US National Indoor Championships.
Vesely, ranked 81st in the world, defeated the 54th-ranked Matosevic 6-3, 6-2, converting four of his seven break point chances to notch his second ATP Tour match win.
Matosevic, who reached the semi-finals here last year in his Memphis debut, wasn't the only seed to fall on the first day of competition in the $647,675 tournament.
US veteran Michael Russell rallied from a set down to beat seventh-seeded Michal Przysiezny of Poland 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Russell, 35, posted his first ATP match win of 2014 and next faces American Tim Smyczek, who beat rising Australian talent Nick Kyrgios 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3.
Reigning champion Kei Nishikori of Japan is the top seed in the tournament, but won't launch his title defence until the second round after enjoying a first-round bye along with second-seeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain, third-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt and fourth-seeded Lu Yen-Hsun of Taiwan.
Last year Nishikori didn't drop a set en route to the title, beating Lopez in the final 6-2, 6-3.
He arrives in Tennessee for his title defence fresh from helping Japan reach the Davis Cup World Group quarter-finals for the first time with a 4-1 first-round victory over Canada earlier this month.
Source: AFP
