Nikolay Davydenko returns a shot to Pablo Cuevas during their Malaysian Open match at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former champion Nikolay Davydenko became the first seed to be eliminated from the Malaysian Open tennis championship at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.
The eighth seed from Russia, who was the inaugural winner in 2009, was ousted 3-6, 4-6 in the first round by world No. 457 Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.
It was just the second Tour win for Cuevas. He saved six of seven break points to beat Davydenko, a former world No. 3, in 84 minutes.
Davydenko, who is now ranked 45th in the world, said he could not play well due to his long-standing wrist injury.
“I felt not so good today. My wrist didn’t get any better, I have struggled with it for many many weeks, I really don’t know when it will recover fully,” said Davydenko.
Cuevas will face either American Ryan Harrison or Joao Sousa of Portugal, who reached the St Petersburg Open semi-finals last week, for a place in the last eight.
“I’ve only played four tournaments this year.
“Winning a match in an ATP World Tour 250 and against a great player like Davydenko, I am very happy,” said Cuevas, who won the 2008 French Open doubles title with Luis Horna of Peru.
Meanwhile, seventh seed Vasek Pospisil of Canada recovered from a slow start to beat Romanian Victor Hanescu 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
The Canadian broke serve four times to claim the comeback victory in one hour and 44 minutes.
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