Australian number two Matthew Ebden crashed out in the men's first round of the Brisbane International on a black day for the local hopes.
World number 86 Ebden lost in three sets to sixth seed Radek Stepanek, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, joining compatriots Ben Mitchell and John Millman on the day three casualty list.
Stepanek, 33, might never appear on a Brisbane International promotional poster but the crafty veteran always seems to put on a star turn at the combined ATP-WTA event.
He won the inaugural 2009 men's final before making the 2010 decider and reaching the semi-finals last year.
His awkward style has not stopped Stepanek endearing himself with the Brisbane crowd, winning them over ever since celebrating the 2009 title with a spot of breakdancing.
But there were mixed emotions on Tuesday as Stepanek held out Ebden in a match lasting more than two hours.
South African-born Ebden, 24, bounced back from losing a tight first set by racing to a 3-0 lead in the second which he clinched in 41 minutes.
But he was broken in his first service game of the third.
Ebden fought hard to stay alive as sixth-seed Stepanek blew three match points in the eighth game.
But Stepanek - the oldest player in the world top 50 - was not to be denied.
It was still an encouraging display by Ebden, who began 2011 ranked 196th but climbed to a career-high number 79 after reaching the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
Other Australian hopes Millman and Mitchell also lost in the first round on Tuesday.
Wildcard Mitchell was downed 6-4, 6-2 by Japanese qualifier Tatsuma Ito while qualifier Millman lost to Colombia's Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-3.
Men's fifth seed Kei Nishikori had a scare before overcoming German Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in their first-round clash.
In the women's draw, second seed Andrea Petkovic cruised into the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 win over Czech opponent Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, the third seed, is also through after downing Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.
AAP
Tags: tennis, sport, brisbane-4000 First posted January 03, 2012 17:18:38
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