Australian Mathew Ebden has won through to the second round of the Sydney International with a three-set upset over seventh seed Marcel Granollers.
Wildcard entrant Ebden beat the Spaniard 6-1, 3-6 6-3 to set up a possible showdown with crowd favourite Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the second round.
World number 97 Ebden, who suffered a first-round exit at last year's tournament, got the double break to race to a 5-1 lead in the first set and duly served it out at 6-1.
But the tables were turned in the second set when the world number 28 found his rhythm, getting the early break and racing to a 3-0 lead.
Ebden saved three set points on his serve at 5-2 down and held on to win the game, but Granollers squared the match at one set apiece soon after.
The Australian had two break points at 2-1 up in the third set, but lost the first one with an error while Granollers saved the second with a timely ace, his eighth of the match.
But after Ebden surged ahead 4-2 and stepped up to serve for the match at 5-3, he converted his first match point to seal the shock result.
"I'm very glad to be through," Ebden said.
"I think I can make a lot improvements still, which is a good thing. I don't think I played probably my best tennis.
"I was close last week, and this week it was three sets again, but I'm glad it was me in the winner's seat this time.
"With the first win of the year, I think it'll give me confidence and just get on that winning roll again."
Earlier on Monday, Florian Mayer was the first withdrawal from the men's draw when the German sixth seed pulled out with a hip injury.
He was replaced by American Ryan Sweeting, who made the most of his call-up by beating Gilles Muller 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, while Finland's Jarkko Nieminen downed Australian teenager James Duckworth 6-2, 6-2.
Fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt will be in action on centre court on Tuesday when he takes on Serbian Viktor Troicki.
AAP
Tags: tennis, sport, sydney-2000 First posted January 09, 2012 20:31:20
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