American number one Mardy Fish was sent crashing out of the Australian Open second round 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) by Colombia's Alejandro Falla on Wednesday.
Fish, seeded eighth, had to battle back just to force a tie break in the third set but lost it 8-6 to fall at the second hurdle for the second year in a row at Melbourne Park.
Lefthander Falla summoned up a brilliant lob after a 30-stroke rally to take a 5-4 lead in the deciding tie-break and survived some late nerves to claim victory when Fish blasted a forehand wide.
The 28-year-old world number 71's prize for the upset is a third round meeting with Germany's Phillip Kohlschreiber.
The German was untroubled in his first set against Spaniard Pere Riba, winning it 6-0 before Riba was forced to retire in the second set, with Kohlschreiber leading 4-0.
Reuters
Tags: australian-open, tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted January 18, 2012 14:29:38
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