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Surprise in Dubai Lapentti falls in second round in Dubai
Posted: Thursday February 10, 2000 08:22 PM
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Third seed Nicolas Lapentti, of Ecuador, slumped in a surprise second round defeat at the Dubai Duty Free Open Thursday, losing 6-4, 6-3 to 19-year-old Juan-Carlos Ferrero of Spain. Defending champion Jerome Golmard of France struggled to beat Andrei Pavel of Romania 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in the US$ 1 million tournament. Top seed German Nicolas Kiefer also made it tough for himself before winning 6-3, 7-5, 6-0 over Spain's Alberto Martin to set up another Dubai confrontation with Golmard. The two players met in the finals last year. Lapentti was one of the most improved players of last year, rising 84 places to number 8. In other games Thursday fourth seeded Albert Costa of Spain beat Stefan Koubek of Austria 6-0, 6-4; fifth seed Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco beat Spain's Galo Blanco 6-4, 6-2; and Morocco's Karim Alami won over Spaniard Fernando Vicente 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Hicham Arazi, however, spoiled the party for the Moroccans by losing 6-4, 1-6, 6-0 to Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic. Lapentti who had predicted this would be a tough match, said he had made some mental errors. "No excuses. Ferrero played well. He is a strong player," he added. The hardcourt has received some flack from Golmard and Keifer who say it has a slow and heavy feel. Golmard pointed out on Wednesday that players had to be really strong to hit a winning shot, something that Ferrero did. Ferrero is to meet fellow Spaniard, the sixth seeded Felix Mantilla, on Friday. It could be a tough match. Mantilla beat Wayne Black of Zimbabwe 6-1, 6-3 in just 64 minutes and on Wednesday, Mantilla also beat Wayne's brother Byron.
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