08/10/2008 9:10 AM
Australian Chris Guccione has been knocked out of the Stockholm Open after losing to German Rainer Schuettler in straight sets.
The world No.88 struggled to get going early as Schuettler broke the big Aussie's serve with ease to take the first set 6-0.
Guccione improved in the second set, but the German got the all important break and closed out the match 6-0 6-3.
Serving at just 51 per cent cost Guccione, while Schuettler served at 74 per cent and never faced a break point.
The top-seeded Argentinian David Nalbandian advanced to the second round with a 6-1 6-1 win over Bobby Reynolds.
Nalbandian is a strong favorite here as the only top-30 player in the field.
However, the world No.7 has endured his share of upsets this season with nine of his 13 losses coming against players ranked outside the top 25.
Among those setbacks were an opening-round defeat to 139th-ranked Frank Dancevic at Wimbledon and a second-round loss in Miami at the hands of then-number 311 Xavier Malisse.
The 26-year-old was in form against the 82nd-ranked Reynolds, however, converting 19-of-21 first-serve points en route to dismissing the American in just 56 minutes.
Nalbandian will try to stay on course for his ninth career title when he faces either Swedish wild card Joachim Johansson or Nicolas Mahut of France in the second round.
Second-seeded Mario Ancic of Croatia also won in straight sets, claiming a 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 victory over Belgium's Olivier Rochus.
Another Belgian is up next for Ancic, as Steve Darcis rallied for a 2-6 6-3 6-3 win over Christophe Rochus - the older brother of Olivier.
The perfect day for seeded players was capped with victories by Jose Acasuso of Argentina and Rainer Schuettler of Germany.