Verkerk beaten at Dutch Open

A return to the site of his last ATP win was not enough to reverse the fortunes of Martin Verkerk.

The Netherlands native lost his opening-round match at the Dutch Open when he retired while trailing Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasslin, 2-6 7-6 (11-9) 4-3.

A former top 15 player, Verkerk has now lost 12 consecutive ATP-level matches since winning the second title of his career at this red clay event in 2004.

A shoulder injury sidetracked Verkerk later that same year and he did not play an ATP event again until last season. His return has not gone well - he went 0-9 in 2007 and did not play after the French Open and he came into this tournament 0-2 this season.

Ranked as high as number 14 in 2003, the 29-year-old Verkerk is currently the world number 270 and has spent most of the season playing on the Challenger circuit.

Outside of the exploits of fifth-seeded Albert Montanes, a 6-4 6-2 winner over Kristof Vliegen, Tuesday was a bad day for seeded players

Sixth-seeded Frenchman Florent Serra lost his opening-round match against Germany's Philipp Petzschner, 2-6 6-4 6-4, and number eight seed Santiago Ventura retired from his match with Dutchman Jesse Huta Galung while trailing 6-1 1-0.

Also moving through to the second round were Pablo Cuevas, Ivan Navarro and Oscar Hernandez.

ATP Dutch Open Tennis, Amersfoort Day 2 Results

Men's Singles - First Round

5-Albert Montanes (Spain) d Kristof Vliegen (Belgium) 6-4 6-2
Philipp Petzschner (Germany) d 6-Florent Serra (France) 2-6 6-4 6-4
[WC] Jesse Huta Galung (Netherlands) d 8-Santiago Ventura (Spain) 6-1 1-0 ret. (right wrist)
Pablo Cuevas (Uruguay) d Werner Eschauer (Austria) 7-5 6-2
Oscar Hernandez (Spain) d [Q] Denis Matsukevitch (Russia) 6-1 6-3
Ivan Navarro (Spain) d [Q] Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) 6-3 6-1
Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) d [WC] Martin Verkerk (Netherlands) 2-6 7-6(11-9) 4-3 ret. (right ankle)