HALLE, Germany, June 10 (UPI) -- Defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov was eliminated from the Gerry Weber Open Tuesday with a 6-1, 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-5) first-round loss to Slovakia's Karol Kucera.
The match took many twists and turns but came to a sudden end when Kafelnikov sent an easy forehand volley into the net, allowing Kucera to convert his first match points.
Kafelnikov, 29, voiced his frustration after the match, angrily marching out of the post-match press conference early.
"The baseline judges cheated me several times," he said. "Twice
on a foot fault and one crucial ball was 10 centimeters wide."
The two players put on an impressive show. Kucera wasted no time in the first set, storming to a 6-1 lead, but things got close thereafter. Both players exchanged breaks before Kafelnikov eventually used his fifth set point to win the tiebreaker, 10-8.
