SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 1 (UPI) -- Seventh-seeded Nicolas Kiefer defeated American Brian Vahaly, 6-3, 6-3, Monday in the first round of the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic.
Taylor Dent, last year's semifinalist, was forced to withdraw from the tournament about an hour before his match against German Lars Burgsmuller when the fifth seed wasn't able to overcome a stomach virus.
American lucky loser Alex Kim replaced Dent, but wasn't able to cash in on his opportunity. Burgsmuller used a decisive service break in the final game in the last set to claim a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory that improved his 2004 record to 1-4.
Kiefer lost to Swedish teen Joakim Johansson, 7-6, 6-3, in the championship match two weeks ago.
South African Wesley Moodie beat Milan champion Anthony Dupuis of France 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, 6-2, and Russian Dmitry Tursinov downed Croatian Ivo Karlovic, 6-3, 6-4.
