Defending champ Youzhny upset in Rotterdam

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Defending champion Mikhail Youzhny lost to Janko Tipsarevic Monday in the first round of the $1.2 million ABN AMRO World Tennis event in the Netherlands.

The Serbian beat the fourth-seeded Russian 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. Youzhny defeated Croat Ivan Ljubicic in last year's Rotterdam finale.

Former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero of Soain also went out, losing to Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-5, 6-1.

In other opening-round action, 6-foot-10 Croat Ivo Karlovic beat 5-foot-6 Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-1, 6-2; German Michael Berrer beat countryman Matthias Bachinger 6-3, 6-2; and qualifier Mischa Zverev beat fellow German Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 7-5.

Three-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal is the top seed this week.