Ferrer, Hewitt drop first-round matches

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Seeded players David Ferrer and Lleyton Hewitt were both straight-set losers Tuesday in first-round play of the $947,750 Malaysian Open tennis tournament.

Ferrer, seeded seventh, was ousted by Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. Ferrer was on the defensive much of the match and had his serve broken twice in each set.

Hewitt, the No. 8 seed, dropped a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 decision to Joachim Johansson, who was playing in his first ATP tournament since last fall. He retired in 2008 due to persistent shoulder problems but didn't show much of that against Hewitt with 13 aces and no service breaks.

The only other seeded player on Tuesday's card was No. 6 Tomas Berdych, who knocked off Igor Kunitsyn 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

Also winning first-round matches Tuesday were: Karol Beck, Martin Vassallo Arguello and Rohan Bopanna.

The Malaysian Open will crown its first champion Sunday, with the title worth $154,000.