Joao Souza upends Robin Haase in first round at Sao Paulo

SAO PAULO, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Brazilian Joao Souza recorded an upset of fifth-seeded Robin Haase Monday in opening-round play at the Brasil Open tennis event in Sao Paulo.

The home crowd favorite breezed to a 7-5, 6-4 over his Dutch opponent on the first day of the clay-court tournament.

Another seeded player also tumbled to an early exit -- No. 7 Leonardo Mayer was upended by fellow Argentine Guido Pella in a (7-4), 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-4) marathon.

Also Monday, Argentina's Horacio Zeballos got past Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-3.