'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands, June 17 (UPI) -- Germany's Lars Burgsmuller brought French Open finalist Martin Verkerk back to earth Tuesday with a first-round defeat at the Ordina Open.
Verkerk, who made a surprising run two weeks ago after never having won a match at a major, lost his first ever match on grass, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11). He saved three match points but could not overcome the 88th-ranked Burgsmuller in front of his hometown crowd.
Top seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic dispatched Austrian Jurgen Melzer, 6-1, 6-3. Novak reached the quarterfinals last week at the Gerry Weber Open.
Fifth seed Sebastien Grosjean of France, fresh off his runner-up showing at Queen's Club on Sunday, got past German qualifier Philipp Petzschner, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Grosjean won a grasscourt title three years ago in Nottingham.
Seventh-seeded Arnaud Clement of France eliminated Dutch wild card Fred Hemmes Jr., 6-2, 6-3.
