Cilic ousted at Chennai Open

CHENNAI, India, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Two-time defending champion Marin Cilic was beaten Monday in first-round play at the Chennai Open tennis tournament in India.

Two of Cilic's five ATP titles came in the last two tournaments in Chennai but his 2011 stay was cut off with a 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 defeat at the hands of world No. 98 Kei Nishikori.

Nishikori took the 2 1/2-hour match by recording two service breaks -- the only ones suffered by Cilic -- in the third set. Cilic, seeded second this week, forced 11 break-point chances, including eight over the second and third sets, but could only finish off one.

Sixth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic was the only other seeded player on Monday's card and he advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Eduardo Schwank. Tipsarevic pounded out nine aces and lost only 12 points over 10 service games.

Also Monday, Ivan Dodig romped over Marcos Daniel 6-2, 6-2; Robert Kendrick got past Denis Gremelmayr 7-6 (7-1), 6-4; Stephane Robert edged Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-4, 6-4; and Bjorn Phau ran past Simone Bolelli 6-2, 6-2.