Johansson ousted in first round in Sweden

Oct 8, 2008 - 9:10 PM STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Ticker) -- Playing on home turf did not help Thomas Johansson in his first-round match Wednesday at the Stockholm Open.

The 33-year-old, who is in the twilight of his career, suffered a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 loss to No. 7 Albert Montanes of Spain.

While Johansson has not claimed a singles championship since October 2005, the Swede has been energized by the partisan crowd here in the past.

He won this hardcourt tournament in 2000 and 2004, was a runner-up in 1998 and had reached the quarterfinals or better in seven of his 12 previous appearances.

However, Johansson has dropped to 87th in the world rankings and fell to 15-22 this season with Wednesday's defeat.

No. 3 seed Jarkko Nieminen of Finland survived a scare before advancing with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5 first-round win over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci.

The 27-year-old Nieminen, who reached the final here in 2001 and 2006, fired 11 aces and recorded four breaks in the 2-hour, 20-minute match.

No. 4 seed Robin Soderling of Sweden had a much easier time, dispatching Benjamin Becker of Germany, 7-5, 6-3.

Fifth-seeded Rainer Schuettler became the first player to reach the quarterfinals after registering four breaks in a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 decision over Ecuador's Nicolas Lapenti.

Schuettler was joined in the round of eight by Spain's Oscar Hernandez, who upset No. 6 seed Jose Acasuso of Argentina, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

In other first-round matches Wednesday, Switzerland's George Bastl outlasted Denmark's Frederik Nielsen, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6 (7-4); and Frenchman Arnaud Clement drubbed Swedish qualifier Bjorn Rehnquist, 6-2, 6-1.

Defending champion Tommy Robredo is not entered in the event, which will award the winner $156,000.