Paes bites the dust; Golmard, Pioline through

Indian tennis ace Leander Paes folded up against Tommy Robredo of Spain, a fairly new player on the circuit, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0, while defending champion Jerome Golmard of France and third seeded Cedric Pioline made it through to the second round in the Gold Flake ATP tour tennis championship in Madras on Tuesday.

Despite suffering a right hamstring pull, Golmard got the better of George Bastl of Switzerland 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, while Pioline came from behind to beat Galo Blanco of Spain 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

In other first round matches, Andreas Vinciguerra (Sweden) beat Michael Kratochvil of Switzerland 7-6 (7-4), 6-3; Kristian Pless (Denmark) defeated Wayne Black of Zimbabwe 6-2, 7-5 and Ronald Agenor of Haiti won against Tomas Zib (Cze) 6-3, 6-2.

Robredo, who had played in only two events on the circuit last year, besides 12 Challenger tournaments, got the turning point in the 10th game of the first set, saving two break-points. He then went on to win the game.

Thereafter, he grew in confidence and played some superb shots, often leaving Paes stranded close to the net.

Despite a wrong line call in the tie-break, Robredo's athleticism, good reflexes and the urge to win helped him win the tie-break.

In the second set, he was streets ahead of his seasoned rival and won in quick time.

Agenor, at 39 the oldest man on view in the tournament, and Zib made it to the main draw only due to withdrawal of five players.

Pless will take on the winner of the match between top seeded Magnus Norman (Sweden) and wild card Taylor Dent in the second round.

In the match between Pless and Black, the former maintained the tempo he showed against eighth seed Jiri Vanek (Cze) on Monday.

Pless broke in the third game of the first set and moved on to lead 5-2 with yet another break in the fifth game. He then wrested the set.

In the second set, Black did put up a fight but then he lost concentration and started committing silly errors. Pless utilised the chances well and won 7-5.

In the other match, Zib was broken in the very second game of the first set but returned the compliment in the fifth to draw level. However, Agenor kept the ball in play and obtained the break in the eighth game and won the set 6-3.

Agenor was in control in the second, having breaks in the first and third games. Zib broke the veteran in the sixth only to be broken in the next. Agenor then held serve to win.

Pioline, who won the tie at the second match-point in the tie-break, was happy to have won a first round match in the season opener.

"I have not had a good run last year and a win in a tough match like this would help me do better in the tournament," he said.

The Frenchman takes on Ronald Agenor in the second round.