Koubek fades against Russell

Russell won his first match in six tournaments

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Unfancied Michael Russell upset third seed Stefan Koubek in the first round of the International Championships in Delray Beach, Florida.

Russell, ranked 92 in the world, benefitted from a rain break to come back from a set down against Koubek.

Trailing 5-2 when the skies opened, Russell stormed back to win 3-6 6-3 6-2.

He broke Koubek's serve in the eighth game of the second set, and twice in the third set to beat the Austrian.

"I was grinding a lot in the second and third set and he looked like he was getting tired," Russell said.

I was only playing at 50 per cent but he was playing some good tennis

Stefan Koubek

The unseeded Russell had lost in the first round of his five previous tournaments: Adelaide, the Australian Open, Vina Del Mar, Buenos Aires and Acapulco.

Koubek, who had just recovered from a fever, admitted he wasn't 100% fit.

"I was only playing at 50%," Koubek said after the defeat.

"But he was playing some good tennis. It is disappointing because I always enjoy playing here.

"I felt like I was in control, but I got a little tired and by the end of the match, I was only playing at 50 percent."

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International Championships first round results: (US unless stated)

Jarkko Nieminen (Fin 7) bt Paul Goldstein 6-1 6-2
Michael Russell bt Stefan Koubek (Aus) 3-6 6-3 6-2
Mardy Fish bt Andrei Stoliarov (Rus) 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-1)
Anthony Dupuis (Fra) bt Jacobo Diaz (Spa) 6-4 6-1
Lars Burgsmuller (Ger 6) bt Alexandre Simoni (Bra)l 6-2 4-6 6-2
Andre Sa (Bra) bt Martin Verkerk (Ned) 6-4 6-4 Feliciano Lopez (Spa) bt Chris Woodruff 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-4

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