Federer falls at first hurdle

No previous defending champion had lost in round one

Tuesday's ATP round-up

Latest results

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Sydney International

Defending champion Roger Federer and French Open winner Albert Costa became the first big-name casualties of the Sydney International on Tuesday.

World number six Federer lost to qualifier Franco Squillari 6-2 6-3.

And Costa was bundled out by Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 7-6 6-1.

Federer was hampered by a leg problem which he said needed immediate treatment but would not stop him playing in the Australian Open next week.

"So long as I can walk and play a little bit, I'll go on court," he said. "I'm not considering pulling out."

Monday's ATP round-up

Last year's Australian Open runner-up Marat Safin was untroubled in brushing aside Olivier Rochus 6-1 6-4.

But former world number one Carlos Moya had to dig deep into his vast reserves to fight off a determined James Blake 6-3 6-7 6-3.

American third seed Andy Roddick crushed Tommy Robredo 6-2 6-2, while Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan beat Australian Scott Draper 6-4 3-6 6-1.

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Auckland Open

Second seed and last year's Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian lost in the first round of the Auckland Open to fellow Argentine Mariano Zabaleta.

The hard-hitting Zabaleta came from behind to win an epic centre-court battle of the baseliners 2-6 7-6 6-3.

The other seeds from one to four all progressed, with top-ranked Czech Jiri Novak beating American qualifier Bobby Kendrick 6-2 6-3.

Fourth seed Gustavo Kuerten fought off a determined Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands to win 7-6 6-4.

But number eight Davide Sanguinetti made an early exit with a 6-3 6-3 defeat by Dutchman Raemon Sluiter.