Mon Feb 18 17:51:36 2008

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Youzhny exits Rotterdam on Day 1

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Rotterdam, Netherlands (Sports Network) - Defending champion Mikhail Youzhny lost to Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in Monday's opening-round action at the $1.2 million ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.

Tipsarevic straight-setted the fourth-seeded Youzhny 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 at Ahoy' Stadium. The Russian Youzhny topped Croat Ivan Ljubicic in last year's Rotterdam finale.

Former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero also exited the draw when Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili topped the seventh-seeded Spaniard in 7-5, 6-1 fashion. Ferrero reached the finale here back in 2004.

In other opening-round action, 6-foot-10 Croat Ivo Karlovic drubbed 5-foot-6 Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-1, 6-2, German Michael Berrer bounced his qualifier countryman Matthias Bachinger 6-3, 6-2 and qualifier Mischa Zverev dropped his fellow German Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 7-5.

The 2008 Rotterdam titlist will collect $250,000. Three-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal is the top seed this week.