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Paes crashes out of singles too

Shailesh Soni

The lone Indian hope in the singles at the Gold Flake Open in Madras went crashing when Leander Paes lost to second seeded Frenchman Cedric Pioline 3-6, 4-6 in the second round today.

The match, which lasted for one hour and 19 minutes, was not all that bad for Paes as Pioline was forced to take him to deuces before effecting service breaks. However, Paes did not really stretch the Frenchman after early ascendancy in the first set though it was a better match for the Indian than any he had played in the second half of last year.

Paes started the first set with a bang and got an early break in game 3, but was broken in the very next game. His serve was again broken in the eighth and the set was over at 3-6.

In the second set only one service game was broken and it was Paes's -- in the 5th game. That was enough for Pioline to take the match 3-6, 4-6.

Statistically, Paes fired six aces as compared to only one by Pioline. He also had better first serve percentage of 66 per cent as compared to the Frenchman who had 53 per cent. It was the points won on the return games and the doubles faults which made the difference for the Indian.

Earlier yesterday, Paes, partnering Byron Black of Zimbabwe, crashed out of the doubles in the second round.