2008 COUNTRYWIDE CLASSIC AUGUST 4 – 10, 2008, UCLA CAMPUS, LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA – Day 1

By Adam Davis

Los Angeles, CA Making a comeback for the first time in six months, hometown favorite Zach Fleishman received a wildcard for the 82nd annual Countrywide Classic at the Los Angeles Tennis Center and fell short of another Cinderella run.

Fleishman lost to Frenchman Marc Gicquel 3-6,6-0 in under an hour and showed rust during his first match back from injury.

In doubles, Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn of Russia defeated Lucas Arnold Ker and Bruno Soares 6-4,6-4.

Adam Davis can be reached at adamdavis@californiatennis.com

Marat Safin – RUS

Mardy Fish – USA

By Steve Pratt

A lot of eventful things have happened to Zack Fleishman in the past year since the biggest upset of his tennis career. But it was one uneventful and unfortunate accident over the winter that has left the former UCLA star unable to play to his abilities this summer and ultimately led to his first-round loss Monday at the Countrywide Classic.

Fleishman’s season was shot on Feb. 1 after he seriously injured his left shoulder in a mountain biking accident. One year ago, Fleishman upset the No. 6 player in the world Fernando Gonzalez here, beating him 7–6 (5), 6–4. He then beat Robert Kendrick in his first ever back-to-back wins in an ATP event. In the quarterfinals, however, Fleishman fell to the eventual tournament champion Radek Stepanek, 6–4, 6–2.

What a difference a year makes. On opening day Monday of main draw action at UCLA, Fleishman fell to Marc Gicquel 6-3, 6-0 in a 50-minute match, his first ATP event of the year.

“I was absolutely exhausted,” Fleishman told reporters after the match. “I felt like I would after a five-set match when it was 3-all in the first set. I’m not quite in playing shape right now.”

Fleishman was making his sixth consecutive showing in Los Angeles after winning the wild card shoot-out last week. His quarterfinal appearance here last year led to a career-high ranking of 127.

In other first-round matches, Denis Gremelmayr of Germany downed Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-4, 6-2, and Florent Serra of France got past Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-1.

American Mardy Fish downed Colombian Alejandro Falla 6-2, 6-2 in the night match.

“I felt good the past couple of weeks,” Fish said. “I’ve mostly been in the first round. It’s been first-round Monday morning at 11 o’clock, first match of the tournament basically… It felt great out there. It felt nice to have a first win on hardcourts in the summer.”

In Tuesday’s matches on Stadium Court beginning at noon: Wayne Odesnik faces Bobby Reynolds followed by Vincent Spadea vs. Sebastien Grosjean. Not before 4 p.m. it’s John Isner vs. Marat Safin with Donald Young facing Tommy Haas in the first night match followed by Carlos Moya against Xavier Malisse.

The Countrywide Classic legends event will begin Wednesday with Jimmy Arias playing Mikael Pernfors while Aaron Krickstein will face Wayne Ferreira in the other quarterfinal. The winners of those matches will then face former World No. 1s and Grand Slam champions John McEnroe and Jim Courier in Thursday’s semifinals. The final will be played on Friday.

For questions or comments email Steve at steve@tennisnews.com

RESULTS – MONDAY, AUGUST 04, 2008
SINGLES FIRST ROUND
Denis Gremelmayr (GER) d Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-4 6-2
Marc Gicquel (FRA) d [WC] Zack Fleishman (USA) 6-3 6-0
Florent Serra (FRA) d [Q] Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 6-4 6-1
[6] Mardy Fish (USA) d Alejando Falla (COL) 6-2 6-2

DOUBLES FIRST ROUND
Igor Kunitsyn (RUS)/Marat Safin (RUS) d [1] Lucas Arnold Ker (ARG)/Bruno Soares (BRA) 6-4 6-3
James Cerretani (USA)/John Isner (USA) d Sebastien Grosjean (FRA)/Florent Serra (FRA) 6-2 6-4
Feliciano Lopez (ESP)/Fernando Verdasco (ESP) d [WC] Tripp Phillips (USA)/Donald Young (USA) 7-5 7-5