Tennis: Hat goes flying, and so does the champ

Jose Acasuso, pictured, beat Dominik Hrbaty yesterday. Picture / Richard Robinson

The most decisive moment of yesterday's action at the tennis was the fierce forehand swat Argentine Jose Acasuso delivered to his cap.

From around the time the 22-year-old from Buenos Aires sent his blue cap flying towards his chair he took charge, and sent defending champion Dominik Hrbaty tumbling out of the Heineken Open.

The capless Acasuso kept a short fuse in check, played strongly and dispatched the popular world No 14 in straight sets 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

His victory enhanced the ASB Tennis Centre's reputation this week as a graveyard for the hot shots.

That feeling grew when, a couple of hours later, fourth seed Vince Spadea lost to fellow American Robby Ginepri 7-5, 6-3.

Hrbaty is the third seeded player to depart surprisingly early from centre court as lower-ranked players continued to put the knife into their supposed betters.

By the end of the day, five of the eight seeds had gone, and Hrbaty's demise means the Open will have a new champion.

On an outside court yesterday, Czech Republic qualifier Jan Hernych continued his improbable progress into the quarter-finals.

Having sent former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero flying on Tuesday, he removed the last of the six Spaniards who started the main draw, Albert Martin 6-4, 6-2.

Even top seed Guillermo Coria did not have it easy.

The world No 7 Argentine had a gruelling battle against unfancied Frenchman Cyril Saulnier, who forced a tiebreak in the third set but lost 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3).

Coria enjoyed himself, saying it was exactly the type of match he wants in his build-up to the Australian Open starting in Melbourne on Monday.

There were plenty of long rallies, no shortage of class from Saulnier and Coria had to dig deep.

Crowd favourite and two-time Auckland champion Hrbaty said he would be back next year despite his defeat.

"I wasn't nervous but inside I wasn't perfect," he said. "I don't know if I had a bad sleep or bad preparation but I didn't feel comfortable out there. I gave it everything but this time it wasn't my day." Until Acasuso opted for the capless look on a sweltering afternoon, the game had been even.

But Acasuso backed a strong serve with solid ground strokes and was a worthy winner.

If he can end the remarkable Hernych's run today, he will face Coria in the semifinals.

"It feels good to be competitive in my first tournament of the year," said world No 66 Acasuso, who is chasing his third ATP singles title.

Acasuso doesn't believe the exodus of seeds enhances his chances of a win this week.

"It doesn't mean the draw is a lot easier," he said.

"The quality of this tournament and the high level of the men's game in general doesn't allow you to think of any matches as easy."

The quarter-finals have four South Americans, three Europeans and Robby Ginepri, a resident of Mariette, Georgia.

Ginepri was too consistent for Spadea, recording his first win in two attempts over his Davis Cup team-mate in a largely baseline-dominated slugfest.

He now plays fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile who won last night's all South American showdown against Argentine Mariano Zabaleta 6-3, 6-4.

Spadea was left to reflect on the quirks of a tennis pro's life.

On Monday he won his first round game without dropping a game and perhaps fancied his chances as the seeds disappeared. Today he's dropping himself into a plane seat for Melbourne.

At least he's found himself a doubles partner for the Australian Open - Ginepri said last night they were still mates and would team up in Melbourne.

Hernych is the sole qualifier to make the last eight, after Dutchman Raemon Sluiter bowed out in straight sets to Italian Potito Starace.

But Coria's hopes of arriving in Melbourne with a 2005 title under his belt are getting stronger by the day.

Today's schedule

Court one (11am start): 1-G. Coria (Argentina) v O. Rochus (Belgium), followed by 5-F. Gonzalez (Chile) v R. Ginepri (US), followed by 6-J. I Chela (Argentina) v P. Starace (Italy), followed by 1-G. Etlis/M. Rodriguez (Argentina) or GD Jones/A. Thompson (NZ) v Gonzalez/J. Thomas (US) followed by but not before 7pm J. Acasuso (Argentina) v Q-J. Hernych (Czech Republic), followed by Chela/S. Prieto (Argentina) or 4-M. Garcia/M. Hood (Argentina) v Y. Allegro (Switzerland)/M. Kohlmann (Germany).

Court four (noon): G. Oliver (US)/P. Pala (Czech Republic) v S. Aspelin (Sweden)/T. Perry (Australia).