Tennis: Nielsen crashes out in first round

New Zealand number one Mark Nielsen has been ousted in the opening round of the Heineken Tennis Open in Auckland.

Nielsen was beaten by Italy's Potito Starace 6-4, 6-4.

New Zealand's hopes in the singles now rest with 18-year-old GD Jones, who plays Argentina's Mariano Zabaleta on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Argentina's Jose Acasuso beat Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, despite suffering an injury in the third set.

Later, the match of the day pits American wildcard James Blake against fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez.

- NEWSTALK ZB