Baghdatis crashes out as Haase causes first big upset

Chennai, Jan 1 (UNI) Gladiatorial battles on the Centre Court were as commonplace, as the top seeds crashing out in tame battles, as Cyprus's Marcos Baghdatis proved, crashing out of the Chennai Open 2008 as Netherland's unseeded Robin Haase upset him 6-3, 6-4 at the Nungambakkam Stadium here today.

For most part of the one-sided contest, Baghdatis was ill at ease, waging a tame battle but the gladiatorial battle was briefly on view as Haas up 5-4 and serving for the match, dropped as many as five match points and Baghdatis dropping four break points, managing to pull off a few irretrievable winners, even as Haase struggled with his first serve.

Haase ultimately romped home, as Baghdatis was literally down and out slipping and falling on the baseline.

''I was nervous on the last point. Actually he made me do all the attacking'', Haase said after the match.

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