Defending champion Robredo loses at Swedish Open

BASTAD, Sweden, July 9 (Reuters) Defending champion and top seed Tommy Robredo lost his opening match at the Swedish Open today to Peruvian Luis Horna 6-1 1-6 6-1.

The 25-year-old Spaniard, who beat Russian Nikolay Davydenko in a one-sided final last year, was unable to cope with the aggressive tactics of Horna, who won several decisive points with his frequent net approaches.

''Coming in here with the title, you want to do good so for sure I am disappointed,'' said Robredo, the world number eight.

''It was windy today and it was tough to play. But Horna was hitting the ball real hard, he had no pressure and it's a good start for him.'' After a lapse of concentration in the second set, Horna broke Robredo's opening service game in the deciding set and never looked back.

The Peruvian won on his second match point in his service game, having broken the Spaniard again to 5-1.

''In the beginning of the third set when he broke me to 3-0 he got the confidence and it became hard to get back,'' said Robredo, who became the claycourt tournament's top seed when Serbian Novak Djokovic, who was injured at Wimbledon, decided to pull out.

Earlier in the day Robredo's compatriot Carlos Moya easily disposed of Ivan Navarro Pastor, another Spaniard, 6-2 6-4.

Moya, the 1998 French Open champion and a winner here in 2002, now takes on the winner of the tie between Spain's Oscar Hernandez and Swede Thomas Johansson.

REUTERS SSC PM2205