Defending champs take revenge
Hutchins and Huss suffer first-round defeat in New Haven…
Ross Hutchins and Stephen Huss failed to repeat their Washington victory over Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa in New Haven, falling to a 7-5 6-3 defeat in the first round of the Pilot Pen Tennis event.
The Anglo-Aussie duo were pipped in a tight first set by the defending champions, despite racing out to an early 3-1 lead. With each pair winning 35 points apiece Rosco and Hussy were punished on their second serves when it counted.
After clawing the break back, a second break for Melo and Sa at the business end of the set proved decisive, putting the Brazilians in the driving seat.
Hutchins and Huss responded by bringing up a string of break points in the secnd set, but only managed to convert one of their four chances. In contrast, Melo and Sa took both their chances to break at the first time of asking to seal victory.
The 2008 champions will face Frantisek Cermak of the Czech Republic and Michal Mertinak of Slovakia in the second round, while Hutchins and Huss turn their attention to New York and next week’s US Open, with the draw due out later today.
In other news, Rosco became an uncle yesterday after his sister gave birth to a baby boy, Harry. Be sure to tweet Ross to send your congratulations and best wishes ahead of the US Open.
