Malisse, Rochus deliver upsets to reach Auckland 2nd round

Published January 07, 2013

| Associated Press

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Belgian veterans Olivier Rochus and Xavier Malisse both beat higher-ranked opponents Monday to advance to the second round of the Heineken Open.

Rochus reached the Auckland final for the second time last year but needed a wild card to enter the main draw on his current singles ranking of 89. He outlasted 51st-ranked Albert Ramos of Spain 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. The victory improved his singles record in Auckland to 14-7.

Earlier, Malisse, ranked 62nd, beat seventh-seeded and 30th ranked Martin Klizan of Slovakia 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4.

Eighth-seeded Thomasz Bellucci of Brazil stopped a Belgian clean sweep by beating David Goffin 7-6 (5), 6-2.

URL

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/01/07/malisse-rochus-deliver-upsets-to-reach-auckland-2nd-round/