Karlovic KO'd in Vienna

Ferraro: Austrian win

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Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero knocked out number four seed Ivo Karlovic 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in the first round of the Austrian Open.

Big-serving Croatian Karlovic moved on to 848 aces for the season with the 17 he boomed down against Ferrero, but the Spaniard stood up to the onslaught.

Ferrero also served well and Karlovic struggled to make the big returns, and an early break by the Spaniard was enough to give him the opening set.

A tight second set went all the way to the tie break, when a mini-break on the opening point was enough to decide it.

A second Spaniard went through to the second round with fifth seeded Fernando Verdasco defeating Romanian qualifier Victor Crivoi 6-4 6-4 for a second round berth against Guillermo Canas of Argentina - as he disposed of Italy's Andreas Seppi.

Czech qualifier Jan Hernych came through a testing match against Roko Karanusic with a 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) success, but next up will come top seed Stanislas Wawrinka.

On a good day for Spain in Vienna, Carlos Moya and Feliciano Lopez also booked their second round spots although they were both tested to the limit.

Both men needed tie-breaks to settle their respective arguments, as Moya defeated Germanyos Michael Berrer 7-6 7-6 - the same scoreline Lopez managed against Agustin Calleri of Argentina.

Extra motivation for top three seeds Wawrinka, Fernando Gonzalez Juan Martin Del Potro this week is that they all have the chance to move into the eighth spot in the Race for the Tennis Masters Cup.

"I need one or two more results and I'm working to earn this," said Del Potro.

"I hope to continue this good form and qualify for Shanghai."