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Reynolds beats struggling Safin in Miami

Thu 27th, March 2008

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 Russian Marat Safin came up a first-round loser at the hands of unheralded American Bobby Reynolds on Thursday at the $3.77 million Sony Ericsson Open -- the second of nine ATP Masters Series events this year.

The qualifier Reynolds, ranked 104th in the world, snuck past the two-time Grand Slam event champion Safin 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) at Crandon Park. Safin is now a dismal 1-5 so far this year, including setbacks in his last five outings.

Argentine slugger Jose Acasuso charged past Spaniard Santiago Ventura 6-2, 6-4 to set-up a second-round clash with former top-ranked Aussie Lleyton Hewitt.

Additional first-round wins came for Israeli Dudi Sela, Italian Simone Bolelli, Austrian Jurgen Melzer, Frenchman Julien Benneteau, Czech qualifier Ivo Minar, Serbians Janko Tipsarevic and qualifier Viktor Troicki, and Latvian Ernests Gulbis. Benneteau bested former Australian Open runner-up Rainer Schuettler of Germany 1-6, 6-1, 6-2, while Minar topped tough Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-2 and Troicki trounced his countryman Victor Hanescu 6-4, 6-1 to set-up a second-rounder against sixth-seeded American favorite Andy Roddick.

Serbian star Novak Djokovic defeated gritty Argentine Guillermo Canas in last year's Miami finale. The high-flying Djokovic is also the reigning Australian Open champion and captured last week's Masters Series title at Indian Wells.

The top seeds at this 12-day, 96-player hardcourt tournament are two-time champion Roger Federer, French Open titlist Rafael Nadal and Djokovic.

The 2008 winner here will claim $590,000.