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01. 09. 10. - 12:00

Muster's comeback nightmare continues

Former number one in the world Thomas Muster has lost the third match in a row after launching his comeback in professional tennis.

The 42-year-old was beaten by local hero Gianluca Naso in straight sets (4-6, 3-6) at the 10,000 US dollar challenger of Como, Italy, yesterday (Tues).

Austrian Davis Cup ace Martin Fischer also suffered a first round defeat in Como. The 24-year-old lost against Italian Walter Trusendi 4-6, 1-6.

Muster raised eyebrows by returning to the ATP tour earlier this year after retiring from professional tennis in 1999. The 1995 French Open champion played some Senior Tour events in the past few years, but said he wanted to compete with professionals again.

The Styrian denied having ever officially declared his retirement. "I was just on a long holiday – and now I’m back," he recently explained with a smile.

Muster claimed his wife Caroline gave him the green light to play tennis until he turns 45. "I want to make the most out of that," the former "King of Clay" said.

The Leibnitz-born champ, who won 44 ATP tournaments, also revealed plans to work with Spaniard Rafael Nadal. Muster said he had already met Toni Nadal, the manager of the current number one in the world, for talks. Muster said he wanted to update his training since his methods were still based on knowledge from 15 years ago.

Former rivals and the sports press however have speculated Muster might be in financial difficulties, while his ex-manager Ronnie Leitgeb said his comeback was "very sad news".

He lost his first ATP match after the 11-year hiatus against Irish underdog Conor Niland (2-6, 1-6) in the first round in Braunschweig, Germany, in June before being knocked out by Jamaican Dustin Brown (4-6, 4-6) in Kitzbühel earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Andreas Haider-Maurer crashed out in the first round of this year’s US Open while Jürgen Melzer managed to reach the second round.

Haider-Maurer, 23, lost against Swedish star Robin Söderling 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, 4-6, whereas Melzer, 29, beat Russian Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2.

Sybille Bammer, Austria’s number one in world tennis, also marched on. The 30-year-old defeated Czech Zuzana Ondraskova in straight sets 7-5, 6-0.

Yvonne Meusburger (US American Jill Craybas; 3-6, 7-5, 6-0) and Tamira Paszek (Czech Lucie Safarova; 2-6, 7-5, 6-2) also won their first round matches.

Austrian Times

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