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Chinese Taipei's Lu upsets 10th seed Nalbandian
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-22 11:48

MELBOURNE -- Argentina's David Nalbandian had no excuses for becoming the highest ranked men's player to be knocked out of the Australian Open on Wednesday.


Lu Yen-hsun celebrates winning his match against Argentina's David Nalbandian at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 21, 2009. [Agencies]
"I don't think I played bad, but every set I was starting a break down and had to fight from a break down and come back," the 10th seed told reporters after he was beaten 6-4 5-7 4-6 6-4 6-2 by Lu Yen-hsun from Taiwan in the second-round.

"He played, I don't know if it was perfect, but he played at a very good level."

The Argentine squandered six break points in the final game but added that even if he had converted one of those chances, he did not know if he could have won.

"I was still a break down. At the time I was a double break down," he said. "You never know. Things can happen.

"If I had broken in that moment we were still in the fight and you never know."

Lu's first match point in that final game went begging when Nalbandian's shot was ruled in by Hawkeye.

Over the next 10 minutes the Argentine manufactured several chances to try to reduce the gap, but each time Lu battled back.

"I didn't think I have to win (that game), but I was worried about my body," said Lu.


David Nalbandian bounces his racket of the court during his match against Lu Yen-hsun at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 21, 2009. [Agencies]

"I was really struggling with my body, and my legs starting to have some problem. (So) I told myself I need to close this game, because I don't want to have problems serving (at) 5-4."


Argentina's David Nalbandian (R) shakes hands with Lu Yen-hsun after losing the match to him at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 21, 2009.  [Agencies]
Lu said he had deliberately attacked Nalandian's backhand on every serve of the six break points.

"Everybody thinks Nalbandian is (one of) the best backhand players (and) I just guessed he would be ready for his forehand returns, so I changed my mind and said, 'okay, I go to his backhand all the time'."

The 25-year-old sealed the win on his second match point with a forehand winner after three hours, 55 minutes.

The victory moved Lu into the third round of a grand slam for the first time and he will meet Spain's Tommy Robredo, who thrashed Serbia's Viktor Troicki 6-1 6-3 6-0.

"I'm 61 in the world and I have no pressure. I just (went) on the court and played my game," said Lu.

"Really, for me, it's big step to be the third round in a grand slam .... I'm really happy."