VASEK Pospisil could not have asked for a better start in the ATP Malaysian Open but the Canadian was unhappy with the way he recorded his second biggest win of the season over a higher-ranked player at Putra Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
Pospisil, the World No 125, met Austria's World 33 Jurgen Melzer and eighth seed for the first time on the tour, and was looking forward for a good first round match.
The 22-year-old, who resides in Vernon, was flawless in the first set, winning 6-4 before taking a 2-0 lead in the second.
However, Melzer could not continue and retired from the match due to a left thigh injury to hand Pospisil his second biggest win of the season since overcoming Italy's World No 26 Andreas Seppi, two month ago, in Valencia.
"I do not like winning it this way. I came into this match with confidence after a good practice and I would have beaten him in two sets," said Pospisil yesterday.
"I've beaten higher-ranked players before but I do not do it consistently. I need to do it more often to become a top player."
Pospisil, who started playing at the age of five, reached a career high ranking of 85 in July but has since dropped out of the top-100.
"My target until the end of the year is to get back into the top-100 and take it from there for next season. I need to continue training hard and also gain good results," said Pospisil, who made his Davis Cup debut four years ago.
Pospisil will play American Michael Yani, who beat fellow countryman Brian Baker 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), in the second round.
It was the end of the road for Malaysia's challenge in the singles after Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam, a wild card, crashed out to World 97 Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands in a straightforward 6-2, 6-1 defeat.
Despite carrying a wrist injury, Ariez, 19, started well and held serve in the opening game before the Dutchman asserted his authority.
Sijsling went on to break Ariez six times en route to setting up a likely second-round encounter with fifth seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who plays Slovakia's Lacko Lukas in the first round today.
"I was quite confident going into the match today (yesterday) and managed to play well for the first few games as he (Sijsling) seemed a bit nervous.
"He, however, used his experience to come back into the match, especially on the important points and managed to control the game from then on," said Ariez.
Results -- Singles 1st rd: Igor Sijsling (Ned) bt Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam (Mas) 6-2, 6-1; Jimmy Wang (Tai) bt Riccardo Ghedin (Ita) 6-3, 6-3; Vasek Pospisil (Can) bt Jurgen Melzer (Aut) 6-4, 2-0 rtd; Michael Yani (US) bt Brian Baker (US) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
Today's schedule -- Singles 1st rd: Julian Knowle (Aut) v Albert Ramos (Spa), Carlos Berlocq (Arg) v Julien Benneteau (Fra), Matthew Ebden (Aus) v Philip Davydenko (Rus).
Doubles 1st rd: Nikolay Davydenko (Rus)-Dick Norman (Bel) v Mikhail Elgin (Rus)-Denis Istomin (Uzb); Alejandro Falla (Col)-Igor Sijsling (Neg) v Coling Fleming-Ross Hutchins (Bri); Brian Baker-Rajeev Ram (Us) v Daniele Bracciali (Ita)-Marcelo Melo (Bra); Si Yew Ming (Mas)-Jimmy wang (Tai) v Alexander Peya (Aut)-Bruno Soares (Bra); Jurgen Melzer (Aut)-Juan Monaco (Arg) v James Cerretani (US)-Matthew Ebden (Aus).
* Matches start at 2pm.
