Xavier Malisse took out David Ferrer in 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 fashion.
Den Bosch, Netherlands (Sports Network) -
Quality grass-courter Xavier Malisse upset top-seeded and defending champion David Ferrer in Tuesday's opening-round action at the $545,000 Topshelf Open, a final grass-court Wimbledon tune-up.
The Belgian Malisse took out the world No. 4 French Open runner-up Ferrer in 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 fashion at Autotron Rosmalen. Malisse is now 16-41 lifetime against top-10 players.
"Xavier is a very good player and I am disappointed to have lost my first match," Ferrer said.
The two-time champion Den Bosch titlist Ferrer, of Spain, beat German Philipp Petzschner in last year's finale.
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Can Federer defend at the Big W?
By Scott Riley, Tennis Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
In the category of no rest for the weary, yet another Grand Slam event will swing into action next week when Wimbledon commences, with Roger Federer as the defending champion.
Federer wasn't the favorite there last year, but the men's-record 17-time major titlist managed to nail down a seventh Wimbledon championship in 10 years by overcoming sentimental British crowd favorite Andy Murray in four sets in the final on the famed Centre Court at the storied All England Club.
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