Frustrated Monfils crashes out in Vienna

Sixth seed Gael Monfils fell victim to a 213th-ranked lucky loser on Wednesday as the Frenchman crashed to a 7-6 (7/0), 7-5 first-round defeat against Jaroslav Pospisil at the Austrian Open.

“I’m pissed, I didn’t come here to lose in the first round,” said Monfils, who admitted that he failed to make the quick turnaround required after arriving from Asia and working to adjust once again to Europe. “Credit to him, he played well, but it was more about my body and my lack of game. He was playing tough but I was just not ready. I’m not happy with tonight.

Czech fifth seed Radek Stepanek reached the quarter-finals after taking nearly two and three-quarter hours to defeat Lukas Lacko 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 7-6 (7/5). Fellow Czech Replucian Lukas Rosol joined in tuning up for next month’s Davis Cup final by defeating Mirza Basic of Bosnia-Herzegovina 6-3, 7-5.