Juan Martin Del Potro's Return Ends In Defeat

Juan Martin Del Potro's return to the ATP Tour was short lived as he crashed out of the Thailand OPen to Oliver Rochus in the first round.

The Argentinean was playing his first match in eight months, his last match was at the Australian Open back in January, after being plagued by a wrist injury.

After undergoing surgery earlier this year Del Potro was unable to defend his US Open title that he won in 2009 and has slid down the rankings.

The first set was a tight affair and a tie break was needed to separate the pair, a break that Rochus edged 9-7.

Into the second and Del Potro hit back as he broke Rochus' serve and opened up a 2-0 lead. But his game was littered with unforced errors and Rochus battled back into the set and wrapped up a good 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 win over the former world number four.

Speaking to the Bangkok Post after the match Del Potro said: "It was a good match. Olivier served very good and played very well. I was disappointed that I got a chance during the tie-break but I could not get it.

"My wrist is perfect now. I just only has tape wrapped over it but nothing is serious with it. It is important for me that my wrist is doing good.

"I don't know how long it will take for me to get back to where I was. I have to work very hard to get back to the top 10 again because there are many good players who are coming up.

"I felt very good during the match. I love being here and the fans are very lovely and I hope to be back next year."

Rochus will now face Mikhail Kukushki in the second round after he saw off American qualifier Ryler Deheart 6-3 6-7 (4-6) 6-4.

Top seed Rafael Nadal discovered who he will face in his second round match, after receiving a bye, as Ruben Bemelmans saw off fellow qualifier Frederik Nielsen 6-2 6-3.

Rainer Schuettler was in action in Bangkok yesterday and he saw off Ricardo Mello with the loss of just six games 6-4 6-2.

There was also a good win for Dudi Sela as he beat Konstantin Kravchuk 6-3 6-4.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw