| © Joao Pires
 Two-time Brasil Open champion Gustavo Kuerten bid a tearful farewell in his final appearance at his home country's ATP tournament as he fell to Argentine Carlos Berlocq, 7-5, 6-1 on Tuesday night in Costa do Sauipe.
Kuerten took an early break in the first round match, but could not hold onto the lead. Berlocq converted on four of his six break point chances to close out the victory in just under 80 minutes.
The 31-year-old Kuerten was making his first appearance since announcing last month that he would retire this year following either Roland Garros, where he won three career Grand Slam titles, or the Olympics. The Florianopolis native won the Costa do Sauipe title in 2002 and in '04.
Former Top 10 Guillermo Coria overcame 16 double faults, 12 of which came in the second set, to defeat Italian qualifier
Francesco Aldi 6-4, 7-5, in one hour and 57 minutes. He converted eight of 13 break points while saving eight of 14 break points on his serve.
It was the 26-year-old Argentine's first ATP match win since July 21, 2006 when he defeated
countryman Agustin Calleri in the quarterfinals of Amersfoort, the Netherlands. He then retired
in the semifinals to Novak Djokovic. Since that tournament, Coria had lost in the first round
four times in ATP level play. He also exited in the first round three other times in Challenger
play. This was his second ATP tournament of the season.
"Today is the happiest day of my career because after almost 20 months I was able to win a match,"
said Coria. "I didn't play well but I won and this is the most important thing at the moment. Today
it was really hot and at a point I thought I would not be able to finish the match. I called the trainer
because I wasn't feeling very well. I feel that I'm playing better each time. In Vina del Mar I played a
bit better than today but here I won and there I lost. I have to thank the crowd for supporting me so much.
It's great to feel like home playing in another country."
Coria, who was unranked coming into Costa do Sauipe, will pick up 15 South African Airways ATP
Ranking points by reaching the second round. He gained entry into the main draw with a protected
ranking of No. 105.
Coria, a winner of nine career ATP titles and runner-up at Roland Garros in 2004 (l. to Gaudio),
will face No. 5 Filippo Volandri in the second round. Volandri defeated Spanish qualifier Daniel Munoz-De La
Nava 6-2, 6-4.
 In other matches involving seeds, No. 2 Nicolas Almagro, who made a successful Davis Cup debut last weekend
against Peru, beat Nicolas Massu 6-3, 6-2 while No. 3 Igor Andreev, No. 4 Potito Starace, No. 6 Agustin Calleri and No. 7 Jose Acasuso were upset.
Andreev lost to Argentine qualifier Eduardo Schwank (pictured) 6-3, 6-2, Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic
ousted Starace 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, and Sergio Roitman beat Calleri 6-3, 6-2. Meanwhile, Argentine qualifier Sebastian Decoud made his ATP debut with a 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(3) win over Acasuso.
Monday: Moya Advances in Three Sets
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