AUCKLAND: Jerzy Janowicz’s fairytale rise through the tennis ranks was dealt a blow at the Heineken Open in Auckland yesterday when the Polish fifth seed lost in the opening round to US journeyman Brian Baker.

In his first outing since a breakthrough run to reach the final of the Paris Masters last November, Janowicz was defeated 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 after an erratic display in the tournament, a warm-up event for the Australian Open.

While he showed glimpses of the giant-killing form that downed five top 20 players in Paris, including Andy Murray, Janowicz committed 51 unforced errors and 10 double faults to hand the match to Baker.

He took the first set comfortably but lost concentration early in the second, finally rallying at 5-1 down in the third, when it was too late to stop Baker.

“It seemed like he flicked a switch,” the American said. “I don’t know how many points he won in a row but it seemed like about 15. “Luckily I was able to close it out at the end.”

Last year’s beaten finalist Olivier Rochus of Belgium defeated Spain’s Albert Ramos 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in blustery conditions that he described as the toughest he had ever played in.

“It was very windy and the ball was going all over the place and it was very tricky but I kept my mind very focused and that’s why I won,” he said.

Elsewhere, Rochus’ compatriot Xavier Malisse overcame some early resistance from Slovak seventh seed Martin Klizan to notch a 7-6 (7-4), 3-6 win. — AFP

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