Fognini loses at Chennai Open

Sixth-seeded Fabio Fognini of Italy was eliminated and fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia escaped in the first round of the Chennai Open on Monday. Dudi Sela of Israel routed Fognini 6-0, 6-1. Dodig rallied past Indian wild card Vishnu Vardhan 4-6, 7-6 (8), 6-1. Dodig saved five match points in the second set before easing through the third set. Another Indian wild card, Yuki Bhambri, had better luck with a 6-2, 6-3 upset of Karol Beck of Slovakia. Bhambri, a former top-ranked junior, won for the second time in his fifth match on the ATP Tour. He next plays top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia. India's top player, Somdev Devvarman, pulled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury so he could be ready for the Australian Open. Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France will replace Devvarman in the draw.