No excuses as Murray exits in Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain -- British number one Andy Murray slumped to second round defeat in Barcelona after failing to take advantage of a handful of break points in his 6-4 6-4 defeat to Mario Ancic.

It was the third time the 20-year-old seventh seed had crossed swords with the Croatian this year -- and the second time he has come off on the losing side, following victory in the final of the Marseille Open and defeat in Miami last month.

Ancic, a former top 10 player who is now ranked 51st in the world following a series of injuries, proved more clinical when he had the opportunity.

"I didn't get that fired-up," said wildcard entry Murray. "I was going to be here practising anyway, so I had hoped to get a few matches."

Murray spent his junior days in Barcelona but is still unable to compete consistently well on the surface. His only win here came in 2006.

"I was flat at the start, but my priority is to train for Rome and Hamburg. I wanted to continue form last week, but (playing here) is not the be-all and end-all.

"I've now got four or five days to get ready for Rome. It and Hamburg are the most important ones going into the French Open. All of the major players should be there, which was not the case last week."

Third-seeded David Nalbandian scraped past fellow Argentine Agustin Calleri 1-6 7-6 (7/2) 6-3 to reach the third round.

"I'm not happy at all with my match," said Nalbandian, winner of his eighth ATP title this spring in Buenos Aires. "It was windy and it's so tough to play a Davis Cup teammate.

"I have to really lift my level. I must improve day by day if I'm to even think about going much farther."

Frustration mounted for former Roland Garros finalist Guillermo Coria as the fading Argentine exited 5-7 6-4 6-4 to Teimuraz Gabashvili.

Coria, who led 4-2 in the final set, could not hold on against the number 138 Georgian-born Russian, losing his opening match in just over two hours with nine double-faults.

The former third in the world now stands a distant 811th and has made just three Tour appearances this season.

"I've tried with many psychologists, but they haven't found the answer," he said of his long-term slump. "It has to come from inside myself.

"I must be more humble, to accept where I am in the game. Before, I didn't enjoy my tennis. But it's different now."

Two Spanish seeds reached the second round through retirements.

Number 10 Nicolas Almagro advanced when Serb Viktor Troicki quit after losing a 6-2 first set and 16th seed Feliciano Lopez needed only 5-2 before Argentine Jose Acasuso gave up.

Rafael Nadal will open play on Wednesday against Potito Starace after the Italian defeated Australian Peter Luczak 7-6 (7/4) 6-1.

Second-seeded Fernando Gonzalez cruised into the second round of the BMW Open in Munich by beating Dudi Sela 6-3 6-4 on Tuesday.

Fourth-seeded Igor Andreev also advanced, beating Gael Monfils 6-3 6-4.

But defending champion Philipp Kohlschreiber pulled out after falling ill shortly before his opening match.

Kohlschreiber, seeded third, dropped out with the flu, tournament director Patrik Kuehnen said.

His place in the main draw was taken by Julio Silva of Brazil, who beat German wild card Matthias Bachinger 3-6 6-2 6-3.

Italian qualifier Gianluca Naso ousted Rainer Schuettler 6-7 (2) 6-3 6-4 on his fifth match point.

Also, Philipp Petzschner defeated Evgeny Korolev 6-4 0-6 6-2 and Lee Hyung-taik beat Rainer Eitzinger 1-6 7-5 6-2.

Tuesday's schedule was delayed by rain with several matches postponed until Wednesday.

Top-seeded Vera Zvonareva beat Lucie Hradecka 6-2 6-3 in the first round of the Prague Open on Tuesday, and American Jill Craybas also advanced to the second round with a 6-4 6-2 upset of fifth-seeded Karin Knapp.

Zvonereva next will play Magdalena Rybarikova, a wild-card entrant who defeated American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-1 6-3. Craybas next plays Roberta Vinci.

Sixth-seeded Alisa Kleybanova of Russia advanced to the second round of the Grand Prix Sar La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Morocco on Tuesday, beating Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 6-2 6-3.

Emilie Loit rallied to defeat Katie O'Brien 6-7 (7) 6-4 6-1; Rossana de los Rios ousted Lilia Osterloh of the United States 6-4 6-4; Petra Cetkovska edged Sandra Kloesel 6-4 7-5, and Greta Arn beat Jelena Dokic 6-4 6-2.

Arina Rodionova of Russia beat Lamia Essaadi 6-1 6-1 and compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated another Moroccan Fatima Zahrae El Allami 6-0 6-1. E-mail to a friend