Prakash Amritraj falls
at first hurdle

Prakash Amritraj was thrashed in straight sets by Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan 1-6, 3-6, 0-6 in the first round of the men's singles at the US Open.

Srichaphan, who claimed his first ATP Tour title on Sunday, increased his winning streak to 11 from his last 12 matches.

The first Asian to win an ATP tour singles title since India's Leander Paes in 1998, he is playing in his third consecutive U.S. Open. He had beaten Andre Agassi at Wimbledon earlier this year and also reached the final in his last two tournaments.

The 19-year-old US-born Prakash, son of former Indian tennis ace Vijay, had earned a wild card into this year's Open by winning the USTA boys' 18 hardcourt singles title.

In the doubles, Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi comfortably won their first round match against Julian Knowle of Austria and Michael Kohlmann of Germany 6-4, 6-0.

Prakash, partnering his cousin Stephen Amritraj, went out of the doubles competition in the first round on Monday.

See slide show: Amritrajs back at the Open